7 Tips for Navigating Group-Coupon Sites

Use It or (Kind of) Lose It

The second you purchase a deal, the clock is counting down for you to use it before it expires. So why not make it easy on yourself? If it’s a voucher for an appointment-based service, call to schedule it right after you make your purchase. Stick the appointment in your calendar and you’re good to go. If it’s a deal that you can use anytime (think cupcakes or oil changes), mark the expiration date in your calendar and set yourself a reminder two or three weeks earlier. Some sites may offer an automatic e-mail reminder several days before the deal expires.

But even if all those reminders don’t save you from procrastination tendencies, all is not lost if you do find yourself with an expired voucher. Even after the expiration date passes, some merchants allow you to use a voucher for the value you paid for it. For instance, if you bought $20 worth of frozen yogurt for $10, your voucher may well be worth $10 at the yogurt shop. Essentially, the voucher turns into a form of store credit. However, this practice varies among vendors. The amount of time the credit is good for is another variable. And the state in which you reside can also be a factor.