Coupon Sites Offer Deep Discounts, Let You Splurge

Clipping coupons isn't just for saving money on groceries or trips to a chain restaurant.
 
A number of group coupon-sharing Web sites have sprung up that offer deep discounts of 50 percent or more on experiences rather than products, things such as skydiving, hotel stays, massages, even foreign language courses.
 
"Sensory deprivation tanks was actually a big one," says U. S. News & World Report Alpha Consumer Kimberly Palmer.
 
Perhaps the most popular coupon-sharing site is Groupon, which offers a new deal every night at midnight, tailored to your place of residence, then gives you 24 hours to snap it up and tell your friends. A minimum number of people must purchase the coupon, or it won't take effect.
 
"That's why a lot of people will say on their Twitter or Facebook pages that they just bought the coupon and encourage their friends to do the same," Palmer says.
 
There's also a maximum to the number of people who can buy. Once the limit is reached, the offer is withdrawn, adding a further element of speed and excitement to the purchasing process.
 
Groupon and sites like it, such as Half Price D.C., livingsocial.com and 8coupons.com, represent a new market for a money-saving method that's long been associated with soup cans and cereal boxes.
 
"Groupon is actually targeted at people who are pretty high earners. They often are single people living in the city who want to try new things," Palmer says.

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