6 sites for shoppers

Don't buy online without them.
Sites such as MyBargainBuddy.com, Slickdeals.net, Ben's Bargains and Deals of America specialize in sniffing out good buys. Some have specialties: Ben's Bargains, for example, is heavy on computer and electronics gear, while MyBargainBuddy is especially attuned to stuff for the home.
But Dealnews rises above the competition for a number of reasons:
The site keeps track of past sale prices.Sometimes what looks like a deal really isn't. Knowing an item's past sale history helps you know whether you're getting a bargain. DeepDiscount.com
The site has a "hotness" scale.The scale reflects both the depth of the discount and the desirability of the item.
The site is well-designed and easy to navigate.
The site finds deals many of the others miss. WilsonsLeather.com
The site is updated frequently.
A note on coupons: You should always, always search around for coupons before you complete a Web purchase. Dealnews typically finds the best coupons for the deals it highlights and maintains a long list of coupons for various retailers, but no bargain or coupon site captures every discount. Use a search engine to look for "coupon" or "promotion code" and the name of the retailer you're using to find the hidden deals.
Coupons, gossip and a little extra
FatWallet is another excellent bargain-finding site with standout features:
Rebates.
Lively forums.
Free 'price protection'
PriceProtector makes this process automatic - and free. If you buy something at one of the 70 listed retailers and the price drops during that store's price-protection period (typically 30 days), you'll get an e-mail notifying you with instructions on how to claim a refund.
Hear from the shopper who's bought one
Amazon.com doesn't always have the best prices on everything, but the mega-retailer was among the first to encourage user reviews, and the sheer volume of opinions is reason enough to bookmark the site.
Speaking of reviews, you also should consider bookmarking Epinions.com and BizRate for feedback on products, businesses and sites not covered by Amazon.
Another feature at Amazon I like: the redesigned bargain feature, now called "Today's Deals," at the top of the home page. Deals are featured for a few hours each, and you can get a good idea of a product's desirability by how quickly it's snapped up - something that's tracked in a "percent claimed" graphic that includes a countdown of how much longer the sale will last. Some of the lesser deals fail to sell out, while the best ones disappear in minutes.
The smart shopper's taste tester
Most of the sites I've singled out are free, and some, such as FatWallet, even pay you to sign up. Consumer Reports posts some free information and reviews, but the $26 annual subscription fee to access the whole site is well worth the cost.
Simply put, you shouldn't make a major purchase, or many minor ones, without consulting Consumer Reports. The nonprofit organization subjects an array of products to rigorous testing and thorough, objective reviews, and its buying advice can help you make sense of your options. You'll come away with plenty of information to make sound choices.
Head-to-head price comparisons
As with bargain sites, there are many good contenders in the price-comparison space, including MSN Shopping, Google Product Search (I still miss the old name, Froogle), MySimon and Shopzilla. All can help you track down low prices on most of the things you want to buy.
PriceGrabber.com stands out for its design and ease of navigation. Prices are easy to compare, as are the retailers' reputations. If there's too much negative feedback, or no feedback at all, you'll know to choose somewhere else to buy.
Check your balances before it's too late
If you haven't already, sign up for online access to your financial accounts and bookmark the Web sites for easy retrieval.
Why? Because it's not savvy shopping to overdraw your checking account or pile up more credit card charges than you can pay off when the bill arrives. Bargain hunting won't do you much good if you face over-limit fees of $30 to $40 a pop or double-digit finance charges. Before you buy, make sure you can afford it.