Deal-Finder Apps
Get the real best price.
Slickdeals
FREECrowdsourced deals. Vetted by community. Set alerts for "TV under $400" — pings you.
Best deal-finder.
DealNews
FREEEditor-curated daily deals. Less spammy than Slickdeals.
Best curated.
Brad's Deals
FREEEmail-driven. Daily best-of list. Senior-friendly format.
Best email format.
RetailMeNot
FREECoupon code database. Search store before checking out.
Best at checkout.
Honey (browser extension)
FREEAuto-tries every coupon code. Saves 5-15% on most online orders.
Best autopilot.
Rakuten
FREECash back at 3,500+ stores. Pays via PayPal or check.
Best cash back.
Best workflow
- Sign up for Slickdeals + Brad's Deals daily emails.
- Add Honey browser extension on your computer.
- Add Rakuten as starting point for online shopping.
- For repeat purchases (e.g. a TV), set price alert.
- Wait. Real deals come every 4-8 weeks.
Outlet stores online
- Nordstrom Rack — designer brands at 30-70% off. Free shipping over $89.
- Sierra (Sierra Trading Post) — outdoor + boots clearance, owned by TJ Maxx.
- Saks Off 5th — Saks Fifth Avenue overstock.
- The Outnet — high-end designer clothes 50-80% off.
- Macy's Backstage — Macy's outlet section.
- L.L.Bean Outlet — older styles + slight defects.
Best times to buy each thing
- TVs — Black Friday + Super Bowl week (late January).
- Mattresses — Memorial Day, Labor Day, President's Day.
- Cars — September-October when new models arrive; end-of-month for sales quotas.
- Patio furniture — late August - September.
- Appliances — September - October (new models drop).
- Cookware — May (graduation) and November (holidays).
- Air conditioners — September after summer.
Don't fall for "limited time"
90% of "today only" sales are fake urgency — it'll be back next week. Use Camelcamelcamel or Keepa to see Amazon price history. If a "sale" is the regular price for the past 6 months, walk away.