10 Extremely Useful Websites That Can Save You Big Money in a Bad Economy

The American economy is being stifled with rising gas costs, food costs and a weakening US Dollar. An estimated 60 million Americans have no health insurance, and if they have insurance, it does not cover all medical conditions. Low wages and job losses to China, Mexico and India have further caused a toll on the average American family.

All of this bad economic news is for want of a better word, disturbing. Although there are many things that we can do to save on our daily purchases, many of us will never do anything to lessen the economic pain that we will surely experience during a recession or even worst, a depression. This article will not help those folks, because they do not want to help themselves.

Most of the programs featured in this article are completely free, but there are a few that are not free. Free isn't always better, because it sometimes costs money to provide outstanding service and to make a reliable product. However, those services or products that require a sum to use or participate in their programs still cost less than the services that you probably use today.

1. Prescriptions 4 Free

   
   
   Use this website to enroll in a free Patient Assistance Program that US drug manufacturers have established in order to assist the financially stressed individuals or families who have no other prescription drug insurance coverage, have low income, or are not eligible for 3rd party assistance such as Medicare. Over 1,300 prescription drugs are currently covered under the free Patient Assistance Programs, so saving potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars is just a few clicks away.

2. Gas Buddy

   
   
   Gas prices all across America are outrageously high, but it's a good thing that there is still some choice left in the market. Use GasBuddy.com to locate the cheapest fuel prices in a city near you. Choose by state, city or county and locate real-time gas prices near are. Anytime, anywhere and for free.

3. Magicjack

   
   
   MagicJack is a relatively new phone service that allows people to make local and long distance phone calls to anywhere within the United States and Canada for one low annual price of $19.95. This service alone can save hundreds of extra dollar per year.

4. Gizmo5

   
   
   Save loads of money on your mobile phone with Gizmo5. Only 1.9 cents per minute is an incredible price savings when compared with the standard mobile phone rate of 22.9 cents per minute. Using your desktop computer to make calls to both landlines and mobile phones definitely makes sense, and it will help you to save some serious money.

5. Free Shipping

   
   
   With fuel prices continuing to rise and retail prices following close behind, the Internet is looking more and more ideal to use for shopping. Browsing through online product catalogs in order to locate the everyday purchases that we must rely on is only but one good reason to start shopping on the Internet. The second good reason takes form through free shipping retailers. FreeShipping.org offers visitors more than 600 online retailers that offer no doubt the second most attractive benefit of shopping online - Free Shipping.

6. Retailmenot

   
   
   Shopping on the Internet has come a long way since its early beginnings. These days, shopping on the Internet can save shoppers hundreds or thousands of dollars on their everyday purchases and also provide a safe, secure and convenient way to shop in a very increasingly dangerous world. RetailMeNow.com is a comprehensive website where consumers can find online coupon codes for some of their favorite online retailers to save even more money. One of the single most expensive expenses that most Americans face on a week-to-week basis is buying groceries. The prices of food are not immune to inflation and are usually affected negatively by high fuel costs and the weakening US Dollar. Saving money on food and groceries has become much more important to the average American family. Clipping coupons can save a family of 4 hundreds of dollars per month, when used at retailers that offer double or triple the coupon value. Not using coupons is just like throwing money down the drain.

7. Coupon Mom

   
   
   Use this website to locate grocery coupons, grocery deals by state, online coupon codes and so much more neat stuff to save on. Treat yourself and your family to a nice meal and save yourself money when you present the restaurant coupon that you found on 'The Coupon Mom'.

8. Valpak

   
   
   Due to the importance that I feel coupons play in today's troubling economic times, I have to share with the rest of you my first hand experience with Valpak coupon savings. Valpak is delivered through the mail every few months in my neighborhood containing valuable savings at local retailers, services and restaurants. Valpak coupons have saved my family hundreds of dollars in savings through the years and that means a lot to the family.

9. Free Grocery Coupons

   
   
   Here's your chance to save even more money at the grocery store when you visit this website and sign-up to receive your free grocery coupon card that is worth up to $250 dollars in grocery coupons. A penny saved is a penny earned and this grocery coupon is free, so you have nothing to lose.

10. Travel Discounts

    
    
    How does that old saying go, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Even in hard economic times, treating yourself and your family to a nice vacation is important to refresh your soul and give you some simple enjoyment out of life. Using 'Travel Discounts' will help you spend less and get more bang for your vacationing buck. Save on everything that you will need for a nice and entertaining vacation to fabulous destinations all over the world.