Guest Post: Taking Advantage of the Internet to Save Money (Donald Phillips)

The state of the economy and rising costs has hit most of us square in the pocketbook, and people are looking for more and more ways to pinch pennies.  Luckily, we have a fabulous resource directly at our fingertips; the internet.  Here are five simple ways you can use the internet to save money.

1.      Comparison Sites
Comparison sites such as Bizrate and Nextag allow users to compare the price of a single product across many different retailers.  Be sure to watch out for shipping costs as they may vary from seller to seller.

2.      Deal & Coupon Sites
From Coupons.com to Living Social, there are many different ways to get a discount on products and services. 
       ·         Printable and E-coupons – Coupons you can print out and take to the store with you.  Some stores will even scan coupons directly from your smartphone.
       ·         Promotional Codes – A code used to get a discount.  Usually issued directly by the retailer.          
       ·         One Day Sales – Deals offered for one day only.
       ·         Email offers – Coupons, rebates, sales and codes sent directly to your email.

Suggestions: Retail Me Not, Current Codes, Woot and Groupon. 

3.      Do It Yourself
The rise of Pinterest has led to an insanely huge database of DIY projects that can save you money.  From cleaning products to pet food, there is a seemingly endless supply of ideas!

4.      Auction Sites
On auction sites like eBay, users compete for savings by bidding on products.  The recent emergence of penny auctions  has allowed bidders to save even more money by bidding in small increments.  Used correctly, auction sites can be a fabulous money saving tool.

5.      Rebate Programs
Sites like Ebates and Mr. Rebates offer cash back on thousands of products.  Combined with online coupons, cash back programs can save some serious dough.  Be sure to check out the major retailers you purchase from as well.  Costco, Staples, Lowe’s and many others offer easy rebates online!
The internet has revolutionized shopping; making it an easier, hassle-free process.  It’s also given us an amazing opportunity to save money and become smarter shoppers.  Combining these five tools with a little common sense can take you a long way in the war on overspending. 

Donald Phillips is a fervent bargain hunter and rabid coupon clipper.  He has recently teamed up with HappyBidDay to offer shoppers ideas on how to save money by shopping online.