Lauren's List: Use Social Media To Save Money

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - We spend so much time on social media these days, it's almost like a job. So we should be getting paid for it, right?

Well, we may not get a paycheck, but how about using social media to save money?

Today's Lauren's List tell you how, with tips from DealNews.com.

(http://dealnews.com/features/Ways-to-Use-Social-Media-to-Save-Money/)

Follow, Follow, Follow
We tend to follow people, but not places or businesses. But you could be missing out on some serious savings. A lot of stores and restaurants only share special coupons on their social media sites. If you don't follow them, or at least check their public pages, you'd never know! If you have plans to hit up a certain spot, be sure to check their social pages ahead of time!

Hashtag Bargains
Search hashtags for deals: Literally, type in "hashtag deals" and see what comes up. "Hashtag sales" is another good one to search.

Share Referral Codes
A lot of websites and subscription services give you referral codes to share with your friends. Sites like Ebates and services like StitchFix give members codes so they can spread the wealth. And in turn, members are rewarded with coupons, discounts or cold hard cash. What better place to share those codes then on your social media sites?! Many of you have hundreds of friends on Facebook and followers on Instagram and Twitter. Sharing your code there maximizes its exposure and your chances of earning some extra dough.

Complain
This sounds bad, but it sure is effective. And it's my last tip because it should only be your last resort. If you had a bad experience with a certain company, posting about it and tagging the company typically leads to quick action. They don't want that negative post impacting future business! In compensation for your bad experience, some companies may offer refunds, coupons, discounts on future purchases, or other incentives to help repair the relationship. If they remedy the problem to your satisfaction, be sure to post that, too.

How do you use social media to save money? Tell me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/laurenpastrananews) or Twitter (@LaurenPastrana).

Send ideas for future Lauren's Lists to lpastrana@cbs.com.