Start Saving blog: Half-off deal websites

TAMPA - Some of you may have already heard of Groupon, Crowd Savings or Daily Dealster.

For those of you who have not, you may want to add some of the websites to your favorites. These websites offer half-off deals if enough people like yourself are interested. Not all promotions require a minimum number of takers, however, and will offer the deal regardless of popularity.

For example, I bought a $30 gift certificate for $15 (plus a $2.00 fee). My wife and I enjoyed $30 worth of Sushi and only had to folk over $17 to buy the certificate online.

Here are a few websites offering deals on a regular basis:

• http://www.crowdsavings.com/
• http://www.groupon.com/tampa/
• http://www.dailydealster.com/tampa
• http://livingsocial.com/deals/

Here’s how to do it!

• - Visit those pages daily to see what deals are going on
• - If you are interested in the deal of the day, click the “BUY” or “BUY NOW” button.
• - You may have to set up a sign-in with the website but it shouldn’t take very long.
• - Fill out your info they ask of you.
• - You can pay by credit card or debit card.
• - If there is no minimum number of people needed to “activate” the deal, you may print your certificate right away. (Groupon.com and Crowdsavings.com will require a minimum number of people interested in the deal before the deal is “activated” and able to be purchased).
• - You will not be charged until deal is activated! You will receive an email stating that the deal has been activated or that there was not enough interest in the deal. If there is not enough interest, you will not be charged.

Some places that do not have a minimum of interest include the Creative Loafing website and Tampa Bay Half Off.

• http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/page?oid=715184
• http://tampabayhalfoff.mediawebconnect.com/

Examples of some of these coupons and certificates include  The Rack, Barnacles, Bowled, The Lucky Dill, The Venue and more…

Is it worth it? Heck yes!

Just remember -- a small fee of $1-$3 may be added when you are purchasing your certificate, but it is still a great deal because you are saving real money.

So get going! Start saving! Look for my other saving tips to come.

Do you have a money saving idea you want to share? Feel free to email me: jmooradian@wfts.com or leave a comment and share it with us!