Bargain Shopping Tips

Bargain Shopping

This video series by Cindy McCartney from DIVA Boutique talks about the best ways to find great bargains when you are shopping. Be sure to watch the related video for more bargain shopping tips.

Download Store Coupons on Your Rewards Card

I downloaded coupons to my Safeway grocery store rewards card for the very first time and was I ever a happy camper after doing my shopping! Not only did I receive normal rewards card discounts of about $9.00 in savings, but I also received an additional savings of about $10.00 from the downloaded coupons! Oh, and one more bonus; a store coupon printed out at the end of this purchase for an additional $10.00 off my next visit with the purchase of $10.00 ;-)

Fast forward to one week later. I downloaded yet more coupons. This time, there were also items based on my personal shopping habits, tracked because I have used the rewards card on every visit for the past four years. For example: one was for artichokes that are currently on sale for $1.99 if you use your rewards card, but there was also an additional 50 cents off that price. Added to the normal rewards and personalized coupons for downloading was a coupon for $3.00 off with an additional purchase of $10.00 of produce.

Here is the breakdown for this morning's shopping trip which had a total of 54 percent off in savings on assorted food items:

Normal price total: $41.35
Rewards card savings: $ 8.82
Coupon savings: $13.50

OUT THE DOOR PRICE: $19.03

The real beauty of downloading coupons online is that there is neither paper clipping necessary nor worries that you might forget the coupons at home or that you might even forget they are in your wallet at the checkout stand. There also is no need to waste money on print ink and paper for printable coupons. Just ask Customer Service at your store of choice where to go online to signup. If those stores are like Safeway, you will receive an email notification once or twice a week to remind you that new discounts and coupons are available.

Next step today is downloading coupons to my Rite Aid and Wal-Mart rewards cards!

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Take Advantage of 0% Interest Store Offers

A lot of people on this site suggest buying things only if you can pay for them using cash. Basically I agree with that; but sometimes that's just not possible. Most stores now have "12 month no interest" plans. Even if you have the money you can use that method.

As an example, it's easier to come up with $100.00 a month as opposed to $1,200.00 all at once. You do need to pay it off within the 12 months, because if you don't the interest will most likely be retroactive.

In the past 10 years or so, using this method, my husband and I have bought: living room furniture, refrigerator, freezer, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, ceramic tile and wood flooring, 55 inch television, eyeglasses, and probably something that I've forgotten. LOL!

We've ALWAYS paid it off early, usually in half the time. But it's nice to know that we have extra money every month in case of an emergency.

By Margaret from Denton, TX

Shop Holiday Clearances All Year Round

Here is a tip that you can use following any holiday, stock up! If you use paper plates and napkins, now is the time to stock up on those outdated, never to be used again graduation plates, napkins and paper cups. I purchase these for as little as 25 cents a package and use them for a BBQ at the lake or tailgating in the fall.

Since we are going to throw them away any how, who cares if they are outdated. Stock up for next year's school party after Valentines or Easter. Put a festive napkin in your lunchbox to brighten your day around the holidays. Even paper table cloths make great wrapping paper for large, hard to wrap gift items (ie. bicycle).

It's also time to purchase those expensive (non-dated) graduation gifts for use in the coming year or two. Stock up on books, picture frames and the like. You will save up to 80% and these items store beautifully! Just be sure to place your treasures in a container that will keep them free from dust and wear and tear. I put mine in a lidded tub that fits under the bed.

Happy Saving!

By skibum1910 from Prospect, KY

Download Kroger Coupons to Card

I just discovered something new on the Kroger website. You can download coupons to your Kroger card. No more printing and trying to keep up with coupons. You'll get credit when your card is scanned at the register. They also have free offers available for trying products.

By Donna N KY from Webster, KY

Dollar Stores Don't Always Have The Best Deal

Dollar stores can be great sources for necessary items. However, don't assume that because something is in the dollar store, it is a good buy. Sometimes one can buy things elsewhere cheaper. For example, after Christmas last year, I was able to buy wrapping paper in the grocery store for fifty cents a roll. Not only was it cheaper, but there was more on the roll and it was of better quality. Know how much you want to pay for an item, and then wait until you see it for that price to stock up on it.

By Carol from Wyoming, PA

Switch To Dollar Stores For Shopping

To save money shopping, purchase your incidentals at Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Big Lots. You'll be surprised at how much money you'll save by buying shampoos and cleansers. Most of their snacks are quite good, also Giant Eagle's bread is cheaper than Wal-Mart. I used to do all my shopping at Wal-Mart, but now I split it up amongst these stores to save 75 dollars in groceries. That is, of course, if these stores are located within close proximity because of the ever increasing gas prices.

By Kelli from Patton

Bargain Hunting Strategies

Whether you do your shopping mostly in retail stores, thrift stores, or at garage and yard sales, there are some strategies that will work for you and help you to find a bargain every time!

If you have a child who is hard to fit for whatever reason, you may find that you must shop at retail stores, even though you'd rather not. Two things to remember: buy in the off-season (this requires a little planning ahead)and always head to the clearance racks first.

Wherever you shop, be sure to carry a list of sizes for everyone you're shopping for. It's helpful to also jot down measurements--waist sizes, inseam and sleeve length, for instance. All sizes may not be the same, plus garments that have been laundered may not be the same size they were when new.

For shoes, make a cardboard cutout of feet and slip it into shoes to see if it fits.

Keep a tape measure in your purse or at least in your vehicle all the time.

Carry a file of fabric samples from items you already have that you might like to match. You can often snip a bit of fabric from a seam allowance or some other spot that won't show. Just staple to a file card and carry in an envelope in your wallet.

Always keep your receipts. It might help to jot a note on the back to make it plain just what the receipt is for!

Here's a benefit to taking children shopping at thrift or resale shops instead of retail stores: Sizes are grouped together instead of styles being grouped together. For instance, my granddaughter, Ashley,is a size 7 and when she goes to a resale shop, she can see all the tops in size 7 and pick out what she likes.

In a retail store, she might pick out something she likes, only to have Mom say it's not available in her size or in that particular color. As a result, Ashley would much rather shop at the resale shop than at the mall! And that has to be a good thing!

Find out when your local thrift store has its "clearance" sales. Just like retail stores, resale shops try to clear out merchandise periodically, typically when seasons change and really good buys can be found.

Garage and yard sales are great sources for baby and children's clothing especially.

Instead of buying a newspaper just for the garage sale ads, see if there is an online copy.

Keep in mind that sales that have multiple family sales together in one place may have already been pretty well picked over by one another.

While the selection may be best early in the day at garage sales, sometimes by afternoon or by the second day, everything will be marked down substantially.

Develop the habit of "making an offer" at garage sales. If a price is more than you want to pay, offer less. All they can say is no. However, it's been my experience that people will usually accept what you offer.

One last strategy: If your child objects to previously worn clothing, simply point out that a garment is only new for one wearing. After being worn and laundered, everything is "previously worn"!

By Cyndi Roberts

Locate the Bargain Bins

Most stores have reduced, marked down item bins. Always go there first when shopping early in the morning. You get the best of the bargains.

At a Supermarket, I found 2 boxes of Kleenex which had been reduced, because someone had cut the boxes with a box cutter while stocking shelves. These were marked down to 50 cents each for a total of $1. They would have cost $2.78 at $1.39 each

By Gladys H.

Ask For Teacher Discounts

We all know to ask for Senior discounts, military discounts, AARP discounts, children's discounts when applicable. The other day I read somewhere if you're a teacher to ask if there are discounts available for you, especially in educational areas, such as museums, movies, etc. We work hard for our money, so might as well stretch it in any way we can.

By Terri

Bargain Bins at Radio Shack and Office Stores

My husband haunts the bargain bins at Radio Shack and Staples/Office Depot, and finds lots of good deals. He just got a bargain music program to record at home for $40 which seems to be the equivalent of a much pricier program. (One component sold separately on the shelf was $100!) He's having a LOT of fun with it.

By Pam from Los Angeles

Compare Prices With Your Phone

My husband and I buy bigger packages of things like Tyson chicken tenders, but we make sure they are on sale. Pull out your calculator on your phone (I know yours has one!) and do the math to see which size will be the better deal.

If you have one that is 16 oz. and one that is 32 oz., if the 16 oz. is $4.00 and the larger one is 2 for $7.00, which do you think is the better deal. Well, the 32 oz. of course!

I just wanted to share the way we do our shopping to help save you money because it can be expensive! We also stick strictly to a list each time! We also don't buy our favorite ice cream unless it's on sale, and we love our ice cream! I hope this helps you as much as it helps us!

Just work at it and compare prices. I know a lot of advice says to shop different places to save money but for me personally, it's really inconvenient for my family &. I think it is a waste of gas, therefore, a waste of money to drive around to different stores to save a few extra pennies.

By Henrietta B. from Westminster, SC

Look for Free-Bates At Drugstores

Here's a money saving tip, even better than a Dutch Treat.

My college roommate is from Holland and she herself has told me they are very frugal in that country. Although she and her husband are financially secure, she still practices those habits which were instilled in her in Holland.

She introduced me to the Free-Bates which many drugstores are using to gain your business. Each month they have a flyer at the front of the store which lists items that qualify for a rebate which covers the entire cost of the item purchased. You can even fill the form out on the computer with very little effort.

If you choose to have the rebate put on their store bonus card, you even get an additional 5% on the card. They are essentially paying you to shop there. I have discovered some products which I really enjoy using which I wouldn't have tried had it not been for this program.

If there are items you don't want, you can get them to give to your other family members or to a local charity which ministers to the homeless. The rebate money is there on your card to use for purchases of other items and even on prescription drugs. We also have gotten several credits of $25 for transferring or buying a new prescription from various stores.

NOTE: These are not the fliers that come in the mail or with your newspaper. They are located just as you enter the store in most cases.

Source: From my frugal Dutch friend.

By Sandy from Elon, NC

Buy Store Brands For Big Savings

When grocery shopping, watch for store brands. They're usually always cheaper than national brands. On a recent grocery shopping trip, in the store sales flyer, I spied a name brand saltine crackers on sale 2 for $4.00. This sounded good to me, but when I was about to pick up this product, I looked over to the store brand of saltine crackers, that were the same size packaging. They were $1.25 each, making a savings of .75 cents a box!

By Terri H. from NV

Have a Dollar Store Budget

Even when I go to the dollar store, (or should I say, especially when I go to the dollar store) I make sure I count the items in my basket to make sure I am within my budgeted amount. It's so easy to go over in a place like that! I knew someone who called it the $30 store, because she always spent $30 every time she went in for one item!

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles, CA

Looking for Bargains

When shopping, always remember to look high and look low. The higher priced items are usually right at eye level while the bargains are usually above or below. It's easy to miss these items when you don't see them readily.

By Robin

Buy Two Of Bargain Finds

If you find something you like that's a bargain, why not buy two? I got some inexpensive dollar sunglasses I liked a while ago and bought two pairs. Now one is shot, and I am working on the second one. (And I just found another style I liked and bought another two pairs, for $2.)

By pamphyila from Los Angeles