Wise Ways to Save Money on the Web

Internet cash saving and reward programs are all the rage. Websites like Groupon.com, where daily deals are up for auction and UPromise.com, which helps users pay off college debt, are taking bargain hunting and saving to new levels. Here are some other fantastic money saving tips and strategies that you may not know about.

Follow (and Fan) your Favorite Brands: To build brand loyalty and increase sales, companies are incentivizing consumers on Twitter and Facebook. JetBlueCheaps on Twitter posts up-to-the minute airfare deals. Become a Fan of Ice.com, the largest online Jeweler, and get $75 off your jewelry order. You can also get a dashboard view on CheapTweets.com that centralizes sales and discount updates, making it all the more easy to take advantage of daily deals.   Name Brands are making it clear that if you have not signed up to be a fan or follower of your favorites, you are missing out on hot savings alerts!   

Gain on Google: When it comes to getting the dish on dates, we have all become savvy searchers but the benefits don’t stop there. If you are window shopping online, you can scope out deals by typing in the name of a store + coupon (example: Banana Republic + Coupon) and you will likely stumble upon a list of every discount being offered by that retailer. You will be amazed at just how many coupon codes your search will yield.

Be Proactive about Purchases: Retailers often reserve coupon codes and sales alerts for the most serious shoppers. The best way to get on the A list is by showing your commitment to them by signing up for their newsletter. This way alerts will get delivered right to your inbox before the sales hit the stands. When shopping online, it’s also wise to check the fine print on the storefront because some promotions are harder to spot out than others. 

Save on Checks: You may be paying too much for bank checks without even knowing it! The truth is if you need to order checks, it makes more “cents” not to go direct. There are companies that specialize in checks, like ChecksUnlimited.com, which typically charge less than the banks.  Plus the prices will not change if you reorder checks online. 

Cut Communication Costs: Chances are the last time you checked your cable or phone bill, services like Hulu.com and Skype were not readily available. But who needs the Showtime Channel or International calling charges when you can watch movies or chat for free via the Internet. New services spring up every day, so evaluate your provider every six months (6) months and cancel things that are no longer needed or

Save on Sample Sizes: If you’re a beauty junkie, personal-care products can cost a small fortune. No need to play victim to luxury cosmetics that are seasonal or not part of your daily regimen. Thanks to a new lifestyle boutique, 3FluidOunces.com, you can get smaller portions of high end and hard to find products so leftovers don’t expire and go to waste.

Be a Better Banker: Be on the lookout for small incentives from your financial institutions, they add up! For example,  Bank of America can round debit card purchases to the nearest dollar amount, and automatically transfers the difference from your checking account to your savings account. Through their “Keep the Change” program B.O.A. even matches your savings for the first three months and continues matching 5% a year so you make money while you spend.

Make the Most of Free Trials:  You can kick-start everything from your diet to your dating life online for free. Most subscription sitea like Match.com, WeightWatchers.com and Audible.com, will let you test out their product at no charge for a limited period. There is no risk in plunking down your credit card for complimentary services as long as you make sure to cancel your subscription before it automatically renews.