We’ve all heard about Groupon, but what about discount sites in the suburbs that deliver deals closer to home?
We did the research to find out which sites feature deals in your hometown, or deals you can take advantage of no matter where you live—so you don’t have to fill your inbox with schlock.
All of these sites offer your standard discount site fare: salon/spa services, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, as well as home, fitness and health services.
None of them have a “tipping point” or minimum required number of buyers—meaning these deals are a sure thing the moment you purchase them.
For better experiences with discount sites, remember to customize your account with your zip code to get deals in your area, and always read the fine print.
Area: Park Ridge/Edison Park and Arlington Heights. Libertyville coming soon.
Frequency: 3 deals per week, offered Monday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday, Friday-Sunday.
Many suburban moms already swear by this site, which features “stuff to help families and moms with their day-to-day lives,” according to co-owner Charlie Moriarty. It launched late in the summer.
Unlike other sites, Gleeday is hyper-local: For each community it covers, it features deals within a 7-mile radius. And, the site gives back: For the month of November, Gleeday will donate 5% of its gross sales to Roosevelt Elementary in Park Ridge.
(Plus, the name reminds us of our favorite TV show!)
WeDeal.com
Area: North Shore—including Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Evanston, Lake Forest, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park and more. Also in Chicago’s western suburbs. Evanston/Skokie coming soon.
Frequency: 6 deals a week, offered daily, Friday deal carries through the weekend.
Based in Northbrook and launched in April, this site is the brainchild of Jordan Heller, a Riverwoods father of 3. His goal is to connect customers with high-quality local merchants, and vice versa.
Don’t forget to refer a friend: If you buy a deal and refer a friend who buys it, too, you’ll receive $5 in WeDeal bucks to put toward your next deal.
Area: North Shore—Highland Park, Deerfield, Lake Forest, Morton Grove, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, and more (they’re expanding as you’re reading this).
Frequency: 7 days a week, 24 hours to purchase.
This site, which launched at the end of August, aims to feature “a nice mix” of different kinds of deals in different suburbs, according to co-owner Todd Winer of Deerfield. Discounts vary depending on the merchant.
Area: Chicago and its suburbs.
Frequency: Thousands of coupons and 1-3 group deals offered each day.
No matter where you live, you’re likely to find something you can use on CouponMob, the Evanston-based site that’s set to launch any day now. The site offers thousands of coupons—up to 80% off retail prices—for national chains and big brands, as well as group deals to various local retailers.
MamaLoot.com
Area: Chicago and its suburbs.
Frequency: 5 deals per week, available for 24 hours, Friday deal carries through the weekend. 3-4 per week are in Chicago, and 1-2 are in the suburbs or for use online.
Launched in August by city mom Lindsay Cohen and suburban mom Bo Johnson, this site focuses specifically on moms and the deals that will help them “feed, clothe and entertain their families,” as Cohen puts it. Some of the deals will help moms take a little time for themselves, too.
Since its launch, the site has saved moms more than $15,000, according to Cohen. And, in catering to moms, the site strives to be socially responsible—so you won’t find any deals on chemical cleaners or Botox treatments.
FlyCoupon
Area: Chicago and its suburbs.
Frequency: Daily deals, usually available for a week.
Many of this site’s deals, which offer 50%-90% off at local businesses, are in the suburbs, and it gives you more time to buy—perfect for the indecisive. The site is also dedicated to encouraging customers to buy locally.
Deal? Or no deal? There’s no shortage of these sites, so if you’re not satisfied yet, here are some more that our friends have recommended:
For deals in general:
For deals in Chicago:
For travel:
For dining out:
For weddings:
For deals on Amazon:
Amazon Mom: amazon.com/gp/mom/signup/info
And, we have deals right here! Check our Steals & Deals page or subscribe to the Better Letter to get coupons from our advertisers.
If you have a favorite deal site that’s not mentioned here, let us know by adding it to the comments section below.
