Are you on Facebook? How about Twitter or Foursquare? If you’re not, you may be missing out on some amazing coupons and discounts on everything from coffee to travel to shoes and even to groceries. Here are five secrets to saving money today using social media.

1) Follow Your Favorite Retailers and Brands. Jot down a short list of your favorite retailers and brands, then do a quick web search. Type in the name followed by the word “Facebook” or “Twitter.” The first listing in most cases will be the Facebook or Twitter page. Click through to the page, then click “Like” or “Follow” and you’ll be the first to know about sales, discounts, coupons and free samples.

2) Create Twitter Lists. With so many people and brands on Twitter, it can be hard to keep up with favorites so create Twitter Lists. These short categorized lists can help you see at-a-glance the hot deals and coupons.

3) Use Money-Saving Twitter Bots. Check out CouponBot to save big money. Send a tweet to @CouponBot with the name of the store you want to shop, then wait for a tweet back with links to coupons and coupon codes.

4) Check In for Location-Based Discounts. Sign up with location-based social media services like Foursquare and Gowalla, to grab discounts for being a frequent customer. Starbucks recently kicked off a national promotion to give those who visit each location most often (“mayors”) a mobile coupon to save $1 on a Frappuccino.

5) Follow Deal Bloggers. There are a number of blogs that post the best coupons, bargains and freebies. It’s easy to follow them in Facebook, Twitter, RSS or by email. Since many deals are time-sensitive, it’s a good idea to stay on top of these sites or read their feeds daily. A few to check out include: Coupon Cravings, Stretching a Buck and Mrs. Moneysaver.

So, what are your hot tips for using social media to save money? I’d love to hear what you’ve found to be the most useful.