Deal of the Day Sites

There’s nothing that starts my day off right like random cheap deals - which is why I love deal-of-the-day sites like Groupon so much. Sign up by providing your email address and indicating where you live - every day you’ll get a different coupon from a retailer in your area for discounts on things like food, entertainment and other services like facials or waxing. You have an option to purchase the deal - if enough people show interest in it, then you get the discount, which can be 50 percent or more off the original cost (kind of like the early days of Costco - remember when it was the Price Club?).

I just did a quick check on groupon.com, wagjag.com and livingsocial.com and here’s what I found:

• A $10 coupon for $20 worth of merchandise from a local dollar store;
• $45 for a $94 ticket to the theatre;
• Two spray tans and a teeth whitening package for $44 (a $155 value)

Whether you’re looking for a spray tan or a cheap shopping spree, there’s something out there for you. But exercise caution - read the fine print on the deals and make sure they come from a reputable retailer or service provider. Another thing to watch - there’s a time limit on most of these deals so if you don’t use the service in say, six months, it might expire leaving you out of pocket.

Another piece of advice - exercise restraint! There’s always a time limit to act on these deals so there’s not a lot of time for careful consideration.

But whether or not you buy, deal-of-the-day sites are a fun way to keep on top of offers and savings in your town.