Creative Ways to Save Money When Shopping
Living frugally, in my opinion, is more about being creative with your resources. The entire definition of frugal living varies from person to person. The key is in making choices that will help you reach your financial goals and minimize your debt. As a frugal family, are not as frugal now as we were five years ago, but this is because we have become more debt-free by being smarter with our money. In this article I present some tips to save money without hurting your budget.
It seems like everything these days revolves around buying, selling, borrowing and saving. With the economy the way it is and job losses, foreclosures and downsizing happening more often, it’s important that people take the time to look at their spending habits and formulate some ways to save money without hurting their budget. One of the easiest ways to save money is to purchase products at smaller sales. These sales often happen during times when stores have major sales and carry big discounts. Another simple tip is to use rebates, if available, whenever possible.
Another creative way to save on groceries is to fill your cart with items you plan on purchasing at another time. For instance, let’s say you are planning on buying a large tub of chocolate pudding for tomorrow. Instead of filling up your dishwasher, fill your basket with smaller sized containers of pudding that you intend to eat right away. By doing this you will not fill your dishwasher and you will probably eat more pudding than normal.
If you are shopping for someone and they will not be home to receive the gift card, consider giving them the gift card in a different place. For instance, fill a big bag with loose change at the store, but take one little bag with a couple of pennies and place it inside the small bag of gift card. When the person comes home, throw the gift card in the small bag and voila, instant creative ways to save money around the house! Everyone loves a great deal and this idea will get their attention, plus it’s kind of sneaky!
If you are having trouble getting groceries because you’re always too busy with work or just don’t want to make the extra effort to find something, follow these tips. First, try limiting your shopping trip to only one store. The more you go, the more you will realize how much it actually costs you to shop at a certain place. The next tip might seem counter intuitive, but filling your cart with expired items and expensive groceries will actually cost you more in the long run.
Check if the gas station you’re using provides a discount or if there is free gas at the service station. Another great way to save on groceries is to fill up your car with your full complement of groceries, put the lid on the car and then use the coupon you were given at the store to fill up the tank. There are many stores that offer free gas, but make sure you read the fine print. You want to make sure that the coupon you were able to grab was valid or the gas station might not honor it, especially if you live in an area that requires a certain level of coverage.
These simple tips will not only save you money but they will also save your time. If you do not have a problem with running out of toilet paper or reaching for the can opener when you run out of food, then you probably don’t need tips for saving money. On the other hand, if you hate running out of anything and cannot imagine doing without anything while shopping, then these tips may be right for you. The key is to know what you should already be doing so you do not need shopping lists.
Creative ways to save money begin with the decisions you make about what items you buy the most. You can save quite a bit by buying items that are in season and that are priced reasonably. When you’re done with a particular item, check the price next time you shop around at different stores. This could give you some great bargains. Some people even go as far as to try to convince their children to shop around at different stores to find better deals by telling them they can get a better toy or item for half price.
