by Michele Johansen

With the economy making a slow comeback, many families are looking for ways to save money on everything from groceries to vacations. Mail and newspapers offer a wealth of coupons, but there are some amazing deals online. The trick is to know which websites to bookmark!

We've found five sites that will save you a bundle on items you use daily and on those bigger, once in awhile spends. Check them out and start saving!

Zulily.com

Zulily is a new website that offers amazing deals for babies, kids, and moms. If you haven't checked it out yet, you need to. How it works: You'll need to sign up but membership is free and only requires your email address. Once you've logged in, you have access to daily sales events that are up to 70% off of some amazing brands – including Baby Nay, Imps & Elfs, Kate Quinn Organics, and Melissa and Doug. Events usually run for four days, but sizes and items are limited. And Zulily lists upcoming sales in their daily emails. Oh, and a bonus: Use the link on the Zulily events page to invite your friends – for every friend that signs up, you receive a $10 credit when your buddy makes their first purchase.

Groupon.com

Groupon is a fun website has developed a dedicated following, taking advantage of the daily deals offered in local areas. Here's how it works: Sign up for the free emails and each day in your mailbox you'll receive information on the day's awesome deal. You might get 50% off a meal at a restaurant, a discounted massage, a great rate for a hotel, or a lower-than-usual price at a local spa. You never know what kind of deal will show up and it's always exciting to see what kind of surprise is waiting for you in your inbox!

Slickdeals.net

Slickdeals takes it up a notch when it comes to money saving and deal finding websites. How it works: Each day the website lists the deals of the day. Some deals have a time limit and you're able to quickly view which ones have expired. You can also check out deals from previous days. If you just want to see what's happening today, click on the day bar with the date and it will list all of the specials, from books to electronics to toys and more. There are also forums in which registered users (free to join) can sign up and discuss deals or list them. One cool forum? The freebie forum! You can learn about how and where to find freebies for products you might be interested in!

SmarterTravel.com

Here are two well known facts about travel: It isn't easy and it isn't cheap. That changes a bit with SmarterTravel. How it works: Check out the website for last-minute deals to a variety of locations as well as deals on hotel and car rentals. There aren't daily deals, but information is updated frequently. The site keeps tabs on rates from websites like Expedia and Travelocity. SmarterTravel also offers travel tips to make vacations smoother and a really great guide to the fees that each airline has, from baggage fees to hidden fees you might not know about. The next time you plan a trip, head to SmarterTravel first.

FatWallet.com

FatWallet has become very well known in the frugal families circle. Try it once and you'll be hooked. How it works: The site offers three ways to find deals, all of them extremely easy. You can choose between typing in the name of a store, clicking on a product category, or checking out the Best Deals tab. Once again you'll find forums that will help you locate deals as well as share them with others. You'll find items up to 80% off the original price, coupons for free meals, and discounted rates to local events.

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