A recent phenomenon in social media has allowed me to further maximize on my frugality: there are now (at least) three coupon sites serving NYC (and a growing number of other metropolitan areas around the country) that offer great deals such as 50% off of your bar tab, your kayaking lesson on the Hudson, or even a full dental cleaning. I couldn’t believe my Frugal ears when I first heard it, but it turns out these deals really are legit!
Apparently these discount sites promise participating businesses that they will guarantee X number of customers in return for providing a sick incentive, such as a 1-hour massage for $25. You, the frugal consumer, pay your $25 to the discount site, and once the agreed-upon number of vouchers has been purchased, the deal is active and valid for everyone that purchased it. The best part is that you aren’t really risking anything, because if the required number of vouchers for the deal isn’t met, you simply get a refund back to the credit card you bought the voucher on. In this way, the business gets a shitload of publicity and customers, and you get hooked up.
I believe the site that pioneered this concept is Groupon.com. You may have noticed their ads on this site; I’ve seriously used them to buy a dental cleaning, including x-rays and an “oral consultation” (not the kind I was hoping for, but still helpful) – a $300 value, for $50. To my surprise, it actually went really smoothly. I simply called the dentist’s office once the deal had ‘tipped’ (i.e., enough peeps had purchased it) and made an appointment, specifying that I had a Groupon. They saw me the next week, performed all that was promised in the deal, and that was that. Holler.
Two similar sites have since sprung up: LivingSocial.com, and BuyWithMe.com. Their offers are comparable to those of Groupon (again, a minimum discount of 50% off regular price), so I don’t feel any particular brand affinity with one over the others. Whenever any of them offer a dope deal, I buy. The only distinguishing element that I’ve noticed is that on top of the deal itself, BuyWithMe will give you your deal FREE if you can persuade 3 of your friends to also buy in. While this sounds great in theory, I’ve never been able to convince three other people to buy from the 5 times I’ve bought there. Hopefully that will change after this article, BETH GOLUB.
I should note that there is only one deal offered per day, and that the vouchers are generally valid for 6 months after purchase, if not a year, so you’ve got plenty of time to cash in. In fact, I’d recommend that you wait a few weeks prior to trading in, as the participating stores and restaurants are usually totally mobbed immediately after the deal goes through. I love my meat, but got enticed to pay $5 for $10 worth of vegan fare at a spot near my office. The food turned out to be surprisingly delicious, but I did have to elbow my way through hipsters and sprout-eaters to get my tofu/avocado/hummus wrap when I went the very next day after the deal closed.
Finally, I was pleasantly surprised that employees do not look at you with disdain for being such a cheap bastard when you redeem your voucher (as they WILL if you bust out a voucher from Restaurant.com – ask my girlfriend). As I dug in to half-priced lobster guacamole at an LES Peruvian spot last week, the waitress even went so far as to say that she’d be cashing in her own Groupon too if she didn’t already work there, so there really is no embarrassment or shame factor. So get ahead. Get your Group On.
Matt Northrop, just barely still in his 20s, has been advising friends, family, and colleagues on personal finance for years and finally had the balls to publish content about it. He has loved living in NYC for more than 5 years, and sincerely desires to help everyone get hooked up. 
I purchased an hour massage (a $90 value) for $45 a while back. I left the spa feeling like I was walking on air. I wasn’t treated any differently or given any “you’re cheap” stares for relaxing on a groupon dime. The deal was well worth it and so was the $20 tip that I gave the masseuse who immediately forgot that I used groupon. She was thankful that she received a 44% tip and I was glad I still saved more than 50% even with the very generous gratuity I coughed up.
Now I may not be a frugal ‘bachelor’, but this blog will definitely be bookmarked on this frugal bachelorette’s browser.
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How much did they pay you to write this article? Show me half-off dinner at Nublu, complete with reservation, and I’ll buy.