Deal Sites/ Living on a Budget Series Part 3 (Revised)

So, it's evening and I really just want to begin getting ready for bed, but I don't have a post written for tomorrow.  What's a girl to do?

Its at this very moment that I realize it's Tuesday evening.  Not Wednesday evening.  Ah, I have time. Better write it now anyway!

I've been meaning to update and republish the Living on a Budget Series.  This is a revamped version of Part 3 as many of these sites have merged or dissolved.  I'm simply updating the sites, not the verbiage of the original post.


If you missed parts 1 or 2 of this series, you can find them here: Part 1, Part 2.

With this being part three of this series I want to let you know that I am well aware there are a gazillion other ways out there to save money and use your money wisely.  However, I've chosen to focus on just three topics.

Part 3 is all about deal sites.  A deal site is much like any other shopping website, but you can get tremendous deals and even free credits just for signing up or referring friends.  Yes, once you sign up, refer your friends and start earning free credits.  Each site has their own policy, but this is a great way to get even more highly discounted product or free product!

The purpose of these sites aren't to get you to shop (it is for them, but not my point here), but to see an opportunity to get free credits and purchase a gift with them, or something your family needs.  Thus, saving you money on something you would have purchased any way.  It just happens to be a new venue.

Many of these sites I check daily or get their daily email in my inbox.  Some I've purchased from multiple times, and not yet from others.  The key is watching and waiting.  Something will come around that you will need or want to gift and it's well worth the wait if you have free credit.  Often I'm about ready to unsubscribe from a site's list only to come upon a great deal in a couple of days.  Be patient and you will be rewarded.

I've included descriptions and sign up links below, with my favorites in bold.  Many sites will not allow you to view the deals unless you're a member and to become a member you usually need an invitation.  Here's yours!  If there are additional deal sites you love, please share them with me.  I'd love to hear about them.

Deal a Day Sites (no invite needed):
Woot- deal a day with occasional woot-offs (where there's several deals a day to clear out the warehouse and when they're gone they're gone). $5 flat shipping.  New deal 12midnight CST.
Kids Woot- (see Woot above as everything still applies here)
Baby Half Off- probably my favorite site full of baby, kid, mama items and more!  New deal 9AM CST.
Babysteals- New deal 10AM & 10PM CST.
Kidsteals- New deal 10AM CST
Mamabargains- "One deal at a time until it sells out."  You can expect to see 2+ deals a day.  Often a minimum of four I've found.
Parents Deals-  Purchase vouchers you buy to use on other websites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product.  Be sure to select your area so you can see local and national deals.
Thrifty Seeker-  Newer deal site with one deal a week (better deals if you live in Canada)
Daily Deals For Moms- Newer daily deal site.
Deal Chicken- Truly local deals, even for those who live in smaller cities!

Deal sites with invitation links:
Ecobabybuys- One new deal a day, but each last approximately three days unless sold out.
No More Rack- As they say, "1 day, 8 deals" each morning.  $2 shipping for every item.  Sign up with this link and receive a $10 credit in your account!
Gilt Groupe- Women, men, home, children, pricey to inexpensive.  Shipping is a flat $5.95.
Zulily- New deals daily, but typically run for three+ days, so you can group purchases into one order.
Totsy- New deals each evening, but typically run for two+ days, so you can group purchases into one order.  Free shipping on your first order if you use this link and order within 30 days of signing up!
Rue La La- Pricey and inexpensive name brand items.  Shipping is $9.95 for anything you order that day, so get any orders in the same day.  Shipping really is timely.
Family Finds- New deal daily.  They're vouchers/ coupon codes you buy to use on sites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product.  Select the city nearest you for the most applicable deals.
Eversave- New deal daily.  They're vouchers/ coupon codes you buy to use on sites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product. I saw that currently new accounts get $1 put in their account right away.  Select the city nearest you for the most applicable deals.
Groupon- New deal daily.  They're vouchers/ coupon codes you buy to use on sites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product.  Select the city or cities nearest you (they have a lot of cities!) for the most applicable deals.
Deal Pulp- New deal daily. "Each deal is delivered to you in the form of a promo code, which you'll use to redeem the deal on the corresponding merchant's web site."  Example: Pay $10 for $25 of product.
Plum District- New deal daily.  I really like this site.
Moolala- New deal daily.  They're vouchers you buy to use on other websites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product.
Groop Dealz-New deal daily, but deal can last up to 48 hours.
Hautelook- Women, men, home, children, pricey to inexpensive.
8moms- I can't seem to find the frequency of deals but it looks like each might be up for about seven days.  There are three deals available now
Homesav- Just joined myself!  Receive $10 just for signing up!
Tippr- New deal daily.  Sign up and receive $5 in your account!
Save More-New deal daily.  They're vouchers you buy to use on other websites.  Example: pay $10 for $25 of product.
Shop Lately-Purchase jewelry and other fashion items right from the site at great deals.
Livingsocial- Get $5 added to your account when you sign up!  New deal Daily.
Mamapedia- Not sure on frequency of deals, but usually have several available at one time.
My Habit- Something for everyone with free shipping on every item.  Invitation only, but have to send individual invitations.  Simply leave a message below with an email and I'll get an invite to you right away.

Swagbucks- Sign up to earn swagbucks to use towards giftcards and more.  I love always having money in my amazon account for diapers, peanut butter, or anything that might be on special, or to purchase gifts.  A $5 Amazon gift card is 450 swagbucks.  You can earn them quickly by doing the following each day:
    -Sign up- you can get 30 plus points just for signing up (depending on current promotion)!
    -Set up the swagbucks page as your home page and use it to search for everything.  Yes, earn swagbucks for the searches you already do!
    -Add the swagbucks tool bar to your homepage and earn 1pt a day just for that!
    -Complete the daily survey (under earn tab on top) and earn 1pt.
    -Go through NOSO (under earn tab on top), click skip on each offer and earn 2pts each day.
    -Go to surveys (under earn tab on top) and complete surveys for more points!
    -Print coupons and use them.  Earn 10pts for every coupon you redeem!
    -Refer friends.  Each day your refer a friend you earn 1pt.  When friends sign up you can earn points too!

And lastly, don't forget about garage sales and Craigslist!  I love a good garage sale!


I hope you've enjoyed this series.  I plan to expand on the very same topic of Living on a Limited Budget more in the future.  As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.