Do you use GroupOn or Living Social? I know a lot of people don’t like getting their inbox cluttered up by mostly junk mail, but I’ve found the two services to be very helpful for buying things I’d buy anyway, and saving money.

For the most part, I auto delete most emails from either service that show up in my inbox, but sometimes, I don’t.

For example, the Renaissance Faire we go to usually offers a promotion through GroupOn. Since we usually go two of the three weekends it’s on, I look for the promotion and buy tickets then. I know we’re going to use them. Why not buy the tickets in advance (to avoid lines at the Faire) AND save money.

ThePacificScienceCentercurrently has a Tutankhamen travelling collection that I very much want to see. Just yesterday, I got an email from Living Social that allowed me to save $30 on two adult tickets to the collection. I ended up having to choose what day I wanted to go see it in advance, but still, this was something I very much wanted to go to already, and now, I saved money on the tickets. (And, I know when I’m going.) I consider this a win.

I do occasionally buy something using an online deal that I wasn’t already planning on buying. For example, one year I bought paddle boat tour tickets for my mother and I to use while she was visiting. I wasn’t planning on taking her on a paddle boat tour ofLake Washington, but it’s still nice to do something different and touristy when she’s here. I certainly don’t regret the expense.

And a few weeks ago, Living Social offered a coupon for $40 for dinner for two at a Brazilian steak house. C and I each bought one. Had we been planning to go to any Brazilian steak house, let alone this one? No. But we do eat out pretty frequently and we love Brazilian steak houses, so it seemed like a good deal.

Two nights in the future, we will get to go out to a nice dinner and have it only cost us the tip. And really, $40 for dinner for two- we’re lucky to be under that at Red Robin, let alone a steak house. This is a good deal we know we’ll use.

In these cases, I don’t know that I’d say we “saved” money, as without the deals, we wouldn’t have spent the money to begin with, but it does mean we get more value for our dollar on the experiences.

Sometimes, I ponder the deals for salon services or massages. But most of the massages come with a chiropractic exam, which I don’t need. And honestly, I think the last time C got his hair cut was for my step-father’s funeral in 2004, and I get my hair cut once every 6 months (roughly) down at SuperCuts. While sometimes I think it might be nice to have a change and get a funky new haircut or color, I know I won’t keep it up, and in six months time, my hair will be back to looking almost exactly like it does now. That doesn’t seem like a good use of any money, even if it will cost me less than usual.

What about you? Do you ever use the online deals?