I usually have my computer set up with five tabs that I shuffle between when I go about my morning routine. My email is always open – it lends itself to witticisms and cracks with my boyfriend and friends when working (er, um, totally not when working) -, my Appstruck wordpress page so I can tinker with writing, the New York Times, ModCloth or J.crew or Anthropologie or any one of my other clothing vices, and finally, SteepandCheap, because ever since my boyfriend introduced me, I’ve been absolutely hooked. I bought some running shorts there not too long ago for $10, and though I’ve been grappling with my reflection, trying to figure out with furrowed brow and pursed lips if baby blue can adapt to my otherwise baby-blue-free wardrobe, I can rest assured knowing I may return them at any time, in a week, or 5 years from now – assuming, of course, the site still exists then.

Never heard of it? SteepandCheap, along with WhiskeyMilitia, Brociety, Chainlove, and a host of other sites cater to the frugal bargain-hunter in all of us by advertising one “killer deal” at a time, until supplies run out, or until 20 minutes go by. Seriously? Still never heard of any of those? Not even Woot? Well, it’s definitely time to change that, especially if you just bought the Big Agnes Buffalo Pass 4-Person Tent w/Footprint for $460.00 when on SteepandCheap it just sold for $159.99, a whopping 65% off. Trust me, it’s good to know about these sites.

Of course, unless you plan on perusing these sites all day, missing deals – some sell out in a matter of minutes – is a big concern. You can’t very well drag your laptop everywhere and check sites all the time. I know I can’t drag my 17″ beast, and I definitely couldn’t sit in a coffee shop all the time just to check Steep and Cheap for $10 running shorts. That’s why I’m glad I discovered this iPhone app called DealScout that checks out several of these sites for you. Covering SteepandCheap, Brociety, Chainlove, Dealtaker, WhiskeyMilitia, Bonktown, Tramdock, and Wine.Woot, DealScout searches for specific keywords you input to the app, so you’ll never miss out on that graphic t-shirt for a cheap $6.99 (so much better than the usual $20-$40 at Urban Outfitters).

With the search tab, type in words like “Mountain Hardware,” “fleece,”"camping,” so DealScout will scour the sites for items that match these keywords, and when your item pops up for sale, DealScout will send you a text notification. Don’t worry, this notification service uses a free text service compatible with any phone, so charges are not incurred. I constantly wear this simple, brown Prana fleece I bought about a year ago from See Jane Run, and would relish owning another one, or simply anything from Prana for dirt cheap (they’re not exactly known for their affordability). Naturally, the first keywords I entered on DealScout were for “fleece” and “Prana.” I also own this really fantastic pair of trail shoes with a micro-porous midsole that’s rigid enough to perform well in dicey terrain and yet forgiving enough to put a bounce in my step for long days on my feet. Obviously, my second choice in keywords was “trail shoe” and “Vasque.” Strangely enough, any keywords I entered should have appeared under the “Keywords” tab on the app, but the only one that showed was “fleece” – I will be very disappointed if I miss out on any trail shoe deals or Prana clothing.

As of right now, I’m still waiting to receive any notifications on deals concerning the keywords I entered – but then again, I realize only SteepandCheap carries the Prana line, trail shoes, and otherwise outdoorsy lines I desire, and it isn’t guaranteed within a week for any of these keywords to actually show up. The other sites – WhiskeyMilitia, Bonktown, etc – have a more skater, urbanite clothing style to them and Prana probably wouldn’t even register for those sites. With this in mind, it’s easy to think DealScout isn’t quick and efficient, but that’s just a naive presumption. DealScout is well-intentioned and definitely has the possibility of notifying you on great deals – just make sure you understand the sites and their demographic, along with being careful with your keywords.