A day at the spa with your girls, tickets to a hot show, dinner at a chichi restaurant. All sounds great, but a budget buster, right? Not necessarily. Savvy sisters can hit the scene even when funds are all tied up by signing up with sites geared to the diva who loves a deal.
The Budget Fashionista: For news on discounts, coupons and sample sales, check out this blog from shopping expert Kathryn Finney, which includes a daily newsletter. Recent items included deals on flats for under $25, Forty percent off designer goods at Saks and swimsuits for under $50.
Goldstar: This site works with over 4,000 venue partners to present half-price admission to a range of events and activities. Brunch and dinner cruises, jazz shows, comedy clubs, designer shopping outings and baseball games are among the pickings. Recent happenings included a luxury coach tour from DC to Virginia’s wine country. The full price of $105 was available to Goldstar members for $52.50. Treatments at the Amber Spa in Chicago could be had for $40 to $80 and and a two-hour salsa lesson in Los Angeles went for just $12.50. Goldstar events are also available in Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Orange County, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle. The free membership includes weekly e-mails custom-tailored to your interests.
Groupon: The site features daily deals on a wide range of experiences from a few hours of maid service in your home to wine tastings to museum admission. Past deals included $15 for VIP priority admission and two drinks at Opera Night Club in Atlanta (a $70 value); 10 pilates classes for $45 in New York for a savings of $135 off the regular price and $30 worth of seafood and sushi at Fins restaurant in Houston for just $15. It’s free to sign up and you can have the Deal of The Day delivered directly to your in-box each morning so you don’t miss anything.
