Ellen PhillipsThis week, we continue with more top online money savers, courtesy of ShopSmart, my own Top Saver:
PinTrips.com allows the user to visualize a world map and stick pins in these flight destinations. By doing so, PinTrips lets you compare prices side-by-side once you've decided which of these locations are on your bucket list. Chrome is the only mechanism currently that lets viewers track flights on other browsers as well.
PointsHound.com is a great new option to obtain and save airline points. Need a hotel? Pop on PointsHound to book your stay and earn points for the airline loyalty program you prefer. (Even better, if you later find a cheaper stay somewhere else, PointsHound will refund the difference.)
RentTheRunway.com provides access to haute couture accessories from famous designers that subscribers may rent and even purchase, sometimes at a discount. For $75 per month, look forward to a pile of statement pieces flowing through your inbox; start with three items and keep them as long as you want or return one or all to your queue.
ReturnSaver.com is an especially nice resource for those of us who buy lots of online goodies. Perhaps a dress or that great-looking pair of shoes need returning, but the store from which we purchased requires a shipping fee. Just check with ReturnSaver; for an annual $49 fee, all returns to any site are FREE (within the merchant's time limit).
RoomerTravel.com sets you up with a person who, for whatever reason, is stuck with a hotel room but can't use. If it's a location you desire or need, the site encourages the "tenant" to sell the room for at least 25 percent less than the original fee and, also, RoomerTravel takes care of all the logistics, such as changing the reservation name.
ShopGeniusApp.com works with Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to show price comparisons, reviews, and, better, coupons as you enjoy your shopping journey.
Tada.com provides thousands of coupons to cut and paste as you shop; moreover, it lists return policies and shipping costs to make life easier.
Take advantage of all 14 website strategies from last week and this to save enough money to make this year's purchases a lot less expensive.
Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer books. Email her at consumer watch@timesfreepress.com.