4 Money Saving Shopping Tips

4 Money Saving Shopping Tips
  • Opening Intro -

    Today's consumers are looking for bargains as disposable income levels have dropped and everyone is seeking ways to make their money stretch further.

    Tough times mean that some merchants have adjusted to market realities, by bringing goods to consumers at prices people can afford.

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You can survive tough times by shopping wisely.

If you are looking to adjust your shopping habits, then the following four tips can help you spot current trends and save you money.

1. Online Coupons

We grew up with coupons and expect to find discounts nearly every place where we shop. No longer do you have to wait for the mailman or the Sunday paper to arrive. Today, coupons have been adjusted to the digital age and are now also found online.

Savvy retailers put coupons right on their websites, knowing that you’ll stop by and print these out. Some retailers will send these coupons directly to your email inbox, while others will allow you to scan coupons with your smartphone instead of printing and cutting them out. Today’s coupons are more flexible too with retailers sometimes even ignoring their own expiration dates.

2. Seasonal Opportunities

For some retailers, sales are a weekly event with those so-called one day sales including a preview day where discounts can be take in advance of the sale day. For everyone else, there are favorite times of the year to find bargains including Presidents’ Day, the Easter season, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Christmas sales start at the beginning of November and seem to extend through the end of the year. Take note of the biggest holidays and plan your shopping accordingly.

Department stores typically have the highest mark-ups, but also the best sales. This means that if you want to keep shopping at your favorite retailer, then the best time to save is when major sales are being held. Otherwise, you’ll pay too much for items that can be found cheaper elsewhere.

3. Merchant Mix

You can achieve the best savings by mixing up where you make your purchases. Beyond department stores, discount retailers such as Marshall’s and TJ Maxx offer excellent deals on name-brand clothing. For everyday discounts, head over to Walmart, Target and Kmart. For bulk purchases, join your BJs, Sam’s Club or Costco warehouse club.

You can also find discounts on household goods by visiting dollars stores, discontinued merchandise retailers and even flea markets where new items are sold. Indeed, flea markets will often feature retailers who test a new product in front of the masses before setting up shop elsewhere. Flea markets cut out the middleman, bringing savings directly to shoppers.

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4. Consider Used

Deeper savings can be had if you don’t mind supplementing some of your purchases with items that have been previously used. The best deals can be had at garage and yard sales, estate sales and at flea markets.

You can also find good, quality used clothing at consignment shops. These retailers vary in what they accept, with some specializing in serving families and others meeting the needs of fashionistas by offering gently used haute couture clothing. Get to know the retailers in your area and make a beeline for these stores to uncover sharply reduced fashion items.

Final Thoughts

Pursuing one or more of the options mentioned will help you save money. Pursue all four and you’ll develop a lifestyle centered on savings. Put in a little effort and you’ll come away with major savings and help you and your family weather tough financial times.

See Also — Are you looking to renovate your home? If so, then visit LetsRenovate.com for home improvement shopping values.

 

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Categories: Consumer Tips

About Author

Matthew C. Keegan

Matt Keegan is a freelance writer and editor as well as publisher of "Matt's Musings", his personal blog. Matt covers campus, consumer, business and financial topics on various websites and blogs, and has been published in the "Houston Chronicle", "Sam's Club Magazine" and "Wisconsin Golfer".