3 tools to take the work out of holiday bargain-hunting
Just when you’re reckoning with your credit card bills from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, along comes Green Monday and the temptation for another holiday spending spree. And with blanks remaining on your holiday gift list, the retail pressure is palpable. Before you hit “Complete Purchase,” however, here are three tools to save time and money.
Honey
Promo codes are great—when they work. A popular extension for Google’s Chrome web browser, Honey takes the hunting-and-pecking out of the promo code game. Here’s how the extension works: When your shopping cart is full and you’re checking out, Honey applies a succession of crowd-sourced promo codes automatically—no need to search for them on RetailMeNot and then cut and paste them over and over. Once you complete your order, you’ll get the best savings available—and spare yourself some frustration, too.
Honorable mention: Capitol One Shopping. Even non-Capital One cardholders can use this free browser extension, website, or app (once known as Wikibuy) to hunt for promo codes coupons and deals that Honey may not have detected. You can also accumulate rewards to redeem for e-gift cards at retailers like L.L. Bean and Macy’s.
UNiDAYS
Cash-strapped students can always use a discount, right? UNiDAYS collects deals from 150 brands on one website and app. You need a verified student email address to take advantage.
Camel Camel Camel
Chances are you’re going to be checking Amazon to see if it beats prices elsewhere. But is Amazon even beating its own past prices? This amusingly named site can show you a graph of how Amazon has priced a particular item over time. (You’ll probably see some camel humps in the graph.) Even better, it’ll notify you when the price drops to a level you specify—so that you can pounce on the purchase at just the right time.
