I like to consider myself as a pretty superb online shopper that keeps up with new trends. Before I buy anything, I search for coupon codes and lately, thanks to Andy's dad, have recently become interested in looking through the paper to clip coupons for groceries or, failing that, to at least look at Coupon Suzy or something to see if some of the items that I need for the week are available on sale. It's like a puzzle, trying to figure out how to get the best deal possible for something I was planning on buying anyway. Anyway, in the event that you're an online shopper like me, here are a couple money saving tips that I have uncovered in my lean law school years.
Tip #1: Seriously, always always ALWAYS look for coupon codes before you buy anything online--you can usually get at least free shipping! I have saved so much money doing this. All you do is type in google whatever you're looking for, like "American Eagle coupon codes" or "Gap coupon codes" and options will pop up. My proudest moment coupon coding was when I searched for discounts on the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's--and got a pretty huge discount on a cake plate I got Andy's mom for Christmas. It was originally like $30 and I ended up paying $12--plus free shipping. I have gotten free shipping at a bunch of places, and at others have managed to get free shipping plus like 20% off. Never take for granted that the place you're shopping is too obscure to have a coupon code associated with it.
Law school has changed the way I think about money, probably because I now have so little of it. And even if I wasn't a struggling student, I still wouldn't want to spend more money than I had to on anything. With a little extra footwork, it is totally possible to save money on things that you didn't even realize you could save money on.
Tip #2: Use Groupon!
First of all, let me say that I am not in any way a representative of Groupon and I really did only discover this pretty sweet website last week. I'm just trying to offer a little advice to some other people who may not have discovered it yet. As soon as I signed up, I sent a referral link to my mom, my sister, and my cousin--apparently my mom and my cousin already knew about it. I was like gee, thanks, why didn't you tell me when you first found out? I love online shopping AND saving money, so it seems like a win-win to me. Anyway, rather than allowing anyone to feel left out, let me tell you now so that you can say you were made duly aware.
It's so cool, you can save on all sorts of things--from spa treatments to art, bars and clubs, museums, arts and theatre, dining, medical stuff...the list really does go on. When I told my sister, she signed up, and the next day she got a pretty sweet deal on glasses (her husband is color blind and damn near regular blind nowadays) and saved over $100. I feel kind of responsible for that.
Not only that, but since I referred her and she used it, I got a $10 coupon towards the next purchase I make on Groupon, which is nice for me, too. So Kyle gets glasses and I get $10 towards a gift certificate that I fully intend to use on a very nice dinner out for me and Andy. A lot of times, Groupon has like $25 or $30 gift certificates to a restaurant for like $12 or something. Pretty sweet, in my opinion. Anyway, if you're interested, you can use my referral link. It gives me another $10 coupon when you buy your first thing. I would totally appreciate it.
Here's my code: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu21219761
Then you can refer YOUR friends, too. If you never find anything, its no loss, but if you do, maybe you'll be as lucky as my sister and find something that you really needed, or maybe you'll just be able to afford a spa treatment or something that you wouldn't otherwise have been able to. I think it's pretty fun to get the new deal emails every day and see what's for sale in my area. Try it; I think it's awesome. I'm definitely all about finding ways to get good deals!
Tip #3: EVERYTHING is on Amazon. Seriously.
I love Amazon. I recently found a Criminal Procedure CrunchTime study guide on Amazon for 99 cents! At the bookstore at school, it costs nearly $30. I always check Half.com and Amazon for textbooks because I can usually buy them for less than I sell them back to the bookstore for. That is, of course, if the publisher doesn't come out with an updated version of the book that makes the one I have totally worthless--which happens. But still, whatever you're buying, you can find on Amazon--and you can get it either new or used.
Maybe you already know all these things. But just in case you don't, I figure it can't help to share my shameless money saving secrets with the world. Because it has really saved me a ton of money and, in the off chance that you haven't found it yet, maybe it will save you a ton of money, too. And who doesn't just love online shopping AND saving money while doing it?
Enjoy!
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