The easiest way of searching for products on the Cashback network is directly from their site (http://search.live.com/cashback). Once you complete a search, you’ll notice a several results, sometimes even duplicates of the same product. It’s best to select the one that has the greatest number of stores listed underneath it. Once you do click on a product, you’ll be prompted with a scree showing you the different stores carrying this item featuring cashback. The price isn’t always accurate, so sometimes it’s best to click on the store and see what’s listed directly on it. It’s important to make sure that you don’t navigate away from the page once you visit it. Since MSN tracks your order by your session ID, leaving the page, closing the window, or waiting a few hours will all force your session ID to expire and your reward to not go through. I’ve used it several times so far on large ticket purchases, and the payments have always gone through (after 60 day pending period). It brought the price of a brand new D3 camera down to $3800 (J&R low price + sale + cashback).

You can even get 25% off of eBay if you hit the site at the right times. The trick for eBay is a little more difficult, as it doesn’t always appear. Sometimes you have to do a search for “wii” or “PS3″ in the main Live.com site and search around for a eBay Cashback link.

Reseellerratings.com - Ever wonder if the site you’re about to purchase from is actually legitimate? Resellerrattings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com) is the place to find out. The site has two main functions, one being to help look for products at a low price, and the second and more useful is a comprehensive database of reviews and information on various sites. By typing in the name of a site, you’ll get a comparative rating, feedback from actual users, and general contact and business information. If a price looks too good to be true, then chances are, it is. However, checking this site out before purchasing from any undocumented site, be it a fantastic price or just the only place that has an item in stock, is a good idea.

Coupons - The problem with coupons is that sites usually only mail them out to people who are already hooked to the retailer. This doesn’t do much good for people who haven’t shopped there before and are looking for a place to buy. It surprises most people however, to find out that more often then not, that these coupons can still be found. A simple Google search of “______ coupon” can turn out millions of hits. Forums, coupon sites, even sometimes hidden links on the retailers own site. Do a search and you’re almost guarantied to come up with something. DealCatcher (http://www.dealcatcher.com) is one that I go to a lot, along with SlickDeals (http://slickdeals.net).

Online Midnight Madness - Sometimes the best deals are the ones you weren’t even looking for. There exist and entire world of sites that feature different bargain basement deals every day. The one that I use the most is Woot! (http://www.woot.com). At midnight, every night, Woot! puts up a different deal. Sometimes the product is discontinued, sometimes refurbished, and sometimes just brand new overstock. What ever the case is, they feature it for probably less then you’ll find anywhere else. While this doesn’t help much to score that brand new lens you’ve been lusting after, it does help to save a few dollars on that stero system that you’ve been needing to replace or a wireless card that just died on you. Deal of the Day Tracker (http://www.dodtracker.com) has a nice collection of deal sites like Woot! avalible at a glance.