GroupON it

Groupon: the mighty power of group discounts.

I had my first experience with Groupon this weekend.

What is a Groupon you ask? It is a group coupon through a forum that alerts users of group discounts in their area.  Here is what a daily Groupon looks like in your inbox. Deals include restaurants, spas, museums, art galleries, theater tickets and even laser hair removal in your city (plus anything else you could think of).

The catch is that you only have a certain amount of time to buy the Groupon. Note the "Time Left To Buy" countdown. There is also usually a liberal amount of time for you to redeem the Groupon after you purchase it.

You decided you'd really like this deal so you purchase it. There is, however, a catch. A minimum number of people have to buy the same Groupon before anyone can actually redeem it. It's a different minimum number depending on the deal and sometimes there is a maximum number of Groupons available. Note the little check mark that says "The Deal is on!" that means enough people have purchased it to be valid.

If you get the Groupon, your credit card will be charged and you will receive an e-mail sharing a link to your Groupons. You can print out your Groupon from your account on the site. If you don't get the Groupon, your card will not be charged, but you also don't get that great deal. Its a little risky...I like that.

Print out your Groupon or, get this, you can even pull it up on a mobile device and have them scan it from there (way to be green!) and you're good to go!

I used a Groupon for $10 entry fee into the Newseum in Washington, D. C. when the regular entry fee is about $20.  (Factor in parking and the metro, and that's an expensive trip, but I saved $10 which could translate into 1/3 tank of gas or groceries)

View from the 6th floor of the Newseum

Me and my news!

The Groupon is a great idea and even if you delete most of the daily deals, you're sure to find something that you want eventually. You can also buy Groupons gift cards for people to buy their own Groupons that tickle their fancy (and no shipping). I also like that you don't have to redeem your Groupon right away and usually have a few months to use your Groupon at a convenient time for you.

You can find deals in more than 150 cities and 23 countries. So if you plan ahead, you can even purchase Groupons for cities and countries you are planning to visit! So sign up and start discovering some awesome deals.