The Internet has undeniable changed many things about our lives. We can find people we havn’t seen in years. Information is available right at our fingertips. Even the post office is going to eliminate one day of delivery because so many people just use email or automatic bill pay.
But arguably one of the coolest things about the Internet that has changed my life and yours is the way we shop. Not only are the things I’m looking to buy generally cheaper, you can also find all kinds of online discount promotional codes and deals that help sweeten the deal.
My Best Online Discount Experience:
Although I’ve saved money by buying stuff on Amazon and other online retailers for years, my greatest triumph comes from the time I was planning our family vacation in 2010. We decided that for the first time ever we were going to travel out of the country to an all-inclusive resort.
I got on each of the big travel websites (Expedia, Travelocity, Book It, etc) and started doing my research. Being that we were going out of the country, I relied heavily on the user reviews and opinions. We ended up finding this one resort that just seemed to have everything: Dreams in Cancun Mexico (shown on the right).
The first couple of times I priced out the vacation, it was something north of $5,000 for both flight and hotel. Ouch! Although some people might thing that’s a deal, it was kind of a lot for us.
Well as it turns out, I went back about a week later and priced it out again. Not only was Expedia now offering some special promotional discounts, but I was also finding out that certain dates resulted in significantly less cost.
Finally after watching the prices go up and down like the stock market, I found one combination of online discount plus Expedia bonus that resulted in the trip only costing $3,000! Not bad for a little bit of homework!
Enter to Win a $500 Giveaway:
Now it’s your turn! Enter this contest and brag to all your friends about how you won $500 on the Internet.
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Image courtesy of Rather-Be-Shopping
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I always look around for promo codes before buying anything online. It is so simple to do and can end up saving you a tonne of money.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..4 Tips for Sticking to Your Budget
You and me both. Even if its free shipping or $5 off, I still feel like a champ!
That’s a pretty nice savings MMD! I’ve done similar things for travelling as well and always use Google when I am about to buy something online to find a promo code.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Finding Qualified Help for Eliminating Debt: 5 Steps
It’s incredible how coupon codes are so easily found online with google. I do it every single time before online purchases. Thanks for the post and the giveaways!
Tony@WeOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..How the Heck am I in the Running for Top Blog of 2012??
They just make it so easy. It would be silly not to at least search the Internet first and see what comes up.
Nice savings! Whenever we plan on heading to an all-inclusive, we always research for a couple months ahead as the price fluctuates quite a bit. We find that around 4-6 weeks before the date usually has some good deals.
Vicky recently posted..Portfolio Update – January 2013
Thanks for your tip! I’ve really taken to researching our vacations obsessively for weeks ahead of time also. To be honest I would be afraid to not book it in advance for fear the price would go up and I’d be in trouble!
I’ve done quite a bit of travelling in my short time on this earth and I’ve never went to a travel agency. I’ve always used codes online to get discounts or just searched for the best deals for everything to do with my trip, well worth it.
Canadian Budget Binder recently posted..Becoming a Single Homeowner – Part 1 “The Plan”
Do they still have travel agencies?
There was only one time I went through AAA for a vacation because they actually did have a better rate. But beyond that, it was hello Internet!
That’s a pretty big saving! My wife does something similar. We always go on a last minute deal, and she scours the internet the week before we want to go. We don;t always end up exactly where we want, but it’s always ridiculously cheap
Matt recently posted..Payment Methods and What You Should Know – Direct Debit
I want to brag to all of my friends about how I won $500 on the internet! Cooome to Mama.
Jennifer Lynn recently posted..I am a grinch for Valentine’s Day.
Promo codes can make a huge difference and last minute deals are great if you have the flexibility. I’ve even know people to give up seats on an overbooked flight just to get free tickets to somewhere expensive while still keeping their original plane tickets.
Chris @ StockMonkeys.com recently posted..How To Save On Water Bills
Thanks Chris and welcome to the site. I’ve thought more than once about trying that plane ticket strategy out myself. If I’m traveling for business and one day ahead of my meeting, what’s the harm?
I needed a new battery for my car. While I was at the Advanced Auto parts store, using my iPhone, I quickly found a coupon and saved 40%. That’s amazing!
Shilpan recently posted..Happiness is not an Entitlement
Having access to your phone has resulted in so many new coupons and discounts for me as well. It’s just so convenient to check really fast and find one.