With the academic year approaching, many students and families are searching high and low for ways to keep the tuition bills under control. All that hard work can be a grueling, humorless process. I thought we should take a few minutes to inject a few laughs into the process by noting some really bizarre scholarship opportunities.

Here are 5 of my favorites…

DUCT TAPE PROM: If you and your date are willing to attend your prom wearing nothing but duct tape, you can document your questionable fashion taste and qualify to pursue two $3,000 scholarhsips from the makers of Duck Tap brand duct tape. Back in my day, we rented the cheapest tuxes we could, because we had to pay that one creepy guy with the Camaro a lot of cash to buy our booze. Oh, how times have changed…

JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES: You’ve seen Caddyshack, right? Of course you have. Be the ball. The gopher. The Baby Ruth in the pool. And, of course, the scholarship competition. The Evans Scholars Foundation hands out schoool money for those who thanklessly tote the bags of duffers. I can hear the Kenny Loggins music already. Apparently, this is serious scholarship and is very highly-regarded. At least that’s what Ted Knight told me.

COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY: We all know that those sci-fi geeks from high school go on to get free rides in the engineering departments of the very best colleges. It’s their revenge for all the crap with which they have to put up. That and the fact that geekiness is sort of becoming cool these days. In any case, it seems wholly unnecessary to give anyone who self-identifies as a “Starfleet member” extra money for school. But it happens. The Star Trek super fans can qualify for $500 scholarships. Live long and prosper.

SOUTHPAW PAYOFF: We wrote about this one a few days back, but it’s so good that it warrants inclusion on this list, too. Juniata College allows students who’ve been there for a year and who are left-handed to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Not just any lefty will get the money. You need to be a good student and all that jazz. However, this is the one and only scholarship for the left handed!

KNITTING YOUR WAY TO COLLEGE: The American Sheep Industry Association wants to encourage folks to produce the best-looking wool garments possible. And they’re willing to dole out scholarship money for those who knit them. My granny would’ve had three PhD’s if she had known about this one–and I have the scarves to prove it.

These are only the tip of the iceberg. There are scholarships reserved exclusively for those with certain surnames. Every interest group from the NRA to Tall Club International is interested in funding the higher education of its members and their children. There are scholarships for out of the ordinary hobbies like duck calling and alternative lifestyles like nudism.

They’re all good for a laugh, but these wacky scholarships can also be a reminder that there may be more money out there for you to fund your college education than you realize. Hey, if someone is ready to give you school money for creating a gown out of duct tape or because your mom is a member of the Michigan Llama Association, there’s a good chance that you qualify for one or more scholarships that might not be as obvious as those based on athletic prowess or high SAT scores.

April 15 has come and gone.  Another year of paying Uncle Sam his due (or of getting yours back out of his coffers) is behind us.  This year’s tax day will always stand out to me.  Why?

First, I finally became one of those people who gripes about taxes.  For a few years leading up to this one, I have been a quiet, happy, check-cutting taxpayer.  I was a true believer in the maxim that “taxes are the price of civilization” and didn’t mind paying my federal and state taxes.  I didn’t even write anything hateful in the check memo.  Prior to that, I was a grateful refundee and had nothing about which fell upset.  This year, however, I joined the ranks of grumpy old men who sit around the breakfast table raving on and on about taxes as he eats his oatmeal (with flax seed to help the cholesterol numbers) while his wife nods politely on cue.  It was a quick transition.

Second, I noticed something that’s undoubtedly been around for awhile but that somehow managed to stay under my personal radar until now.  Tax day discounts.

American business love to find any excuse they can to offer promotional sales.  For some reason, we’ve developed a tradition of tying better-than-usual sales offers to holidays.  I’ve never understood what Memorial Day has to do with futons or why I should suddenly need carpet on President’s Day.  The notion that I should purchase a new pickup truck just because it’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day escapes me, too.  But these holidays inevitably lead some marketing wiz to invent a special sale.  Now, having run out of holidays, companies are offering special discounts on tax day.

Interestingly, the carpet outlets seem to be taking a rain check on this one.  In fact, most of the tax day specials are food-related.  Restaurants are the ones striving to make the 15th America’s top “go out and buy your supper so you can gripe about your taxes while eating something other than your flax seed-riddled oatmeal” night!

I suppose I can understand the thinking behind tax day discounts.  Those who are awaiting refunds may be no worse or better off on the 15th, but those who must pay the government probably aren’t in a buying mood.  Nothing makes you less excited about a dinner out than scooping into your cushion to pay your taxes.  A sale, then, might just help to inspire a little purchasing action in the aftermath of April 15th filings.

Plus, I’m convinced that part of it is simply a desire to come up with something to do on a recognized day.  It’s a lot like peddling new hot water heaters right before Thanksgiving or convincing people that their Arbor Day won’t be complete without upgrading their cable package.  It’s an excuse.

The fact that the idea of these discounts stems from either desperation or the twisted need to convert every major life happening into an excuse for consumer spending doesn’t mean that the deals aren’t good.  Some of them are.

Some, like the gimmicky $10.40 menu at McCormick and Schmick’s is a whale of a deal for those who might want to enjoy a little seafood.  They also doubled the tax day love by handing out a coupon for $10.40 off your next trip.  They’re good at this stuff.  That’s, in part, because they’ve been at it for seven years.  (By the way, I don’t know if the almond encrusted trout was on the bargain menu, but you really should try it.  Good stuff).  PF Chang’s took the Ginsu to the price tag, lopping every bill by 15%.

Meanwhile, those experiencing a Big Mac attack had the opportunity to double their pleasure and/or indigestion with a “buy one, get one for a penny” offer.  As tax day doesn’t fall on a Sunday, Chik-Fil-A got into the action with an offer by which you could come back and eat again free within a month.  Taco Del Mar reminded us, “Taxes suck.  Tacos don’t” by giving away a freebie to everyone who signed up for a special coupon.

Those are just a few examples.  This year, it seemed like every restaurant around was doing something on tax day.

One food-related business, Whole Foods (a fine source for multi-grain hot breakfast cereals featuring flax seed, by the way) was planning on running a deal wherein they’d allow you to purchase your groceries without paying the sales tax.  They were going to pick up the tab.  Apparently, that led to some potential legal issues and the 15th was just like any other day at the chain.  I don’t know why they couldn’t just advertise a discount equal to individual store’s sales tax rate, but I’m not an attorney specializing in the sale of organic produce and multi-grain cereal products.

So, keep your eyes open next year for more tax day discounts.  You might find a good deal if you just can’t bring yourself to cook due to taxpaying-related depression.

I’m one of those guys.  You know the kind.  Someone tells them about a great idea or a seemingly wonderful approach to something and they start thinking about why it couldn’t possibly work.  I’m not negative, really.  I just like to test other people’s notions before taking them for granted.

Anyway, when I heard about The Grocery Game I instantly started coming up with reasons why this “coupon and sales tracking” system for saving money on groceries couldn’t really work.  I came up with a series of objections to “the Game”, thinking it was probably one of those “more effort than it’s worth” propositions.

Something interesting happened, though.  As I continued researching The Grocery Game, many of my objections melted away in the face of new information.  By the time I sat down to write this post, I was ready to give this thing a shot.

Here’s how it works, in a nutshell.  You pay The Grocery Game, which is a for-profit website, a nominal monthly fee.  In return, they supply you with what basically amounts to a database to help you go grocery shopping.  It tells you what coupons you need and where to get them.  It also tells you what stuff is on sale at a great price.  Best of all, it merges that information so that you know what to buy to get really rock-bottom deals.

The folks who run The Grocery Game, namely a woman by the name of Teri Gault, apparently have the right connections to get all of the necessary data and the way they organize the information makes it appear to be very easy to put the plan into effect.

Now, I’m not a big coupon clipper, generally speaking.  I’ve always felt that it would encourage me to buy expensive stuff at a marginal discount when cheaper alternatives were available.  I also felt like I would spend more time sorting through cereal coupons than the savings could ever be worth.

The Grocery Game, however, only advises using coupons when their net effect produces a truly hellacious bargain.  Additionally, it gives you a good idea of what coupons you actually need to bother with.  Yes, one could come up with this information by himself or herself, but for the price it makes more sense to me to have someone else do the dirty work.  Quite frankly, I don’t have the time, energy or interest to do that kind of homework and I doubt most other people do, either.

It appears to me that “the Game” rests on a few fairly solid premises.  It advocates stockpiling essential items when they’re dirt cheap so that you have them when you need them at a fraction of the price you’d otherwise pay.  It encourages coupon use only at optimal moments.

But the proof is in the pudding, as they say.  So, I started looking for some anecdotal evidence from real-life folk who have tried this system.  Some of the report some pretty amazing results.  Most everyone seems to think they come out ahead after paying for the data.  Even more critical assessments stop way short of considering the Grocery Game a non-starter.  After all, you’re looking at a few bucks per month–it doesn’t take much to justify the expense.

The more I read, the more I liked it.  Although some of my objections to the idea are still valid for those with certain consumption habits, etc., most of them just vanished as I learned more.

So, after years of eschewing coupons and believing in my own well-honed abilities to spot a good bargain, I have decided to give this thing a shot.  We just finished a heavy-duty round of grocery shopping, so it will be a few weeks before I can enter the store in full Grocery Game mode, but when I do, I’ll be sure to report back to you on the results.  I doubt I’ll experience 90% savings or anything, but I have a strong feeling that I’ll end up considering the nominal investment extremely worthwhile.

Is using a Roth IRA as your emergency fund a good idea or not?

Everyone recognizes (or should recognize) the need for a good emergency fund.  If you happen upon hard times or unforeseen expenses, you’ll be happy that you socked away the equivalent of several month’s income.  A solid emergency fund is so important that many financial advisers make it THE top priority for someone who’s trying to get his or her financial house in order.

Generally speaking, you want your emergency fund to have a few basic characteristics:

1.  Liquidity.  It isn’t much of an emergency fund if you can’t get to the money in case of emergency.  Thus, you need to have fast access to any funds set aside for crisis resolution.

2.  Stability.  You may have room for some high-risk/high-yield investing in your life, but your emergency fund isn’t the place.  It’s money set aside for serious situations and you generally don’t want to expose it to much risk.

3.  Sufficiency.  Remember, this is the money that would keep you afloat in a “worst case scenario”.  You need to have enough of it set aside to protect you if the going gets rough.

Many people have noticed that your contributions to a Roth IRA can be yanked out at any time and that there’s no negative tax implication to doing that.   That makes it appear to be a credible place to maintain your emergency fund.  But is it?  Let’s look…

The money you used to fund the Roth was taxed as income when you first received it, after all.  Although the IRS isn’t known for having a heart of gold, even it is unwilling to beat you up on that money twice.

Please note, that isn’t the same as pulling out your Roth IRA earnings.  If you start trying to access the gains you’ve made from your Roth IRA contributions to meet an emergency need, Uncle Sam won’t blink an eye over levying a tax on your gains.

So, contributing to a Roth IRA has long-term investment value.  You can also pull out your contributions, as necessary.  Sounds like a perfect emergency fund option, right?

Not exactly.  Although it is a credible alternative to other popular emergency fund accounts (high yield savings accounts come to mind), there are few factors to consider before putting your “worst case scenario” cash in a Roth.

First, there’s the issue of liquidity.  Before you even think about using the Roth for your emergency fund, find out exactly how long it will take you to go from requesting a withdrawl to having a check in your hands.  For some folks, that will be a matter of minutes.  Others may find that it could take several weeks.  Consider what the lag time would mean to you in terms of meeting emergency needs.  If the lag time associated with your account is significant, it could be a reason not to to start using a Roth IRA as your emergency fund.

Second, consider the nature of your Roth investments and whether you need or want to trade them.  If you’re being very conservative with your Roth (i.e. putting your contributions in money market accounts), the idea of pulling out part of your contributions in case of emergency may not seem like a horrible idea.  If, on the other hand, your Roth contains stock holdings and other more volatile investments, you might want to rethink the plan.  After all, do you really want to sell a stock that’s temporarily undervalued instead of eventually achieving gains on the investment?  That can happen when the Roth is your emergency fund.  You might need to drop assets for less than you’d like to meet that short term need–at the expense of tomorrow.

Overall, using a Roth IRA as your emergency fund isn’t a bad idea.  There are a few things to consider, though.  If those issues resonate with you, it may be better to build a separate emergency fund in an immediately-accessible, low risk account of some sort.

Zecco, which is a phonetic representation of the acrononym ZCO (zero commission cost), is an online trading platform that’s been around since 2006.  The company has managed to weather a nasty economy and the related drop in small investor market participation by making a few adjustments to its approach.

Here’s a brief overview of Zecco and what it’s all about.  If you’re looking for a place to buy and sell without broker assistance or huge costs, it might be a good option for you.

Zecco’s Legitimacy

Before you start signing up to invest your money with anyone, you should ascertain their legitimacy.  Zecco appears to be a legitimate, legal entity.  In addition to the their 3-year track record and a large number of happy customers, Zecco is a subsidiary of Equinox Securities.  According to Bargaineering:

Equinox Securities (CRD# 135398, SEC# 8-66916) registered as a corporation in California on 01/21/2005 and is located in Ontario, CA. It’s currently not suspended by any regulator and has not yet had any Arbitration Awards, Disciplinary and/or Regulatory Events. I downloaded the full Equinox Securities Report and you can see Zecco Trading listed on page 4.

CashMoneyLife gives us some additional reasons to feel confident about Zecco:

Zecco is a member of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which is the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. Zecco is covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which is an organization that acts as insurance against your broker filing for bankruptcy or otherwise going under.

Basic Structure

Finding that we should doubt the premise that Zecco might be a phony scheme operated out of low-rent motels by recent parolees is great, but being legit is only part of what makes an investment platform attractive.  The actual structure and standards for participation are pretty darn important, too.

Accounts at Zecco are free and there isn’t a minimum deposit requirement.  It takes just a few minutes to get things set up.

Right now, Zecco is charging $4.50 per trade.  If you maintain a balance in excess of $25,000 and make at least 25 trades per month, you qualify for ten free trades.  Options contracts cost an addition fifty cents.

$4.50 trades aren’t a horrific deal, but for Zecco veterans they may seem a little expensive.  That’s because the company was offering freebies to folks with balances of only $2,500 and it doesn’t appear as if there was a 25-trade requirement at that time.  The changing nature of the economy and overall decreases in stock market participation led Zecco to change their policy.  Keep that in mind when reading Zecco reviews–many of them were written before this policy change.

Overall, though, $4.50 per trade is a decent deal and the right combination of extras could make Zecco one of the best trading options available.  So, let’s look for some nice extras…

Zecco Extras

Let’s start with the Zecco Zirens.  Zecco went out and hired a handful of spokesmodels/actresses to record a series of trading instruction videos.  They named this crew the Zecco Zirens.  The videos themselves do contain some valuable information and can be really handy for newbie investors.

The cheese factor, however, is high.  I really can’t imagine that this approach is doing much to increase Zecco’s perceived legitimacy or seriousness.  If you need an attractive teacher in a little black dress to teach you about an option call, however, Zecco has that covered.   The photo accompanying this post features one of the ZZ’s.

Zecco also has a very active member community.  If you want your investment with a heavy dose of Web 2.0 interaction, it’s a pretty good choice.  The forums are hopping and Zecco makes it easy for folks to make contact and to discuss matters amongst themselves.

If you’re looking a place to manage your trades, Zecco seems like a pretty reasonable option.  They’re legit, they have a solid basic structure and at least some of their added options have real value.

When I think of Macy’s, I think of three things other than the big Thanksgiving parade.

First, I think of their current logo scheme and the way they’re branding by emphasizing that big red star.  I love it.  Yes, it certainly does have a sort of Red China feel about it.  I think that’s what I like, though.  It’s bold and it’s memorable.  Sears can emphasize its “softer side” all day, but Macy’s looks like it’s trying to lead us toward some Great Leap Forward in retail.   Love it.

Second, I think of David Sedaris’ “Holidays on Ice” which features a story about working at the world’s biggest Macy’s as one of Santa’s helpers during the holiday season.  His recounting of what it was like to play elf at Macy’s is a hoot and a half.

Third, I think of those great Macy’s coupons that can save people a pretty penny.  Okay, I really don’t think about that as often as I think about the red star or Sedaris, but I’m thinking about it right now.  Macy’s is a popular place to shop and people are digging for coupons.  I wouldn’t mind a few myself.  They usually have decent stuff there.

If you read my recent post about finding Dillard’s coupons, I have some bad news for you.  You can almost replace the word “Dillard’s” with “Macy’s” and you’d have the correct information either way.  This is another situation in which the store in question just doesn’t make much of an effort to circulate online coupons.

Instead, they rely on their own website to offer promotions and to advertise special sales.  Just like with Dillard’s, you can sign up to get emails from Macy’s alerting you to all the super-bargains that you’ d absolutely hate to miss.

Just like the Dillard’s situation, most of the links you find to “Macy’s coupons” are actually affiliate links to the store’s site.  Even some of the most reliable coupon sites out there, like RetailMeNot don’t have much more to do than redirect traffic.  That’s just the way it is when the store in question isn’t ga-ga over coupons.  So, you’re left in that same position.  You can browse Macy’s site on your own or you can rely on a coupon/deal aggregator to point you in the right direction.  You pay the same no matter what.  Someone else does get a little spiff if you make a purchase, however, if you follow one of those third-party links.  It’s your call.

All of that being said, there is one way to find Macy’s coupons online.  If you can find a full PDF file of a paper in which the Macy’s folks are advertising, you might just get lucky.  Here’s an example.  It’s a 10%-20% coupon (depending on what category of stuff you’re buying) that appeared in the St. Pete Times.  Unfortunately, those who live outside of the friendly confines of the sunshine state are not going to have much of a chance to use it–it’s valid for Florida stores only.

This little ad sends a big message, though.  It means that real-life printed Macy’s coupons exist.  You might not be able to find online coupons in a few easy mouse clicks but there is, apparently, room to find some bargains if you’re ready to sort through your paper with a pair of scissors or to read full-copy PDF’s of  the Sunday newspaper with a pair of scissors in your hand and a lust for bargains in your heart!

Six Flags Magic Mountain has a lot of stuff to do.  I’m sure the food is great.  There are undoubtedly some fun shows.  There are probably some lazy, enjoyable rides.

But when I think about SFMM, I think about one thing…  Nearly urinating my pants and/or vomiting as I’m hurled through time and space, playing nearly impossible games with gravity while locked into a SERIOUS roller coaster.  Magic Mountain boasts no fewer than 16 roller coasters that rate either a “moderate” or “max” thrill factor.

If you can stomach the coasters, you can get into Six Flags on the cheap.  This LA entertainment tradition does a great job of providing cut-rate ways for families to get into the complex.

Although the printable Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons offered by the State of California last year have expired, you shouldn’t have much problem finding new ones.  I wouldn’t be surprised in Arnold didn’t have the state print up another batch for this year.  Until the Governator gets his act together, however, I’d recommend starting with a look-see at the Magic Mountain site.  They often have some great specials and coupons.  It’s pretty common to find “two for one deals” there.

If that doesn’t do the trick, you might want to consider a cool, refreshing Coca Cola.  Quenching your thirst can save you some big money, as Magic Mountain coupons frequently appear right on the good ol’ 12 oz. can.  SFMM and Coke have a nice little summer vacation symbiosis thing happening, and these offers usually aren’t too hard to find if you’re in the LA area.  (Note:  The above-referenced link verifies the Coke ads, but it also recommends the old “lick your hand” and share the admission stamp scheme.  We don’t advocate sneaking in or entering under false premises here.  We’re all about saving money, but we do draw the line before we stray into the realm of criminal activity).

Coke isn’t the only coaster sponsor and Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons also appear at area grocery stores like Ralph’s and at big-name fast food joints like Burger King and McDonalds.  All three are worth a look if you’re motivated to get into Magic Mountain on the cheap.

Finding online sources for these coupons isn’t as easy as you might think, however.  Even usually reliable sources for great coupons and discounts like CouponMountain can offer little more than a link back to Magic Mountain’s own website.  Online coupons do show up occasionally (like the State of CA offering), but not nearly as much as do traditional “hard” coupons.

You can also check for SFMM cupons on eBay.  The auction monster is usually overflowing with sales on Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons and discounts.  It may cost you a little bit of money this way, but you’ll still be able to net huge savings.  Take a good look at the coupons and examine the expiration dates before making a buy, though.

If you’re looking for a summer trip that involves feeling as if you’re strapped to a get engine on rails, don’t pay full price.  You might need to work a little harder to find Magic Mountain coupons than you would to save a quarter on a box of Wheaties, but the potential savings are worth the effort.  Entertainment is rarely cheap and theme park entertainment has NEVER been cheap.  That’s not going to change this summer.

Oh, and if you’re planning to ride The Viper, you might want to consider scheduling your ride before you have a meal.  It’s that awesome.

You’re looking for Applebee’s coupons?  I’m sorry.

Seriously, consider an alternative eatery.  No matter where you live, there is undoubtedly a better option than Applebee’s.  Someone else will prepare a better meal.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m not big fan of Applebee’s.  Or Chili’s.  Or Friday’s.  Or any other generic suburban replacement for an actual diner or restaurant.  The food is uninspired.  Quality takes a backseat to making something that everyone from toddler to senior citizen can comfortably gum without the risk of encountering flavor.  Oh, at least one Applebee’s had an issue spreading shigella.  Shigella?  Seriously, folks.

Oh, and there was that episode in which the lizard corpse mysteriously appeared in a salad.  Yum!

But I know something.  I know that I could present an ironclad argument against Applebee’s–an attack so honest, fierce and well-developed that no one could overcome it.  And even if I did that, some folks would tell me to take a hike as they negotiated their local suburban roads in hot pursuit of boring chicken fingers with equally boring honey mustart dipping sauce (or mega-sweet “BBQ” sauce for the daring).

I don’t understand the appeal of Applebee’s, but they don’t have nearly 2,000 locations because people agree with me.  Some folks love it and they’re out there looking for coupons.  Who am I to stand in their way, right?

So, here’s the scoop on finding coupons for Applebee’s.

Look locally. The national chain doesn’t seem to offer many online coupons.  Local franchises, however, may very well hook you up with a better-than-menu-price deal.

Buy ‘em. People find print coupons for Applebee’s every once in awhile and then sell them via eBay and other sites.  It may feel strange to pay for a coupon, but if your five bucks will save you ten, it’s a winner.

Check the regular sources. Go ahead and check all of the usual online coupon sites.  Once, in a great while, an actual Applebee’s coupon or coupon code will show up.  I gotta tell you, though, it’s rare.  You’re more likely to find entries that “sound” like coupons but actually end up being nothing more than mentions of Applebee’s national specials, which don’t require anything more than a willingness to show up.  Some of these deals are pretty decent—two full meals for twenty bucks, for instance–but they’re not actual Applebee’s coupons, per se.

Stick your hand in the horse’s mouth. You might want to visit Applebee’s website.  I have no evidence to suggest that they send subscribers to their email list coupons, but they might.  And, if you’re a fan of Applebee’s, you’ll want the information they do provide.  They describe their mailings like this:

If you’d like to receive our email updates featuring new menu items, special events, and other news, enter your information below.

If you like the place, you should sign up.

Now, there are a handful of ways to find the coupons you want.  Now it’s time to mention a popular offer for a free Applebee’s gift card that is not worth your time or effort.

For whatever reason, Applebee’s has been the repeated target of a scam email that promises readers a gift card in exchange for forwarding the email to a specified number of other people.  This offer is compete and utter nonsense.  It’s been annoying enoug to the folks at A-bee’s that they’eve even dedicated web space to explain that the whole thing is a hoax.  Don’t fall for it!

If I managed to talk you out of eating at Applebee’s (that dead lizard story is at least a little persuasive, I hope), I’m happy to have provided a valuable service.

If you’re still sold on the idea of eating there, I hope that the advice herein can at least save you a few bucks!

Are there really Dillard’s coupons floating around out there?  I’m tempted to give a flat-out “no” in response to that question, but there may be a few circulating in local Sunday papers.  So, I’ll stop short of saying that.

I will, however, tell you that you’re not going to find any great coupons for the big shopping mall anchor retailer online.

Bad news, I know.   But it’s about time that one of the eighty kerbillion web pages referencing “Dillard’s coupons” told you the truth.

Here’s what happens when you search for Dillard’s coupons…  You get tons of search results featuring sites that are labeled as if they have Dillard’s coupons.  When you actually click on the links for any of those coupons, however, you’re not actually delivered to a coupon.  Instead, you’re sent to Dillard’s website–usually to one of their specials or sales.

Now, that’s not a bad thing.  Some of their sales are quite good.  They often have a great free shipping thing going for online purchases, too.  The fact of the matter, however, is that you’re not finding anything you’d be unable to find on your own by browsing Dillard’s site.

So, why are all of these other “coupon” sites providing you with these direct links to Dillard’s offers that anyone can access on their own?  They’re making money by delivering customers to the site.  It’s affiliate marketing.

If you click on a link at a coupon site and subsequently purchase something from Dillard’s, that referrer is going to get a commission payment for providing the traffic (you).  As such, all of these “coupon” sites have a vested interest in making you think that you’re getting some sort of amazing deal thanks to their efforts.

Now, I’m not saying that you should avoid doing things that way.  Not at all.  Affiliate marketing is a perfectly legitimate enterprise and those sites work hard to get your attention.   Many of them do a heckuva job parsing out all of the specials and sales, too, which can make it easier to find a good deal.  It’s not like they’re ripping you off or anything.

However, it’s not like they’re providing you with some sort of actual coupon that will provide you with some kind of additional savings, either.

So, if you’re all about cutting out the middle person (remember, though, it won’t save you a dime), you can just cruise on over to Dillard’s sites and do your thing.

My advice?  Do whatever makes you feel better.  It doesn’t make a difference.

I will say this, though.  Some of the sites that are providing those affiliate links to Dillard’s do a great job of providing “real” coupons and savings opportunities for other stores.  So, if you frequently save money by using one of those sites, you might want to consider using it to find a good deal at Dillard’s.  The commission they’ll get from your purchases can be your little way of thanking them for their good work.

One other note…  If you’re worried about missing a great deal at Dillard’s, you can sign up for their email list.  They promise to keep subscribers up-to-date about relevant special offers and sales.  I’m sure you’ll occasionally receive an email that doesn’t do much for you, but that annoyance will probably be outweighed by getting the scoop on good deals in a timely fashion.  It’s still not a source of genuine Dillard’s coupons, but it might be the next best thing.  There’s a little spot to sign up on the top of every page at their site.

Sorry I couldn’t lead you to the promised land of 75% off Dillard’s coupons.  If they were out there, I’d let you know.  The fact of the matter is that the store, unlike competitor JC Penney’s, just doesn’t issue any online coupons.  From what I can tell, offline versions are a little scarce, too.