It’s a little late for this as Cyber Monday is coming to a close, but we know there will be deal all through the holiday season right?
Today as I was looking through the deals, it occurred to me that it’s been years since I shared my favorite deals site. Years ago, when I started this blog, it was Ben Bargains. If I needed some part for a computer, say a new printer or something, it was easy to go there and see what the latest applicable deal was and grab it. However, over the last few years, I slowed down my technology purchases (my wife will most likely take issue with that statement). Ben Bargains wasn’t only technology, but it seemed like it was dominated by the tech gadgets.
Nowadays, my site of choice is Slick Deals. I find it well-organized with a picture and a little description in a grid format, not unlike Pinterest. There’s a voting aspect to the site as well as people vote up the good deals. Anything with a +50 gets my attention. You still have to make sure that you need the product. You also have to be a little lucky that it isn’t sold out by the time you find it. I try to visit it a few times a day.
I shouldn’t have to say it, but I will, visiting deal sites is not a key to frugal living. However, when it works, it’s a thing of beauty. Today was one such example.
My Cyber Monday shopping today was limited to one deal that I saw on Slick Deals. I was able to pick up a Nest thermostat and a $40 Amazon gift card for $249. I consider an Amazon gift card to be about as good as cash, because they always have something that I need. Combine that with a $100 rebate from my local energy company and I’m getting a $250 for about $110. (Actually my credit card, Chase Freedom, is giving 5% rebates on Amazon this quarter, so it’s under $100.)
I had been wanting to get a Nest for 8 months and decided I would get it by the end of the year due because the rebate might not be around next year. It’s great feeling when a deal site gives you exactly what you were looking for.
So is Slick Deals the best deal site? I don’t know and that’s why I’m asking you, what do you use?
If I hear (somehow) about a deal I sometimes go to slickdeals or fatwallet to see if it’s really a deal. However, as I repeated to my wife (and myself) multiple times over the past few days, it’s better to get the right thing at full price, than the wrong thing at a discount. Or worse, something you don’t need at all.
Steve, that really is the best advice I’ve heard in a long time.
The site I use the most to get good deals is ebates — they offer cashback for most online purchases. So, in addition to my credit card rewards and whatever the sale is on the actual item, I get a percentage back from ebates every time I use it. During the holidays, they even offer cashback on amazon purchases!
Just so you don’t think you’re getting a better deal than you are, 5% off $110 is 104.50, not under 100.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
My credit card company will give me the 5% off of the $250 I paid to Amazon (for $12.50 in rewards). They won’t care that I’m getting a $100 back in rebates from my energy company. They also don’t look at the $40 in gift cards and view it as close to cash as I do.
My favorites are in this order:
1. DealNews.com – sheer volume and great search functionality
2. BensBargains – like DealNews, but smaller
3. Fatwallet – get the deal AND extra cash back.
4. BradsDeals
5. SlickDeals – I likes the old format better when it was without pictures.
Also an honorable mention to Cashbackoholic which I use every time I find a deal on the other sites to further increase my savings.