Keep a Fat Wallet: How Twitter Can Save You Money!
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Social media has blossomed into a quick, efficient means of spreading information and uniting people behind a common cause. But what about saving money? At this year’s South by Southwest Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas, social media experts shared high-tech tips for living on the cheap. Using Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites, they have scoped out deals on hotel rooms, airfare, clothing and food, according to ABC News.
Nichelle Stephens, author of the finance blog keepingnickels.com, and five of her “frugal warriors” shared various social media tips for saving some dough. Here are three of them to keep your wallets well sated!
1) Search for Deals. Tons of retail shops, restaurants, and even supermarkets tweet about exclusive deals or last-minute sales. Some sites, such as CheapTweet (@cheaptweet), search all of Twitter for the best deals and then pull them onto one site. Another trick is searching online for coupon codes before making any purchase. Web pages like RetailMeNot aggregate coupon codes from across the Internet.
2) Swap Your Stuff. Don’t be so quick to glaze over other people’s used stuff. Sites such as BookMooch and the Freecycle Network “connect people interested in unloading or finding items,” reported ABC News. Also try using Twitter and/or Facebook to organize a clothing swap at your home or office – or even at a local bar.
3) Group Power. Form groups based around your interests to gain leverage at local businesses. If you’re a sushi lover, start a sushi club in your neighborhood and tweet about the cuisine, recommends Faye Penn, editor of Brokelyn.com, a guide to living on a budget in Brooklyn, N.Y. Once you have a solid number of followers, try reaching out to local restaurants and suggest they make promos. There’s power in numbers: Businesses will want to be a part of your Twitter conversation.
Got any great tips about saving $$ through social media? Share below!
Photo credit: Flickr/Google Images
