Top 8 Money-Saving Web sites

With almost everyone looking for ways to trim their budgets right now, my mailbox has been overflowing with links to Web sites designed to help consumers do just that. I've picked out some of the most useful ones, which focus on food, coupons, and comparison shopping. If you know of any others, please let me know by commenting below.

• RetailMeNot.com. This site, which I've mentioned before, lets you search for coupons before making online purchases. I've used it to get free shipping on everything from shirts to steaks.

• Show me the Dough. This blog, started by a mother of three who manages to keep her food bill under $300 each month, offers savings tips as well as recipes.

• Couponwinner.com and Dealighted.com. For more deals and featured discounts, such as $5 off at Target.com or $25 off a Southwest flight, stop here before laying down your plastic.

• Become.com and Resellerratings.com. Use these sites to compare prices before making purchases on cameras, clothes, and countless other products.

• MyCheckFree.com. Start paying your bills on time to avoid late fees, as well as postage stamps.

• OkCupid.com. If you're looking for some summer love, check out the largest, free online dating site. You'll get matched up after taking a quiz. Given how pricey online dating can be, it might be worth a try.

And remember, there's still time for any last-minute submissions to the Alpha Consumer Challenge; you have until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning to submit your best money-saving tip.