Do you use Groupon and other daily deal sites?

Out with a group of moms last weekend, we talked about the errands we wanted to accomplish before the big machine of the week started again -- grocery store, pharmacy, maybe Marshall's, a quick trip to Old Navy for kid's shorts, possibly the home place for gardening supplies. As each of them reeled off the places they'd be hauling kids and partners to in between soccer games and stopping off for hot dogs, I realized it had been a really long time since I'd shopped in a real, live, brick-and-mortar store.

Nearly all of my errands are done on my computer. I have groceries delivered, I buy toiletries and make-up online, and I have no shame in ordering several sizes of clothing just so I can try them on in my own bedroom. I justify shipping and handling costs because I would always gladly pay anyone $6 while I'm in line at the grocery store just to get all those bags up several flights of stairs into my apartment. And as a single mom, I feel like I'm being efficient with my own time and energy.

But I also get a slew of daily deals emails every single day. Because of these quick-hit bargains, I purchase things online I never dreamed I would tap out my credit card number to buy -- movie tickets, a Le Creuset tea pot, sweaty yoga classes, coupons for local restaurants. Sure, I probably spend more than I would if I had to get into my car and drive 20 minutes to a Macy's or Target, even though I am pretty judicial about what looks like a great steal and what I will actually use.

Groupon is the big one, but more and more daily deal sites are popping up all the time, including Target. There are family-centric bargain purveyors like Mamapedia and FamilyFinds. Review sites like Yelp have joined Living Social, Woot, and many others.

Do you subscribe to any of these sites (or others)?

And do you just peruse the deals or do you actually buy and use them?



More on Shine:
Michelle Obama is a bargain shopper. Are you?
Finding bargains at the grocery store