These days, we're often bombarded with different ways to get a good deal.
There's Groupon, LivingSocial, don't forget the Sunday paper, and some of us still find savings clipping coupons.
But there are some things you should never pay full price for. Here’s our countdown of the top 5 ways to save:
At No. 5, we start with fashion. There's nothing new about seeing clothes go on sale, but beginning this month, H&M will be the first place to take your old clothes, in any condition, and let you trade them for a voucher to use in store. Customer Kenya Morrison, who shops regularly at H&M, says it’s not only a great deal but it’s also wonderful that her old clothes will be recycled to make new fabrics.
If seeing is believing, then deal No. 4 will make you do a double take. If you wear eyewear, you no longer have to pay hundreds for contacts or glasses. Check out the website eyebuydirect.com, and get glasses for as low as $7!
For light on your wallet beer, here’s our No. 3 pick. Visit saveonbrew.com and type in your ZIP code. The site has over 10,000 beers in their database and can find deals in your area.
Another way to save is by shopping at warehouse retailers, where you can usually save about 30 percent.
Tip No. 2 concerns travel. If you're planning a summer vacation, now is the time to start planning your trip. But one of the most common mistakes is going to a price comparison website like Expedia, Kayak, or Priceline, blogger and deal finder Natalie McNeal says.
Instead, says McNeal – who’s called “The Frugalista” – skip those sites and go right to the company’s website for a coupon code.
“Sometimes those sites tack on a fee, that when you are trying to save money you should avoid paying,” she says. “I go directly to the airline’s website.”
In addition, McNeal suggests you then sign up with sites like yapta.com or bing.com, which will track the cheaper airfares right up until boarding time.
For a place to stay once you land at your destination, she says check out the hoteltonight app, for the last-minute 411 on cheap hotel rooms.
Our final deal, coming in at No. 1, deals with appliances. You don't need to wait for Black Friday and wake up in the middle of the night to find a decent deal on a washer or dryer. The Frugalista offers some hints, including doing your homework before you arrive at the appliance store. Also, look at the Sunday circular, and check a site called shopsavvy.com to pinpoint the cheapest price.
Then, armed with the competitor’s best price, skip the salespeople – other than for pinpointing which appliance you want – and negotiate directly with the appliance department or store manager for a lower price, McNeal says.
She also suggests buying the floor or a slightly damaged model. Those items often can be snapped up at deep discounts.
