10 Sites to Help Save Gas and Money

The massive BP oil spew in the Gulf of Mexico has many feeling hopeless. While it’s true we can’t personally plug the leak, there are things we can do to consume less oil and perhaps lessen our need for BP and its brethren.

Prime example? Leave the car in the driveway and harness the power of one or more of these websites, all of which could help you save time, gas and money:

1. Bargain Elegance

You may not be able to go to your favorite museum this summer but most offer online stores – with clearance centers. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was recently offering 75 percent off some items at its sale site. Museum members get an extra 10 percent off. And if you’re buying online now you get an extra 20 percent off purchases of at least $50. The Museum of Fine Arts Boston also offers a clearance center with books, jewelry and other artwork on sale. So does the Field Museum in Chicago with its famed dinosaur and natural history collections.

2. Artful Sales

You don’t have to go to an expensive gallery to buy art. UGallery.com has daily deals on original art.

3. Daily Deals

Woot.com gives you daily deals on a wide range of wares, from a scanner to fine wines. DODTracker.com offers daily deals or weekly ones. Example? It recently was offering $250 off a Brinks Security purchase as well as deals on computers, clothing and other retail items.

4. Government Sales

Even Uncle Sam is getting in on the online business by offering you a chance to buy surplus or scrap materials from dozens of agencies. Check out USA.gov’s list of Government Sales and Auctions by Agency.

5. Online Driving Directions

Now you don’t have to waste gas by driving around to find good deals at estate sales or auctions. You can get emails through EstateSales.net on sales in your neighborhood.

6. Coupon Savings

You can get coupons unique to your neighborhood by goings to CouponMap.com. Or go to Coupon Craze, or even download a coupons app for your smart phone.

7. Discount Codes

Now you find discount codes for purchases at many retailers and their websites. RetaiMeNot even offers a newsletter that reports good sales.

8. Big Ticket Items

Buy furniture, cars and boats through Craigslist. The website, Craiglook finds deals on Craigslist for you within 250 miles of your home. Or join One Kings Lane (it’s free) to buy high-end things for your castle for up to 70 percent off. On Saturdays there are online tag sales.

9. Friends Count

If you have lots of friends you can save big – sometimes by more than 50 percent — by going to Group.com or LivingSocial. They offer special deals as long as a required minimum number of people buy. You are out of luck, though, if you are in a small town. These websites cater to those in urban areas.

10. Tasty on the Cheap

Need a special gift for your fav foodie? The website, Restaurant.com, offers $25 gift certificates for $10, and sometimes as little as $2. You can search restaurants near you or around the country. Bonus: Check out the Money Talks Deals page! We have links to dozens of deal sites from all over the web, all in one place!