What is Thrifty City®?

Thrifty City® is an online destination for people everywhere interested in pursuing a frugal lifestyle. We offer ideas and share strategies through the content we publish for being thrifty at home and at play. We provide a guide to opportunities in major metropolitan areas for people to find budget friendly places to shop, places for dining on tasty “cheap eats, as well as vibrant night spots, affordable events and venues to enjoy locally.

This guide has been developed over the years by Thrifty City® and is designed to be a fun and easy place to find out about the great everyday values and rich experiences all around us. This will be enhanced by the shared insights, content and comments of an active community of local members who know how to spend smart and live well.

Is Thrifty City® free?

Yes! Thrifty City® is free to use and always will be.

Who uses Thrifty City®?

You'll find a wide range of people on Thrifty City®, including locals, visitors who want to get a local perspective, and people who love a bargain.

How do I get in touch with someone at Thrifty City®?

We can be contacted by email at any time at info@thriftycity.com.

How do I search Thrifty City®?

To search the site, simply type a keyword, or words, in the Google Custom Search box at the top of each page. Once you have entered a keyword, or words, click on the "Search “button. If you don’t find what you’re looking for:

• Make sure all the words are spelled correctly.
• Try a different keyword, search term or phrase.
• Put your keywords in quotation marks. For example: "art books"
• Try browsing our Popular Categories.

What is Thrifty Pages®?

Thrifty Pages® is a shopping directory of local businesses offering the best prices and value in metropolitan areas. Consumers can search for savings and get relevant targeted search results for businesses, products and services.

How does it work?

Thrifty Pages® uses geographic web indexing technologies to provide consumers with relevant and targeted local search results.

Who uses Thrifty City®?

You'll find a wide range of people on Thrifty City®, including locals, visitors who want to get a local perspective, and people who love a bargain.

What kind of information can I get?

Use Thrifty Pages® to look up names, phone numbers and addresses of businesses in your area. Our listings include useful information such as store hours, products, services offered, maps and more.

How do I use Thrifty Pages®?

Enter the name or the type of business or service and location in the search boxes, click “Search and get results. We also offer an Advanced Search. There are several variables that you can apply to your search such as city, state, zip code, or neighborhood, as the geographic location. You can narrow or broaden your search by radius, sort the results by choosing sort criteria, or find only businesses that offer coupons, for example. You can also browse our merchant categories according to Popular Categories. Find what you want, where you want, and when you want it on Thrifty Pages®.

How are the results sorted?

Our algorithm and geographic web indexing technologies determine which businesses are the most relevant to a specific search request. Additionally, you can further sort the returned listings alphabetically or by distance.

How is the ranking of search results determined?

Thrifty Pages® search results are based on a number of different factors including relevancy, distance, and number of comments. We are constantly working on improving our search results so that we can deliver the most relevant local results to our users.

Are there any paying advertisers in the Thrifty Pages® listing results?

Yes. They are identified as "Sponsored Results" and appear highlighted in blue at the top of list pages.

Do you have to be a member to report a business as Closed?

No. Any user can report a closed business in Thrifty Pages® by clicking on the Report Incorrect Listing link on the Detail Page resulting from a search query. Our Team will confirm the closure and update the business listing as (Closed) so that we maintain the most up-to-date status of a business location.

At Thrifty City®, we invite you to explore and benefit from our content areas based on the timeless value of thrift. As a registered Member, you can participate in our community by interacting with other Members, commenting on the content presented, contributing your own content, and sharing what you like with your circle of connections. We hope you enjoy our community and become an active Member.

Does it cost anything to become a member of Thrifty City®?

No. Membership is free!

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

Networking, Messaging, Sharing Content, Newsletter, Posting, Deals.

How do I become a member of Thrifty City®?

To become a Member, please register here. Once you have completed the required information and reviewed our Terms of Service including our Privacy Policy, simply click on the Join button.

You can also use your favorite social media site to register. Simply click your preferred social account icon and “allow button so that we may access your information. Your personal information will be secure and Thrifty City® will never post to your account without your permission.

Please note: You are asked to provide your Real Name as your member name in order to facilitate social sharing of content on Thrifty City®. You have the option of selecting and using a “Screen Name once you are registered.

What is the difference between Member ID, Member Name and Screen Name?

Your Member ID is the email address you enter when registering, which cannot be changed. Your Member Name is either your Real Name or your Screen Name, depending on the privacy settings you choose. Your Screen Name is a unique name which you may opt to use instead of your Real Name for enhanced privacy.

How do I select a Screen Name?

To select a Screen Name, click on the “My Profile link that appears in the top navigation bar when you are logged in. Once you are in My Profile, go to “Settings where you can choose a Screen Name. You may change your setting to display either your Screen Name or your Real Name at any time.

The Screen Name you choose must be unique. If the Screen Name already exists, you can either keep entering new names until you find one that is not already being used, or you can leave the field blank.

You do not need to have a Screen Name in order to use the site. If you wish to use your Screen Name when posting content or commenting, make sure to select a Screen Name you feel comfortable displaying publicly. A Screen Name is not a password, nor is it an email address. A Screen Name is the way in which you identify yourself, but still retain your privacy on the Internet.

Can I change my Screen Name?

For your security, we cannot allow you to change the Screen Name you have chosen.

How is my Thrifty City® Member Account verified?

When you've completed the registration process, you will receive an email with a special link. When the verification message arrives in your email in-box, click the verification link, or copy and paste it into your browser to verify your account and return to Thrifty City®. Your account will be verified at this point. If this does not work, please contact us.

Can I change my Member name?

For your security, we cannot allow you to change your Member name once you are registered.

I am already registered as a Member… how do I log in?

Click on "Log In" at the top of the page. Make sure that you are using the email address and password you provided when you originally signed up for membership. If you have changed Internet service providers and have not updated your account information with us, you will be recognized only by the email address you used originally.

The homepage welcomes me by name. Does that mean I'm signed in, or do I have to sign in each time I visit the site?

This means you are already signed in to the site and will be able to update your profile and post comments. If you do not see your name, you must sign in.

How do I log out of the site?

Click the "Log Out" link at the top of the page and you will be logged out.

How do I close my Member Account on Thrifty City®?

To close your user account, please log in to the site, click on My Profile. Once In your Profile, select My Account in the left navigation bar and access your account settings at the Settings tab. There you will see a link to close your account. The public identity you have created on the site is yours, but links to your public profile will be removed. To reinstate your account, you will have to contact customer service. We would appreciate understanding why you want to leave. Your feedback makes a big difference. If there's something you found unsatisfying about Thrifty City®, tell us about it and we'll try our best to do better.

What is the Privacy Policy?

At Thrifty City®, we respect our Members’ privacy and take the responsibility of protecting the personal and business information that you share with us very seriously. View our complete Privacy Policy for more information.

What does Thrifty City® do with my personal information?

Please take a moment to review our Privacy Policy so you can see exactly what we do with your personal information.

Do you sell user information gathered through Thrifty City®?

We do not rent or sell any personal information.

Who can find me on Thrifty City®?

Everyone can take a look at your Public Profile, photos, bookmarks, as well as other content and comments that you've contributed to the site. Your Public Profile is tied to your Member Name which is the name you provided when registering as a member. Your Member Name will display with your comments and your content as a link to your Public Profile page. This way, rather than just stumbling upon you and the great things you’ve posted by browsing the site, other people can find you using the "Member Search" feature.

Can I make my Profile Private?

Yes, it is easy to do in fact. We also allow you to customize your level of privacy. Simply go to My Profile and select “About Me. It is here you can customize your Public Profile page and add to it as much as you wish. To set your privacy settings, select the “Privacy Settings “tab and select either “Public or “Private. If you want to customize your privacy, select public profile and choose from the options you wish to display on your profile. Please know that if you should choose to set your settings as “Private, your member name, profile picture and the date you became a member will still display. To add a higher level of security Thrifty City® has provided you with the option to display a Screen Name instead of the Member Name you provided for registration.

What Profile Guidelines would you give?

Don't be modest. Use your Public Profile to let people know more about who you are and what makes you tick.

How do I change or update my account?

To edit your profile or to change your account preferences, first Log In and click on the “My Profile link that appears in the top navigation bar. This link will take you to your unique profile section where you can manage the controls to your Member Account. You can update your email address and contact information, add to your public profile page, track and manage your favorites and make other changes. Click on “My Account and then choose "Account Settings" where you will be able to edit your account preferences.

How do I change my email address?

Your email addresses and password are found under "My Profile." The “My Profile link is found in the top navigation bar, or you may click on your name. Either link will take you to your Profile where you can access your Account Settings page through “My Account.

How do I unsubscribe from email newsletters?

To stop receiving email newsletters from Thrifty City® scroll to the bottom of any email you have received from us. Beneath the company logo, it says: "If you would prefer not to receive further newsletters, please click here." If you choose to follow the link, you will be given the option to unsubscribe from the newsletter or from all but essential Thrifty City® communications. Please allow three weeks to stop receiving email newsletters from us.

What if I forgot my password?

All passwords are encrypted, which means our technical team cannot access your password. To change your password, click "Log In" at the top of the page. After the Log-in window appears, click the "Forgot Password" link. You will be prompted to enter your Member ID, the email address you provided when you signed up for membership. Enter your email address and click the "Submit" button. We will send you an email containing a link that will allow you to change your password.

Note: If you don't receive an email from us to change your password, you might have spam filters enabled. Check your spam folder for the email. Or, you may have entered an email address that is not registered in our database.

What are cookies?

Cookies help us identify you as a user and allow us to offer better customized and personalized experiences for you.

How do I save content on the site?

"Add to Favorites" is the term we use to define saving something. When you find something you would like to save, click on "Add to Favorites" to add that content to "Favorites" in your Profile where you can easily retrieve it later.

You must be a Member and signed in to do this. If you are not signed in, you will be prompted to enter your member I.D. (email address) and the password you provided when you signed up for membership.

Business Owner Guidelines

Business owners should be getting in on the act, too. Some words of advice:

• About Your Business: You can use the "About This Business" tab to tell people a little something special about your business. Please keep it relevant: Don't use this feature to attack your competitors, commenter’s, or Thrifty City®, and don't use it to seed keywords or post special offers or promotions. We'll remove them if we see them.
• Public Comments: Never use public comments to launch personal attacks, advertise, or offer an incentive to change a comment. Private messaging is often the best way to resolve a dispute with an unhappy customer, but business owners can also address issues publicly by posting a public comment. As with private messaging, we ask that business owners upload a clear photo of themselves to help personalize their message.

How did my business information get on Thrifty Pages®?

We researched and listed detailed business data gathered from public records and other sources as well as basic data from third party providers. We also get business information from our users, who are helpful enough to correct our record, or let us know about a new store that just opened. Please help us by letting us know if our information is out of date!

As a business owner, can I publicly respond to comments about my business?

Business owners who are merchant members of Thrifty City® can publicly respond to member comments about their business. All members have access to the Thrifty City® internal messaging system to directly and privately message each other to make amends, or express appreciation, or just to be good neighbors in the Thrifty City® community.

Are comments about my businesses displayed in any particular order?

The Thrifty City® default sort order for Member comments is by date and does not take into account whether a business is a merchant Member or an advertiser.

Business Photo Guidelines:

Consumers are particularly interested in seeing photos of your business. You can upload photos to your Member Profile and to your business listing(s). The best business photos reflect the typical consumer experience (e.g., what your business looks like, what your business offers, etc.). Photos and captions that reflect your personal perspective are best uploaded to your member profile.

You have the opportunity to upload multiple photos to your business listing. The first, or primary photo, will be displayed with your business listing on the List Page of search results. This photo and any additional photos will be displayed as a slideshow feature on your business Detail Page. Here, each photo in the slideshow sequence is enlarged

Tips: All photos need to be a minimum 540 pixels in width. Horizontal images are preferred as this is how they are displayed on the List Page. All vertical images will be automatically resized and cropped to fit. Photos should be clear and recognizable. An exterior shot of your business is a preferable addition, as well as merchandise images, and an image of your logo. Close-ups are great! Try to be artful with your shots. A great photo can make all the difference for customers choosing to patronize your store.

Content Guidelines:

Thrifty City® provides a platform for Members to contribute a variety of content, including comments, photos, events, tips, private messages. It pleases us to offer a venue for these shared expressions. We celebrate creativity, yet all content must meet general guidelines for the type of content we publish. Here below are guidelines to follow when contributing content to Thrifty City®.

• Inappropriate content: Expressive language and imagery is fine, but there's no need for threats, harassment, lewdness, hate speech, or other displays of bigotry.
• Conflicts of interest: Your contributions should be unbiased and objective. For example, you shouldn't write recommendations of your own business or employer, your friend’s or relative’s business, or businesses in your network in your comments or content you contribute.
• Promotional content: Unless you're using your Merchant Member Account to add content to your business' profile page, we discourage promotional content.
• Relevance: Please make sure your contributions are relevant and appropriate. For example, comments aren't the place for ranting about any matters that don't address the core of the consumer experience.
• Privacy: Don't publicize other people's private information. Please don't post close-up photos of other people without their permission, and please don't post full names of other people unless you're referring to service providers who are commonly identified by their full names.
• Intellectual property: Don't use content from other sites or Members. Please write your own comments and take your own photos!

Photo Guidelines:

Everyone loves to see nice photos. You can upload photos to your member profile, as well as with content that you contribute to the site. Photos and captions that reflect your personal interest and illustrate your creativity are especially appreciated.

Do you have to be a Member to post comments on Thrifty City®?

Yes. Any Member can comment on present or future content throughout Thrifty City®, including merchant listings in our Thrifty Pages® directory. Become a member and add your voice. Register here, it’s quick and easy.

How do I add comments and who can see them?

Once you are logged in to the site as a member, you may comment on any business listing, recipe or article. At the bottom of each item, you will see a button labeled "Add a Comment." Type your text into the box and click on "Submit." Your comments should display shortly. Note: Comments are public and will be visible to anyone viewing the page.

Will Thrifty City® edit the comments I post?

Thrifty City® does not edit comments posted by our members. We provide the means for our users to report abusive comments to us. Our Admin team reviews all reported comments to make sure that they meet our Comment Guidelines. If they don't, we reserve the right to remove the comment. See our Terms of Service for more information.

What if I had a bad experience? Can I say something negative?

You can tell your true experiences and opinions, bad or good. Be sure to include relevant facts and detail. Be aware that posting false information may incur legal consequences.

Does Thrifty City® remove negative comments?

No, not unless it’s reported and determined that the comment does not meet our Comment Guidelines. A member who posts a comment may remove it at their discretion.

What is the Thrifty City® online content comment policy?

• Comments are encouraged. The comments we receive on our site are just as important to us as the content we publish. Members are provided with the opportunity to contribute.
• Anonymous comments are not published. Our content is written to provide value to the Thrifty City® community and the public in general. The purpose of comments is to add to that value. Comments posted by our members include the member’s name or screen name along with the date and time of posting. Member email addresses are not published.
• Spam, sales pitches and irrelevant comments will be removed. We appreciate appropriate and relevant comments and encourage our members to share their points of view. Please see our Comment Guidelines.
• Thrifty City® reserves the right to respectfully disagree. Views expressed in the "Comments" sections are not necessarily the views of Thrifty City®.
• Questions are welcome. If there's something in a post you'd like more information on, just ask. The Thrifty City® Team will reply to questions and comments as soon as possible.

Comment Guidelines:

The best comments are passionate and personal. They offer a rich narrative, a wealth of detail, and a helpful tip or two for other consumers. Here are some additional thoughts for people who are conscientious about commenting.

• Personal experience: We want to hear about your firsthand consumer experience, not what you heard from someone else. Try to tell your own story without resorting to broad generalizations or allegations.
• Accuracy: Make sure your comment is factually correct. Feel free to air your opinions, but don't exaggerate or misrepresent your experience. We don't take sides when it comes to factual disputes, so we expect you to stand behind your comments.
• Comment updates: Comment updates should reflect a new experience or interaction with a business. Don't tell the same story you've already told.

Can business owners publicly respond to my comments about them?

Business owners who are Members of Thrifty City® may publicly respond to your comments about them. As Members, you both have access to the Thrifty City® internal messaging system to directly and privately message each other to make amends, or express appreciation, or just to be good neighbors in the Thrifty City® community.

Are comments about businesses displayed in any particular order?

Thrifty City’s default sort order for comments is by date and does not take into account whether the business is a Merchant Member or an advertiser.

Do comments ever get removed?

Sometimes. Our Team may remove a comment if it violates our Terms of Service or Content Guidelines. The rules are the same for every business and every comment. And, a member may remove their own comment of her own accord.

Who can contact me on Thrifty City®?

Other Members can contact you on Thrifty City®, including businesses you review. If you'd prefer not to be contacted by business owners, you may change your settings here. You can also block future messages from specific users by selecting "Block User" under their account name when viewing a message from them.

Messaging Guidelines:

Thrifty City® has a handy messaging feature to keep you connected with your fellow Members. First, please don't use this feature to harass other users or send inappropriate content. Second, member accounts are for personal, non-commercial use only. Business owners should message members who comment on their business by using their free Merchant Member Account. In order to do so, we ask that Merchants upload a clear photo of themselves to help personalize their message.

If you receive spam messages from another Thrifty City® Member, or if you receive a message that is harassing, abusive, or contains a violation of our Terms of Service, please report it here.

How do I share my Favorite Things from Thrifty City®?

We've made it easy to share everything on our site within your social networks. On all content detail pages you will see a series of social share buttons such as Facebook’s “Like, Google+, Pinterest and a button labeled “Share Which consolidated all other social networking sites and email. Simply click on the method of share and follow the prompts that will follow in a separate window.

Should you “like our site, you can also share this with your network of contacts by either clicking the “follow buttons located in the footer of every page or by visiting our social extensions such as our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linked In Pages. We would love it if you would!