by Beks
Ready for a shock?
I don’t use Groupon, Living Social, or any of those lifestyle couponing websites. Trust me, I’ve heard from all my friends how awesome it is to get a 2 for 1 dinner coupon, a free eye exam, or $20 off a haircut at a salon but…
I don’t dine out, my eye exams are covered by insurance, I don’t pay more than $15 for a haircut, and I can’t afford most of the lifestyle items they are discounting.
In fact, I don’t even look at these websites because I know I’d be tempted to purchase stuff I didn’t need because it was on sale.
Am I just lagging behind the times? Do you use Groupon deals? Or do you save your scissors for clipping grocery coupons?
Beks is a full-time government employee who enjoys blogging late into the night after her four kids have gone to sleep. She’s been married to Chris, her college sweetheart, for 15 years. In 2017, after 3 long years working the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, they paid off more than $70K and became debt free. When she’s not working or blogging, she’s exploring the great outdoors.
I don’t use groupon either. Like you said I don’t eat out, especially at the high dollar places they promote. My haircuts when I pay for one is less then $10 (and diffidently less then $15) so why pay $20. It seems to me that Groupon and living social are nothing more then spam.
I use it, but am very selective. I only pick up the places I would usually frequent anyway. We do eat out (on a budget) and like to try new places.
Don’t totally discount those sites, sometime they even have grocery stores, plus you can still use the regular coupon. I picked one up for a butcher not that long ago. I can always use a discount on my meat!
I used to, but they’ve really left me behind. Most of the stuff they offer these days (now that they offer a lot of coupons in a day) is just crap.
I still look, but I haven’t bought in months.
I don’t really use them either… I’ll use one here or there if it’s for something I actually ever buy, but more often than not, I pass. Never groupon either…
I did for a second, even trying to only buy for places I already go. But it just made me want to spend more money. I agree w/ Natasha – lots of crap; every other offer is for a spa. I never ever go to a spa.
I’ve used both sites – but only for things I would buy anyway. I’m averaging one purchase every quarter. That said – I only look at what comes in my e-mail or someone tells me about. I could maybe actively utilize a little bit more.
Someone was telling me this same thing the other day (Groupon was a waste of money – something like that) but once I told them specifically all the deals I had gotten, I convinced them to sign up.
Of course, signing up is useless if you are going to buy stuff you wouldn’t buy otherwise.
I agree with Alexandria. I buy things on occasion and rarely visit the site on a whim. Just recently I bought 2 movie tickets for something like 7 dollars. The only exclusion is that it can’t be 3d. I think that was a great deal, now it’s just a matter of finding a sitter so my hubby and I can go ?
Don’t use them either. Like you I prefer not to be tempted. I cut my own and my kids hair or for special occasions (my daughters wedding) will have it cut with a coupon found in the paper. Recently was treated to a friend cutting ours. I homeschool, so we do a lot around the house and property all year long. My kids have grown up learning to entertain themselves so we don’t put out constantly on entertainment, but save for really special trips.Visiting family in other states, Hawaii, Disney annual passes. All paid for without debt. To be truthful our last adoption cost us additional debt for travel, but that’s the price you pay in adding a family member. I can be REALLY thrifty, but make a budget for what is truly important to us as a family.
I do occassionally purchase groupons or deals through Living Social but I have a rule. Typically the e-mails show up in the morning. If the deal still strikes me as good and something that I would definitely use I make myself wait until the evening to buy it. Often I totally forget – which means that I really didn’t want it that bad afterall. Other times (like when there’s a $10 coupon for $20 of merchandise at Old Navy) I’ll totally jump on it.
I love Groupon and Living Social. If I end up not being able to use it, you can ask for a refund. I purchased some for our recent vacation in Las Vegas by watching their Groupon site for a month before we left. Right now, I have living social vouchers for the liquor store down the street and a CSA that will deliver the fruits and vegetables to our house. Definitely worth reading through the e-mails each day to find stuff I’ll use anyway.
I totally Groupon, living social, etc, etc. The key is to only buy the ones you’ll actually use. We rarely go out to eat unless we have a Groupon. And we only eat out about twice a month. It does get addicting and I constantly have to tell myself no, but i love going to the spa, so if it’s a good enough deal, I’ll count myself in.
if a groupon comes across for something that would make a good gift (a photography class for my husband, a golf card for 12 rounds of golf for $29) or a restaurant i know and like then i will buy them. i also got one for botox because that is something i have in our budget. otherwise for massages, haircuts and other things i wouldn’t normally buy then i don’t use it….only if it is a discount on something i normally buy or i could use as a gift.
I used Groupon ONLY for items we already purchase. So far I’ve purchased two deals. Both were 50% off at restaurants we frequent all the time. Both were low cost restaurants, one is my hubby’s very favorite deli.
I don’t make a habit of Groupon-ing, but I have probably bought three or four.
I gravitate toward experiences – things I would love to do, but would prefer not to pay full price for.
I once got two tickets for a Twilight Cruise around Manhattan for $20 each. It was honestly one of the most memorable and romantic things I’ve ever done. I’ve spent more than that on a movie night.
The other thing that was awesome was a Wine Tasting Class. The Fiance and I are big red wine drinkers, but those tastings can be expensive. We got those tickets for $20 per person too.
Things like that are worth it to me. Not the “$50 worth of cupcakes for $10” types of Groupons.
I get a daily email from Groupon and Living Social for my area. I buy something about once every 2-3 months. I don’t buy anything we wouldn’t use. I’ve bought deals for a few restaurants and a couple of spa services (a facial and a massage.) It’s nice to have those “splurge moments” and still not pay full price.
What might be interesting to you (considering the recent maternity photo post) are the occasional deals from photographers. I bought one in January for a photo shoot plus a certain number of prints included for a great price. It doesn’t expire until a year after purchase. Also, we bought a deal for a 3 hour boating trip w/ dolphin sightings for $15. Great family outing on a budget!
So far I’ve only bought ones for restaurants we frequent. I did just about stroke when I’d ordered tickets for a concert on the day they went on sale, and then about a month later they had a groupon for 50% off! I just about had heart failure — but my sister told me it was the first concert deal she had seen (and she’s used groupon for a LOT longer than I have). If I had not already purchased the tickets I would have jumped all over that one.
I love groupon, living social, Denver Perks, voice deal of the day, etc. I probably buy one or two a month, but it’s a great way to try new restaurants. What I like is that is primarily for local independent businesses / restaurants, which is where I’d prefer to spend my money. My rule is that I only pay for them with my debit card…you’re not saving anything if you are paying interest on that $10 savings.
I agree with IB’s post and do use Groupon and several other sites as well. I learned early on, to buy only what I will actually use and what is within my monthly budget. Since my entertainment budget is small, I find I am now able to do things like join friends for dinner, go on a Whale Watch, etc. for half the cost, which now allows me to do more on my meager budget. These sites are also great when you need to send a bday gift to someone. I belong to Fab.com, which is primarily design related. Here, I watch for things that are on my list for the house, at a great price. I a currently on the lookout for an area rug for my living room, so will hold out until I see just what I want, within my budget. The shipping is typically very, very reasonable here, even for big ticket items. I do agree that if you cannot refrain from impulse shopping, best not to be on these sites!
Signed up, and haven’t bought a single one. Just not stuff I need at all, and I can barely afford what I actually need.
From a vendor perspective, Groupon rarely if ever provides any long term increase in business. The types of customers who use Groupon are looking for a quick savings on goods and services that they do not routinely purchase. We tried using Groupon for our own web design and internet marketing business but had no appreciable success. Our customers are reporting the same.
We are trying Groupon for our Health Insurance business in Georgia next week. We know it’s a stretch but hoping it will pay off.
We love Sushi and I buy any Groupon/Living Social coupon for a sushi restaurant we can get our hands on. Sushi is extremely expensive and we love it. My latest Groupon? $5 for $30 of sushi. You can’t beat that.