Groupon gets cooler

By which, of course, I mean cheaper.

Now, you can get cash back with your Groupon purchases!

Before you get too excited, I should note that it’s only 1% — but that’s still more than you were getting back before. Say it with me, folks: Every little bit helps.

I could only find two site so far that have added Groupon: Mr. Rebates and Fat Wallet.

Fat Wallet does have a higher rate for “new users” of Groupon. I assume that means you haven’t signed up at all, but it may simply mean that you haven’t actually bought your first Groupon yet. If you qualify in either category, you can get 5% back for that first purchase.

After that, though, the two sites both offer the 1% rate.

As I have said many, many times, I’m a big fan of Mr. Rebates. It has more merchants than most of the other sites, and it tends to have higher rates. (That said, always compare before you decide which site to buy from.)

Groupon is a cool program. If you’ve never heard of it, here’s how things go: Groupon finds stores willing to offer a large discount in exchange for a large influx of business. It then puts the deal on the Web, and, usually, people swarm all over the thing.

Using Groupon, Tim and I got $50 of Philosophy products for $25. Plus, his mom got a nice little facial with the products, plus they put a little makeup on her. She came back feel refreshed and pretty. It was quite the deal!

And this week, I’m determined to use the Groupons we got for 60-minute massages. Together, Tim and I will have paid $68 — plus tip, of course — for both of us to get some much-needed kneading.

I’ve also seen some very tempting ones for salon and spa services. Usually for the slightly higher-end places that you peer in the window of. You know: The ones that are all swanky and cool, and you’re a little intimidated — both by the atmosphere and by the probable prices. But these are like little day passes to the cool kids’ section.

Of course, it’s not all massages and mani/pedis. I’ve also seen Groupon offers for laser hair removal treatments, oil changes, and plenty of restaurant offerings. So the offers really do run the gamut.

So, go on. Check it out. (All the cool kids are doing it.)

And if you’re already a member of Groupon, go sign up to get cash back for buying the offers.

And if you’re already signed up for both… Well, then I guess you’d better go buy up some deals, now hadn’t you?