How to Be a Thrifty Shopper

Just because an item is on sale, doesn't mean the savings has to stop there.

The hardest part about thrifty shopping is conditioning yourself to recognize deals and avoid full-price items. There will always be essentials that require you to pay full price at times, but the ability to limit those occasions will result in increased savings and a greater awareness of how sales work. There is no shame in saving money. Everyone wants a good deal, but experienced bargain shoppers will tell you that a little effort can go a long way for the bank account.

Instructions

1. Collect coupons and keep them organized in a system that works for you. It is better to have too many coupons that go unused than to not have a coupon for something you need to purchase. Any time you make a purchase online, scour the Internet for discount codes. Even if the code only provides free shipping, it still keeps money in your pocket.

2. Join online forums for bargain shoppers. If you are new to bargain shopping or do not have the time to constantly survey the retail landscape for deals, don't worry, someone else probably already did. Even as a casual reader, bargain forums provide shoppers with available deals, stackable coupon codes and a chance for customers to share their experiences with using the discounts and dealing with certain companies. Sometimes, as you will find out, even the greatest bargain in the world is not worth the hassle of dealing with a customer service train wreck.

3. Familiarize yourself with grocery stores in your area that double coupons or host special bargain days. The best way to save money at the grocery store is combining coupons with weekly sale items. Also, learn sale trends. For example, meat at the grocery store is often drastically discounted the day before the sell-by date. If you plan on making a meal using meat, rather than buying the meat ahead of time and letting it sit in your refrigerator, consider picking up meat the same day you plan to cook it, but at a deep discount.

4. Join a wholesale club. Wholesale clubs are particularly popular with families and large households because they sell items in bulk. However, not all items are exclusively bulk quantities. Wholesale clubs frequently have bargain prices on tires, electronics and even vacations. These big-ticket items may sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars less than at typical retail stores. Although wholesale clubs charge a membership fee, smart shoppers will often make that membership fee back in savings within the first couple of trips.

5. Embrace outlet stores. Weekend shopping at outlet malls can prove troubling, especially for those who do not deal well with crowds. However, the same prices and inventory are available during weeknights, but without the dressing room crowds. Usually, outlets stock clothes that are just a season or two behind, but keep an eye out for irregular items that may include improper stitching or stains. The outlets can be a great bargain, but you have to learn the warning signs to watch out for.

Tips & Warnings

• Thrifty shopping does not necessarily mean low-quality products. A little research and patience will prove that name-brand items do go on sale, you just have to find them.

References

• The Thrifty Mama
• Retail Me Not
• Thrifty Like Me; Frugal Living; Claire Bingham; February 2010
• Slickdeals: Frontpage Slickdeals

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish