More sites provide possible savings for consumers

Consumers have more new Web sites on their side.

PricePlease.com and CouponMap.com, which spin off from parent CouponCabin.com, focus on putting more money back in your pocket, said spokeswoman Kirby Elizabeth Shiffler.

"With the holidays coming up, it's more important to save money when you're shopping and some people don't realize just how easy this is to do," said Shiffler.

PricePlease allows you to monitor something you're about to buy or even something you've already bought. If the price drops on your purchased item within the store's allowable time, you'll get an e-mail with the price difference. The e-mail alert nudges you to return to the store so you can get a refund or the price difference, Shiffler said.

The site monitors about 800 stores and their return policies, including those related to adjusting the price if your item comes up cheaper within a specified time.

Then there's CouponMap.com, which monitors areas by ZIP code and provides deals and coupons for restaurants, food or even gasoline purchases. It offers roughly 100,000 coupons.

These latest sites are part of a family of consumer Web sites by Scott Kluth, who founded the first one, CouponCabin.com, more than six years ago in Hoffman Estates. The site still offers deals and tie-ins to all the newer sites. The company moved earlier this year to Chicago and has been expanding its staff.

Surfing: Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings, parent to Kmart, has relaunched its Totally Ghoul Web site, a Halloween shop selling costumes, decorations, candy and more. It also debuted a new page called Ghoul Me, where you can upload your own picture and get a so-called fiendish makeover. Once you like the image, you can send it to friends or family with a digital greeting. See www.kmart.com/halloween.

• The Illinois Commerce Commission has a Web site that provides consumers with side-by-side comparison of all natural gas products from alternative gas suppliers in Illinois. You can compare the products and the ability to estimate average monthly bill compared to your current gas utility. See www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.

• Chicago-based iDine.com offers a cash-back program for members along with reviews of restaurants, bars, clubs and other dining establishments. It also provides applications for your iPhone and Blackberry.