By Melina Byrne, the Money Maven
Forget bargain hunting at shopping centres, that’s old school. The Money Maven has all the best bargains delivered straight to her inbox, thanks to websites Cudo and Offer Me. You’ll save both time and money!
Earlier in the year, I became a big fan of the Offer Me and Scoop Of The Day websites (you’ll remember them from my article on group buying power). Well now, Cudo has become my new love (although I do keep my eye on my past loves).
What is Cudo?
Cudo.com.au should be the first stop for bargain hunters. It delivers big discounts on products, restaurants and bars, hotels, spas, salons, theatre tickets and much more. The catch is that the deal is only on for a limited time, so if you don’t check the site daily, you may miss out on a great deal.
There is no membership fee to join Cudo and you can search by capital city, or register to receive the daily deal emails. You can also earn $10 just by signing friends up to the website.
Some of the savings I’ve seen recently on Cudo’s Sydney website include:
? Save 80% on a facial from the Facial Rejuvenation Clinic
? Save 70% on a facial, massage, pedicure and eyebrow tidy from Ella Rouge
? Save 69% on the latest release books from Doubleday Australia
? Not to forget laser hair removal, cheap yoga classes and discount Tapas at Bondi Beach…
If, like me, you’re tempted by these limited-time-only deals, always follow these 5 golden rules:
1. Check the fine print. Be clear on the redemption expiry date, etc.
2. Be 100% certain that the deal is convenient for you to redeem. It’s not a bargain if you have to spend a fortune on petrol money to travel there.
3. Don’t get carried away. It’s easy when you think the deal is a one-off, and you’re charging it to your credit card. If you feel yourself losing control, try to calm down by reading over my ‘impulse spending alert’ strategies in my article; the best ways to buy in bulk and save.
4. Plan ahead when selecting deals. For example, save the facial deal for when you have a special event to go to, purchase the books deal when you need to give a birthday gift, etc. As I’ve said before, being organised can save you money
Using Facebook to find bargains
I was slow to catch on to Facebook, but now I use it for bargain hunting. I keep tabs on the new developments of my favourite brands, and watch for special deals that are Facebook exclusives. For instance, the Alkaline Spa & Clinic in Sydney (sorry, all the other states!) occasionally advertises “Half price facials tomorrow for our Facebook fans”.
For even more Money Maven articles, head to RESCU’s Money section.
