Shopping for an item used to mean paying a premium for buying from a local store, but the rise of e-commerce has all but leveled that issue. With millions of sales and coupon sites already operating, and millions more opening every day, the web has truly become a buyer's market, with price competition-both online and off-continually driving down prices.

However, the savvy shopper knows that the trend of declining prices doesn't end with mere retailer wars-in fact, a virtual cache of cash savings awaits in the world of online coupon sites. Knowing how to use these sites gives a shopper access to amazing deals, ranging from percentage discounts off an order to free shipping or gift bonuses. The idea of using a coupon is no longer restricted to the realm of the dedicated Sunday circular clipper: casual saving through online coupon sites is the new trend.