MADISON (WKOW) -- These days, people go to great lengths to find a good deal, and now, more online deal sites are popping up.
Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are very popular. It's an opportunity to try new things, but not break the bank. Madison is full of local deals.
"There's always a little rush when you know you've gotten a great deal on something," says Jill Costello, a DeForest stay-at-home mom with two young kids. Jill is always on the lookout for a great deal.
"When you live on one income you kind of have to figure out where can you save, where can you tighten," says Jill.
Now, Jill's found her dream job: saving money while still being home for the kids. She created the website "Madison Consumer". It's a blog that's a one stop shop for online deals.
"So people who are like me and feel really overwhelmed, we can kind of do it together," says Jill.
Jill gathers all the deals she can find online, puts them on her site, and also shares them on Facebook and Twitter.
At Living Social and Groupon, they offer sales for anything from family centers, gyms, salons and restaurants. Most deals are 50 percent off a featured item or service.
All kinds of businesses are looking to find new customers online. The owners of Tangles Salon and Spa in Middleton are just one. They're recovering from a fire last fall.
"It pretty much damaged and destroyed everything in our space," says Kelli McDonough, co-owner.
The salon sold thousands of deals through Groupon, and the owners say the site kept their customers coming back after the fire.
In fact, they sold so many deals, they're the number two healthy and beauty Groupon sellers in all of Wisconsin. The salon will appear in an upcoming Groupon TV ad, to tell their story. The owners say the site is a great marketing tool.
"It's an amazing opportunity, you know we've sold so many of them and we've worked so hard," says co-owner Dion Puzon.
But not all business owners had the same experience.
"I think that by using these sites you're actually hurting the local economy," says Mary Sweeney, owner of Sweeney Photography in Madison.
Sweeney put her photography studio on Groupon last year, hoping to reach out to new customers. Sweeney sold a lot at a discounted rate, but she says it didn't end up as she'd expected.
"I have had one family that has come back again out of the almost 50 that I sold," says Sweeney.
Sweeney says in the end, she lost money to people looking for a one time unbelievable deal she couldn't offer regularly.
"I think most people just go from Groupon to Groupon to Groupon.. it's this continuing cycle of well what discount can you give me," says Sweeney.
But there are other local options to turn to. Last year, Richard Gerhards started a website called Community Change.
"We offer gift cards on our website for 50 to 90 percent off," says Gerhards.
It's like Groupon, but with a charitable twist. You buy discounted gift cards to area businesses and 20 percent of your purchase goes to your choice of more than 70 Dane County organizations.
"This offers them a way not only to save money but to also give back to their charity or church or school at the same time," says Gerhards.
For a mom like Jill, deal sites give her the opportunity to try new things she might not otherwise spend money on. Providing variety for her family, while saving money.
"Everybody loves those daily deals and the opportunity to check out new places for a little bit cheaper. I just think very often you don't need to pay for things at full price," says Jill.
