Oil change

Oil changes are our favorite area to save money with daily deals. These seem to pop up the most often on different daily deals sites and we’ve had good luck every time we’ve tried one out. One thing to watch for is to be sure the voucher is for an establishment that can service your car. Cars like Mercedes and Volkswagon and other imports cannot be services by your standard lube shop. Some do have certified technicians on site, but this isn’t the norm, so do your homework before you fork over dough for the voucher. The beauty of these services on daily deals sites is they’re often bundled, giving you three to five oil changes for a major discount. We’ve seen them as cheap as 65% off retail.

Maintenance and repairs

As with the oil changes, not every establishment is fit for every make of car. If you’ve had your car for a few months, you know what flies and what doesn’t when it comes to maintenance and repairs. Some cars do require certified techs that are train specifically for that make of vehicle. Maintenance and repairs daily deals are easy to come by on many of the mainstream local deals sites.  Maintenance and repairs can become costly, especially if  you use your car every day or if you’re a commuter. Putting major wearing and tear on your car by sitting in traffic and commuting means constantly keeping your car well-maintained to prevent bigger problems later down the road. While maintenance is worth the investment even at retail prices, nothing beats saving money by snagging a daily deals voucher for the exact same services.

Car wash

The car wash is another coupon that pops up regularly through many of the major daily deals sites. Your car may be fine-tuned and performing like a dream, but if it looks like it’s been sitting in traffic for an hour a day (and it probably has), a car wash can make it look as it as it drives. Local and chain car washes regularly participate in daily deals to bring new customers in. These are also bundled and you’re usually able to use them over the course of several months. This is great because it doesn’t limit you to car wash services in your immediate area. Depending on the savings, it may be worth exploring car washes that are in an area you don’t live in, but visit often enough. The levels of car washes offered vary, but if all that’s offered is a basic exterior wash, many establishments are willing to pro-rate their deal to give you a discount on a deluxe or premium wash.

Learn to Freeze Things

If you cook a lot of things can be frozen and reheated when you’re ready to consume them. This prevents veggies and meats from going bad and being wasted. If you buy a massive pack of chicken breasts because they’re on sale, but you’re only cooking for two, what do you do with all of that meat? Freeze it! You can do this to raw or cooked meat, but the former is usually better for time management. On Sundays, work through food that’s on the verge of going bad in the fridge. Decide what you can do with it, so you can freeze it and eat it later in the week. Once you get the hang of this, you’ll see how much money you save versus throwing out food that you meant to cook.

Buy a Whole Chicken

This always comes out much cheaper than buying chicken in pieces. There are plenty of resources online to teach you how to take apart a chicken, but when all else fails, just remove the breasts, thighs, legs and wings and you’ll be fine. These pieces can be cooked all together for a major meal or divided up between different meals. A roasted chicken is also a hearty meal that is inexpensive to make with several cloves of garlic added in for a major flavor boost.

Use Spices

Spices may seem pricey when you’re scanning them at the market, but think about how much you use of each when cooking. It comes down to mere cents per use! Learn what spices your family likes. When you’re seasoning meat and letting it marinade, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat. You want to buy lean meats if you can, but they will further tenderize once you marinade them and give them a dose of olive oil. Spices that pack a punch and won’t hurt your wallet are cumin, curry and celery salt.

Shop Ethnic Grocery Stores

These stores tend to put things on sale and items can be purchased in bulk, such as raw beans or rice. The produce at these markets is often fresher too. They have to buy smaller quantities than the big box store up the street, so their deliveries are more frequent. Your local Mexican or Indian store isn’t going to have a store card for savings, but they will have markdowns on items they’ve purchased too much of. Many of these markets also have meat and fish, which is usually priced better than a chain grocery store. The smaller store has to move the volume quickly and that’s reflected in the price.

Check Out Baked Goods

Baked goods at the grocery store that are on the verge of expiring are often marked down 50% or more. Remember you need to eat this bread within a day or freeze it. The latter is what we would do with bagels, loaves of bread and any other bread product found in the bakery section. A day old bagel isn’t going to kill you. Freeze bread in plastic bags and then remove the night before you want to eat one to prevent mold.

How Does it Work?

The premise behind Shadora is simple. Offer sterling silver and real gemstones for a limited time, passing savings on to the consumer. Our favorite part of this site is the items are available for 30 days or until they sell out. This makes it a lot easier to buy than cramming a decision into a few hours or days. Shadora purchases items in bulk, but there is a limit on how much they are able to obtain. This means if you spot something you adore, you may want to act quickly because it could be gone the next time you check the site. Buying jewelry can take time, so we suggest bookmarking an item and returning in 24 hours to see if it still tickles your fancy.

What About Quality?

You may be thinking that a discount jewelry site is going to offer outdated designs and low quality. Shadora is the opposite and the savings are a must-see for any deal nut! We’re talking 90% off jewelry and this is the going percentage off for many pieces on the site. So many sites boast stellar deals, when in reality, a little shopping around will show the item is only 20-30% off. Sure, that’s savings, but it isn’t a steal. Shadora has hundreds of pieces to choose from. The designs range from classic to trendy. Overall, it’s a fantastic site for jewelry hounds or anyone looking for a memorable gift at a bargain price. Shadora items come boxed and there’s free shipping no matter how much or how little you buy.

Have look at today’s glittering Shadora.com deals before they vanish.

What’s On Sale

• All clothes washers, ceiling fans, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and programmable thermostats. Note: Programmable thermostats are no longer made with the Energy Star icon, but those that are retailers still have in-stock will be available for the tax free promotion. Because they are not made, it may be difficult to find these thermostats. This is definitely one area where you want to shop around first, to ensure you are getting exactly what you need out of the thermostat.
• Air conditioners under $6,00.
• Refrigerators under $2,000.

What About Internet Sales?

When it comes to Internet sales, you will still be able to get the tax free promotion. The catch is the items must be purchased and delivered within the designated dates of the promotion. This is what the official word is, but because most companies won’t be able to deliver the item within two days, we suggest a live chat or phone call to the company to see what their policy is. In most cases, as long as the order is filled within the designated dates, you will qualify for the promotion. After all, the promotion has already been applied. In the past with tax free days in Texas, which usually occurs during back to school season, nearly all retailers honor tax free as long as the order is placed within the designated dates. The one area where you might run into problems is if an item doesn’t ship prior to the last day of the promotion. Technically, retailers are not obligated to give you the promotional deal if the item ships later. This is a buyer beware situation, so consider yourself warned.

What About Installation?

Installation fees quality for the tax free promotion if it is a free standing item (such as a washer, which can be taken with a renter post-move) for a residential location. This means as long as the space is your home, and not a place of business, you will be able to have the item installed tax free. This applies whether you have the item installed during or after the tax free promotion.

Find Energy Star appliances now at Home Depot.

This app is connected to the mainstream local daily deals site. It makes it easy to buy your vouchers when you’re on the go and your form of payment is saved. For those who work a 9-5 work day, it can be tough to keep up with daily deals. Some sell out very quickly, so it’s best to have a click and go mentality when you are a frequent daily deals buyer. The Living Social app is available for the iPhone and Android phones. You’ll find business profiles and there’s also Google Maps to help you find the restaurant, venue or hot spot that’s closest to you. You can also search by neighborhood, so if you’re in an area of town that’s unfamiliar or you’re traveling, you’ll be able to find a deal. The Living Social app also lets you use the coupon or voucher at the establishment without printing it out. This is convenient, saves paper and makes the process easier for consumers.

Yipit

This app aggregates all daily deals into one place. It does take time to sort through the deals, but it’s a great app for those who are constantly buying daily deals from various sites. It allows you to see daily deals you may not otherwise consider, but may pique your interest when you see it listed. Some apps only show the featured daily deal from a site. Yipit shows all of the daily deals and can even show deals from outside your neighborhood, making it useful for those who work in commuter cities and may be outside of their ‘hood regularly. We also love that you don’t have to register for Yipit. Because you’re technically buying through the other sites this app is aggregating, you only sign up for Yipit, but then sign in to your Groupon or Living Social account to buy a voucher.

CrowdSavings

This app is ideal for newbies to the daily deals scene. It prevents you from becoming overwhelmed with deals. One issue some run into with daily deals is buying too many vouchers or not using them. Any coupon that is purchased, but not utilized isn’t money saved! CrowdSavings offers one daily deal per day, so you aren’t inundated with numerous deals. Because the deals are limited, the vast majority are for at least 50% of retail price. This beats a lot of the daily deals sites that offer countless coupons every day, but may not be able to haggle such great prices.

Monster Offers

This is another app that aggregates daily deals for a lot of the major players. It keeps track of the most current offers, including the one-day deals offered by sites like Groupon. Typically, these deals have to be used the same day they are purchased, which means you have to buy quickly. Monster Offers gathers deals from about 500 sites, making it one of the largest networks for daily deals. Monster Offers also chooses the most popular daily deals and lists those first, which means you’re getting quality in addition to quantity. These are usually well-known establishments, which makes the offers more enticing for shoppers.

Dealfind

Dealfind is one of the most useful daily deal apps because it aggregates according to city and what the customer needs. It gets very specific, allowing you to sift through the things you don’t need without much work. You’ll find Dealfind the most helpful if you live in a mid-size to major city in the U.S. or Canada. Users can create their own username and password or sign-in using Facebook. Dealfind has many local daily deals that focus on small, independent businesses. While this is a good thing, it is smart to do your homework with these small, lesser-known businesses to know what you can expect when you use your voucher.

$ Inexpensive gifts

This is a simple gift that says you care, though may not have serious funds to spend on a gift for mom. Candles are available at various price points. In our experience, soy candles burn best, releasing the most authentic fragrance into the air. Check independent stores or online boutiques for a plentiful selection of soy wax candles. Scents like lavender and vanilla are favored across the board and also some of the most popular fragrances, which means mom will probably like it. Other inexpensive gifts are bath products or stationary. Custom stationary can be found for under $20 online. Have it monogrammed with mom’s initials or her last name initial for a personal touch. Fresh flowers always do the trick too, but deliveries can be tricky on Sundays, so this is best for kids who can deliver them to mom in person. Gourmet coffees and teas are also useful, affordable gifts for mom.

$$ Moderate gifts

Most of us can spend when it comes to mom. Gifts like a spa day can range in price. Maybe you can’t afford to treat mom to every service the spa has, but what about a massage? Most massages run $60-$80 and this is definitely an area where daily deals come in. At any given time, you should be able to find a daily deal in any area for a spa. Because it’s for mom, be sure to take your time researching the establishment to make sure it’s worthy of treating her. A manicure and pedicure gift certificate is also a great gift. Whether professional manis/pedis are part of her routine or not, she will appreciate the opportunity to be pampered or the opportunity to have you foot the bill! You can also gift mom a gift card for a place she loves, like the bookstore or a cosmetics store. Some moms don’t treat themselves often enough, but a gift card can be just the thing to make her go out and snag something she enjoys.

Travel

The economy is slowing making strides, but the travel industry is still a sore spot. Because many are still skimping on travel, travel within the United States will be much higher than previous years. Deals to tourist-heavy places like Las Vegas and New York City are among the top travel deals. You can also expect awesome deals to Mexico and the Caribbean. Take advantage of all-inclusive deals offered by daily deal sites. Often it is the already bundled discount price the resort offers with a percentage off of that price. On many tropical vacations, alcohol is included, so all you’re left sorting are travel arrangements and how much time you can haggle off from work. There are also deals to lesser-known, yet gorgeous parts of the United States, such as Jacksonville, Wyoming or Scottsdale, Arizona. While these places may sound (or seem) random, they are actually luxury areas that have been hit with the recession and are offering fantastic deals to book rooms and activities for the summer. Golfing, hiking and camping are just a few of things you can in these towns. If you’re a spa lover or major shopper, both towns have an awesome array of spas and shops. You can camp for a few days and boutique shop the next, all within minutes of each other.

Activities for dads

Dads love to tell us to turn the music down and mow the lawn, but they have a fun side too. This month, daily deals will center around dads in anticipation of Father’s Day in June. Golfing deals, weekend getaways and outdoor activities like kayaking, are popular picks for dads who like to get out there and try something new. Dining out is always popular with daily deals, so be sure to take advantage of these sales to gift dad with a voucher for a steakhouse. There are many people who love daily deals, but have yet to try out a voucher for  a restaurant. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about when using a daily deal voucher at a restaurant. Saving money and being smart about how you spend has become cool (but really, did it ever go out of style?) and restaurants participate in daily deals because they want new customers. Using a daily deal voucher also gives you the opportunity to try a new place and see if it’s everything everyone says it is. Dads are often creatures of habit, but most enjoy trying a new restaurant provided he likes the type of food served. If your dad loves Mexican food, you don’t want to give him a voucher for a Chinese place and vice-versa. Steakhouses are safe bets, as are BBQ joints.

Credit cards

Paying online with a credit card is usually the best route because you are protected by the credit card company. This protection varies from card to card, and can sometimes depend on the vendor, so it’s important to know the level of insurance you have using a particular card. One card may protect you against faulty product, while the other may protect you from identity theft. There are cards that offer all of this for free and others try to upsell a credit card protection service for a monthly or yearly fee. For some cards, such as American Express, the user is paying a fee, but the protection plan is built into that fee. Overall, American Express and using a credit card related to a bank account are the best ways to pay online. American Express offers full protection, no matter what type of hiccup you run into. Credit cards linked to bank accounts (which are also known as debit cards in the U.S.) are protected because you go through your bank to recover stolen funds, not the credit card company. Often this paperwork can be completed via fax and funds are replaced within a few business days.

Money transfer

A money transfer involves transferring money from your bank account to the vendor’s bank account. This has a lot of room for error, so it isn’t a method we suggest unless you have purchased from the vendor more than one and have had successful transactions. Money transfers can be beneficial to the buyer and seller because if the money is moved within the same bank, often neither party incurs fees. This means the 3% the buyer or seller is forced to absorb using Paypal or other online money transfer services is omitted. Money transfer is best reserved for sending money to family or friends and not when you’re expecting an item in return. Depending on the bank, there can be a lot of paperwork, questioning and delays on recovering funds if the deal goes sour. Large auction sites warn people not to use money transfer because the person on the other end may not be honest and you could end up sending funds to a bank account that has been stolen through identity theft.

Money orders and checks

Money orders and checks are tricky territory because it is almost impossible to recover funds. In some cases, it does happen, but it is a very long process to see your money again. Both methods of payment should be reserved for sending funds to family or friends because there’s a lot involved in tracking down the money after it leaves your hands. As with money transfers, if the seller isn’t honest, he or she could be picking up money at a local store without any intention of sending you the item. Auction sites warn against these methods because of this. If you have done business with a seller repeatedly and trust him or her, a money order can reach the person faster than online money transfer methods. The person is able to pick up the cash that day versus moving it to their bank account and waiting for approval, which can take a couple of business days. The majority of legitimate online sellers offer money orders and checks as a method of payment for customers, but it should only be used when you are well-acquainted with the seller.

Gift cards

Gift cards are the ideal way to pay online. The only feat is keeping the gift card secure since it isn’t registered to anyone in particular. If the gift card is lost or stolen, anyone can go online and make a purchase with it and there’s no way to recover the value of the gift card. Gift cards also aren’t redeemable for cash. If you buy an item and it isn’t to your liking, you can return it depending on the store’s policy, but you won’t be able to get cash back. Since this is typical for online stores (many only offer store credit for returned items), this shouldn’t prevent you from paying online with a gift card. A long serial number accompanies the card, which you insert just as you would a credit card number.

Paypal

There is much debate over whether or not Paypal is the way to go, from a buyer and seller’s perspective. From the buyer’s perspective, Paypal is a good option, but may not be the best. Some credit cards do not offer protection when used through Paypal because the company relies on Paypal to settle any payment issues. Paypal does allow customers to open a case if they feel they need their money back and cannot get a seller to cooperate. In the long haul, Paypal usually is in the best interest of sellers. We do suggest Paypal for payment with large, well known vendors. You may run into an issue, but because it is a big company, they usually have a smooth return policy. This is not always the case with individual sellers on auction sites, which is why we suggest straight payment via credit card for these types of sales.

Think of it as daily deals meets Foursquare. The new Qliq app combines daily deals with all of the fun of social gaming, allowing users to purchase items to gain QPoints and earn badges with friends. The neat thing about Qliq is the more you buy, the better the deals are that become available to you.

How Qliq work?

Every time you purchase you’re accumulating points, so the daily deal offered to you can be a higher percentage off than that offered to a new customer. Right now Qliq is only available in Boerne, Texas, but plans are coming to roll out the app throughout Texas. Qliq also plans on creating an app for the Android because right now it’s only available for the iPhone.

How many times have you tried a place only because you had a coupon? We’ve certainly done it more than handful of times. While this is OK for consumers, it defeats the purpose of daily deals for businesses. This is especially the case for independent businesses offered by local daily deals sites. Often people buy the coupon and try the establishment to redeem it, but have little intention of becoming a repeat customer. Repeat customers are what keep the doors open, so it’s important for establishments and brands to take control of the daily deals they offer. Ultimately, it’s to bring new customers in, gain exposure and have a certain percentage of those customers come back to spend without the coupon. Facebook daily deals are dubbed Facebook Offers and have already rolled out in countries like Turkey, Singapore and Japan. For now, Facebook has reached out to current advertisers for daily deals offered to users.

One thing we’re questioning is the fact that businesses can already reach out directly to customers on their Facebook pages or Twitter timelines. Will they participate in a Facebook Offer if it requires paying for advertising space or a sponsored post? While the latter offer more exposure for the business, it may not matter for the small business who has a niche audience.

For small business owners out there, do you feel participating in paid advertising would be worth the business you may gain from Facebook Offers? For consumers, do daily deals on a site as frequently used as Facebook improve your deal hunting?