Column
Growing Up Online
Ten Ways the Web
Can Help Thrifty Families
By Carolyn Jabs
The number of websites promising to help families save 3. Control discretionary spending. If you’re serious about
money has grown almost as fast as the number of Americans sticking to a budget, don’t even visit sites like
overstock.com
who need to trim their budgets. Unfortunately, not all of those and
woot.com. Even though the deals may be terrific, you’ll still
websites deliver on their promise. Many of the Save!Save!Save! be tempted to spend money on things you may not need
websites actually have something to sell. Some even charge simply because the price is right. The same rule applies to so-
for things like credit reports that families can get free from called “deal” sites where “Only 2 Left At this Price!” tags may
other sources. Other websites make you pay in time, forcing trigger impulsive spending.
visitors to navigate through one ad-filled screen after another
searching for nuggets of helpful information. 4. Do your homework. Before making any purchase over
$25, check a price comparison site like
pricegrabber.com to
Parents, of course, need to save time as well as money. The find out what the item “should” cost. If you’re trying to save
ten tips that follow are designed to give you maximum control money on an auction site like Ebay, visit
honesty.com first so
over the money you have. Zero in on the places where your you’ll recognize bargains when you see them.
budget needs help, and you’ll find relevant websites that are
free, useful and easy to use. 5. Be smart when you spend online. If the going price for
something is beyond your budget, put what you’re willing to
1. Make a Budget. Lots of websites help you track your pay into
pricespider.com and let their bots e-mail you when
money. At
mint.com, for example, you can enter passwords for they find a deal on what you want. Then look for coupons at
bank accounts as well as credit cards, making it possible for the coupon sites like
retailmenot.com or
couponmountain.com.
site to categorize and track everything you spend. If that Avoid shipping charges with the codes at
freeshipping.org.
seems like overkill, check out the paper and pencil budget And register your purchase on
priceprotectr.com. They’ll send
forms available at
frugalliving.about.com, a website that has you an e-mail if they spot the product at a lower price and
tons of tips about living well with less. many retailers will refund the difference.
2. Look for structural savings. So-called “fixed” expenses 6. Eat for less. Cutting your food budget means spending
aren’t nearly as fixed as they used to be. At
lowermybills.com less on the food you buy and choosing recipes that get
and
bankrate.com, you can compare rates for utilities, credit maximum nutrition per dollar. Like many other grocery sites,
card companies and even mortgage lenders. Other sites are
mygrocerydeals.com lists the specials at local stores after
more specialized. Use
saveonphone.com to untangle the you’ve registered and provided your zip code. This site also lets
complicated packages offered by cellphone companies or you search for online coupons, check nutritional information
billshrink.com to compare credit card deals. and even search by item so that, for instance, you’ll know who
62 March 2009 |
www.siparent.com
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