Contributed by Jake F.

There are lots of discounts available if you ask. Here are a few I found out about by simply asking.

BYOB.  Lots of retailers, including Whole Foods, Target and CVS, give a discount for using your own shopping bag. Be sure to ask smaller stores if they offer the same discount. It may seem like small change but I saved $21 last year at Whole Foods alone.

Corporate Discounts. Do you work for a large company?  Some companies may offer a discount for their employees. When I signed up for my cell phone, I saw a small sign about corporate discounts.  I was sure my company didn’t qualify. (I worked for a large furniture chain.) But, as it turns out, they did and I got 10% off a month, saving me $20 a month.

Social Media. If you “follow” or “like” your favorite brands, you may run across some discounts only available to their fans. I have found several secret sales that were not advertised in the stores.

Online Deals.  Groupon, Bloomspot and Living Social send you coupons specifically for your area.  There are also discount apps Rue La La, Fab, and My Habit that specialize in fashion and home decor; Zoomingo alerts you about sales in your area; Shop It To Me sends alerts to your in-box based on your choices.

Do you know of any obscure money-saving sources? We invite you to share your ideas in the box below.