Thanks to Google, you can now save money while searching for local businesses or getting directions. Imagine the next time you're looking for a local store to get an oil change, and not only will you find store locations and directions, but a coupon you can print and take with you for a discount you may not have gotten otherwise.

OK, so online coupons aren't anything new, but here's what is new. In an effort to get more local businesses listed, Google is allowing local businesses to add a coupon to their Google Maps listing for free. Other online directories charge a fee to allow businesses to ad a coupon to their listings.

Since this is free advertising for businesses, you're likely to see more search results in your local listings, and packed with coupons. Just think, even if you already know the location of a certain business, it may be worth it to you to look them up on Google Maps anyway, just to get a coupon.

With gas currently being around $3.00 a gallon, if you can get three dollars off with a coupon, you just saved yourself a gallon of gas for a short trip across town. What if you had several errands to run? Check Google Maps for coupons for each business you need to go to, even if you already know where it is. These coupons could really add up after awhile.

You're not likely to see a whole lot of businesses with coupons right away. It's going to take some time for the word to get out, but if you have a few businesses that you visit frequently it may be worth your while to tell them about the Google Maps service and how they can advertise with a coupon for free.

I personally am not much of a coupon clipper, but believe me, with gas prices being as high as they are, I'll be checking out Google Maps for coupons to offset that cost on a regular basis. No small business is going to turn down free local advertising, and the possibilities are endless. Groceries, pharmaceutical, oil changes, you name it. You can now save on things you use every day!