Spending and Saving

Best Money-Saving Websites

People have said that Bill Gates is so rich, if he saw a $100 bill on the ground, it wouldn’t be worth his time to stoop and pick it up. A couple of years ago, B., a management consultant in Chicago, was arguing that he was much like Gates—it wasn’t worth the effort for him seek out sales or discounts. Oh, how things have changed; now B. feels like a patsy if he’s paying full price. Still, the point about the value of time is a good one, which is why we’ve put together this list of websites that can help you cut costs in a flash.

Groceries
Coupons are basically a way to get you to buy stuff you might not otherwise consider— not so conducive to saving money. A better bet is to figure out what products you regularly purchase, then seek out easy discounts. Coupons.com lets you search for and print coupons for free, mostly from big brands (think Cheerios, Bayer aspirin and Martha Stewart Living). At The Coupon Clippers, you order the rebates you want, paying a small fee (usually 5 to 10 percent of the coupon value). If you tend to buy smaller or organic brands, check individual company sites for coupons.

Entertainment
Who needs Tivo or even NetFlix? Popular television shows, from Lost to Gossip Girl, can all be streamed online at network websites. And one of our founders swears by Hulu, which has shows and movies gratis (though with commercials). The Ice Storm and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels are among the older picks currently available.

Restaurants
When I heard about the cheapo gift certificates at Restaurants.com, I figured there was either a major catch or it only offered deals at Mrs. Fields and Red Lobster. After a savvy, stylish friend talked it up, I discovered that the giant chains are on the roster, but so are places like A.O.C., in New York. Pick a place, buy a voucher at a steep discount ($25 for $10, $50 for $20) and go eat. Just pay attention to the restrictions, like minimums and alcohol exclusions.

Banking
There’s little reason to be paying for your checking account, or not to be making money off your savings sitting in the bank. Blogging Banks tracks bank offers, like the $75 bonus that PNC current has up for grabs; Bank Deals has daily and weekly updates on interest rates.

Online Shopping
We mentioned RetailMeNot in a recent At the End of Your Robe column about websites where you can get chic clothes for less, but it’s worth pointing out again because the savings extend beyond clothes. Before you buy online, make a quick stop at the site to see if there are any rebate codes available. Today we spotted Home Depot, Gap, and Restoration Hardware among the hundreds of discounts.

Tags: deals, eating, entertainment, shopping, spending