Top 5 money-saving Web sites from 2008

I discovered many money-saving Web sites last year. Here are my top five.

Hulu.com – a site that shows dozens of TV shows and movies for free. You can browse by channel or search for a show’s name. The only downside is that some of the best shows are only available in excerpts, like Friends. Hulu is cheaper than cable or Netflix, though the selection is limited.

Goldstar.com – join their free membership program, select which entertainment activities you are interested in, and Goldstar sends you a weekly email with ticket discounts up to 50 percent off.

Retailmenot.com – still the clearing house for coupon codes. The site is easy to search and reflects how often the code was successful for other users, giving you an idea of whether it will work for you.

eBates.com – register and get automatic cash rebates of 1 to 25 percent at hundreds of retailers when you shop online. I used eBates religiously over the holidays and am expecting two big fat checks totalling almost $35 to arrive in the mail next month.

HalfOffDeals.com – the site sells restaurant gift certificates for half of their value, plus a shipping and processing fee. Sign up for their certificate tooter and you will get a weekly email about deals near you.