Money-saving ideas abound on the web

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Updated: January 27, 2012 10:40AM

Moneysavingmom.com is a great place to find coupons, deals and savings advice. I read the blog regularly and took some tips that were posted there to share with you.

A reader had a goal to find boots for $10. She used some tactics to refine her search and ultimately find her deal. Here is how she did it.

1. High to low pricing: There is a little drop down menu that can be found at most online shopping sites that immediately puts the cheapest products first. Look for your product on that first page. Can you find it in your price range? If the answer is “no,” this probably isn’t your website (try looking at a cheaper online/clearance store).

2. Search engines: Ask for what you want. If you would like a pair of boots for $10, type exactly that. Ask the search engine for $10 boots and scan the area, if none of the websites leads to anything substantial, then ask again, only a different way this time (ex: Websites with cheap boots, $10 shoes, etc.)

3. Yahoo! Questions: I hadn’t heard of Yahoo! questions before. If you are looking for something chances are, you aren’t the only one searching for it. Just tack the words “yahoo questions” at the end of your search and you will be surprised at the amount of information these forums hold, and you don’t have to be a member to view them.

4. Promo Codes: Before you check out, quickly search for promo codes. Just type in the site name with the word “coupon” or “promo code.” Retailmenot.com is a great online resource to find those last minute price cuts.

5. Make sure you include the cost of shipping: Those boots may start out being $10 online, but with shipping, they could be $16. To save on shipping, order more than one product at a time, order with a friend and share the shipping, or look for a free shipping promo code.

Shopper’s tip: Stick to the end goal. If you only have $10 to spend on an item, either find it for that price or don’t buy it.