| 1. Thrift Shops and Surplus Stores | | | | you get over the feeling and feel normal. It is |
| You may not think much of thrift shops and | | | | better if you eat at home before shopping. A little |
| surplus stores, but may be you are not aware | | | | bit of discipline will ensure considerable saving. |
| that these places sell branded stuff for very | | | | 12. Avoid Sales Talk |
| cheap. In fact, these establishments are full of top | | | | When you are trying out new dresses at a dress |
| quality goods. If you are used to the convenience | | | | store, you are bound to get rave compliments |
| of big stores, then you may find the going a bit | | | | from the sales persons about how beautiful you |
| tough in these establishments because of the | | | | look in a particular dress, how well it fits you, or |
| effort involved in finding the right stuff you need. | | | | how a particular dress enhances your persona. |
| You may have to spend some extra time, but | | | | You may in fact look all that and more, but do |
| you do get the stuff you require at very cheap | | | | not get taken in into buying a dress by sales talk. |
| prices. The saving you make is worth all the | | | | Sales persons are paid to make sales, and they |
| trouble. If you are looking for some outstanding | | | | may even be getting a commission on each sale |
| bargains, you are in for a surprise. | | | | they make. They, for these reasons, are making |
| Look around for such a store and chances are | | | | a kill. |
| that you will find one near your locality. If you do | | | | So, be prudent in your approach, keep your |
| not know where to begin, take the help of an | | | | budget in mind, and go for a dress that you think |
| online search engine. Go through the list of thrift | | | | suits you the best. Taking a friend along on such |
| shops and surplus stores provided by the search | | | | occasions is of great help. |
| engine. Most likely, you will find a store near your | | | | 13. Compare Prices |
| home. Can you imagine that you will find big labels | | | | When you go out shopping, it is a good idea to |
| going for as cheap as under $6.00 or under | | | | compare prices at various establishments. You |
| $20.00? Designer clothes, which you may only | | | | may find a significant difference in prices at |
| dream of owning, can be yours for next to | | | | different places for the same product or |
| nothing. | | | | substitute product. Some goods might be offered |
| 2. Clearance Sales | | | | at sales price, which can make you save good |
| If you have the patience and time, then wait for | | | | money. |
| clearance sales that are normally announced with | | | | 14. Saving Money for Shopping |
| much fanfare. Clearance sales are places where | | | | A number of financial institutions and banks offer |
| you can find great bargains. It is true that some | | | | a Christmas fund, an extra ordinary opportunity |
| times you do have to make that extra effort to | | | | for you to save money for your holiday shopping. |
| find the goodies that you are looking for, but it is | | | | You put some money aside in the fund and enjoy |
| worth all your time and effort. | | | | a peaceful holiday, not spending beyond your |
| The savings that you make on such deals are | | | | means. |
| fantastic. You come home satisfied on two | | | | 15. Keep an Eye on Shopping-rebates |
| accounts. One, that you got the stuff you | | | | Prior to going for shopping, keep an eye on |
| wanted; two, you did not have to dig deep into | | | | shopping-rebates. There may be some specific |
| your pocket. The money you save on such deals | | | | days and dates when rebates are offered. Plan |
| can go to your bank or help you buy goods you | | | | your shopping accordingly, and ensure a good |
| have been waiting to buy for long. | | | | amount of saving. |
| 3. Reusable Goods | | | | Try out the prices for assembled goods and |
| When you go shopping, be conscious of buying | | | | unassembled goods. Unassembled items certainly |
| goods that can be reused over and over again. If | | | | come cheaper than fully finished and ready-to-use |
| you are looking for batteries for your radio or | | | | products. If you find the difference to be |
| alarm clock, go for the rechargeable kind. They | | | | substantial, which it usually is, assembling at home |
| may cost you a bit extra initially, but the savings | | | | is a good option and fun if you involve your kids |
| you make subsequently are substantial. | | | | in the exercise. |
| Rechargeable batteries have a very long life and | | | | 16. Save While Making Seasonal Purchases |
| serve you for years together in comparison to | | | | Many stores offer holiday items on heavy |
| ordinary batteries that have a life span of a few | | | | discounts for a few days after a holiday. This is |
| months only. | | | | the time to store some stuff for the next |
| Christmas trees are another area where you can | | | | season. You can store clothes, accessories, |
| save heavily. Artificial Christmas trees do look real | | | | decorations for Christmas and more. This is a |
| and have a long life. Apart from saving money, | | | | great way to save good money. |
| you will do a great service by helping a tree from | | | | 17. Buying at Dollar/Pound Stores |
| being chopped down. Can you imagine the number | | | | There was a time when dollar stores were |
| of trees that can be saved every year? | | | | known for storing poor quality goods, and offering |
| 4. Bulk Buying | | | | off brand items. Now, things are not the same |
| You tend to save a lot if you go for buying in | | | | anymore. Dollar stores continue to sell cheap, but |
| bulk. Shopping at warehouses or at wholesalers | | | | they are selling the same brand goods that you |
| make you save money because they sell cheap | | | | find at other stores. Daily use products can be |
| on bulk. You can tie up with your family or friends | | | | had for a fraction of what they are sold |
| and avail of reduced prices on bulk buying. | | | | elsewhere. You stand to make considerable saving |
| 5. Use Coupons | | | | from purchases made at your dollar store. So, |
| Coupons are great money savers. If you have | | | | look around for a dollar store near your home and |
| coupons with you, do not hesitate in exchanging | | | | start building up your saving. |
| them for goods purchased at stores, grocery | | | | 18. Look to Save on Your Purchases |
| stores, or retail chain stores, where these are | | | | There are other sources for your daily needs |
| accepted. Keep in touch with the bulletin boards of | | | | items other than your neighborhood store. Packed |
| the stores for double coupon days. Plan your | | | | edible stuff work out to be expensive, and they |
| shopping on days when a store offers double | | | | may come straight out of the cold storage. If |
| coupons. | | | | you like eating fresh fruit and vegetables, head to |
| Using coupons, you can save from 5% up to | | | | the nearest farmer's market. These items are |
| 15%. This leads to a substantial saving of a few | | | | cheaper and devoid of preservatives, besides |
| hundred dollars every year. | | | | being fresh. Your local bakery thrift store can |
| 6. Don't Get Lured | | | | offer you a variety of freshly baked stuff and |
| We generally tend to spend money over things | | | | breads. You can be sure of quality and freshness |
| because we get lured into buying them, whether | | | | both at real cool prices. |
| or not we require them. You may be tempted | | | | Neighborhood garage sales and auctions offer you |
| into buying something, which has great appeal for | | | | great stuff at highly discounted prices. Online |
| you. It is best to avoid going to that particular | | | | auctions too are great bargains. You can get |
| store where it is available, or be strong enough | | | | great quality stuff at highly reduced prices. |
| not to get tempted. That is how you can save | | | | 19. Utilize the Sale |
| money. | | | | Many times, we see that some or other products |
| 7. Being Patient | | | | are on sale at a discount price. For Instance, the |
| Being patient is the keyword to avoiding impulsive | | | | discount price of a deodorant may be $ 3.50 and |
| buying. If you are an impulsive buyer, you need to | | | | its original price $ 7.50. If you are a regular |
| exercise patience. Impulsive buyers tend to buy | | | | deodorant user then do not give a second |
| things even when they do not really need them. | | | | thought and purchase a couple of deodorants. You |
| When you feel the urge to buy something, be | | | | must take care before stocking things up, that |
| patient and tell yourself to follow the budget you | | | | you are a regular user of this product. Thus, it is |
| planned. Do not resort to any unplanned buying. If | | | | a nice way of saving money. |
| you have planned to buy a particular shirt when it | | | | 20. Mix and Match |
| will be available on sales prices, patiently wait until | | | | While shopping for clothes, take care not to |
| then. | | | | purchase a matched suit. The cost of matched |
| 8. Identifying Triggers | | | | suits is higher than separate pieces. Thus, you |
| If you are the kind who suddenly feels the urge | | | | may go for separate mixed pieces. Your work is |
| to buy something not required, then you may | | | | to match those pieces and enjoy the savings. |
| need to identify what triggers you into getting in | | | | Moreover, you can enjoy the variety that mix |
| buying mode. | | | | and matched pieces offer. You can make four |
| You might be feeling sad, lonely, anxious, | | | | dresses out of just two pieces. This is interesting! |
| depressed or happy. These could be one of the | | | | One can enjoy the variety along with savings. |
| reasons that trigger the urge of buying in you. | | | | 21. Sensible Shopping |
| Once you identify the trigger, exercise restraint. | | | | Shopping in a mall is nothing but wastage of |
| Look for other ways to get relief from your | | | | money. Always try to avoid purchasing from |
| moodiness. All you need is to discipline yourself. | | | | malls, as the product prices are too high. It would |
| 9. Barter Your Services | | | | be nice to buy from a small shop rather than the |
| Float the idea of bartering services among your | | | | malls. You can get the same quality product |
| friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family. If some | | | | through online shopping or any other small shop |
| one needs help at lawn mowing, offer your | | | | and that too at a much lower price. |
| services in exchange for spring-cleaning your | | | | 22. Shopping on the Web |
| house. If a family needs babysitting services, do it | | | | Popularity of Internet is really growing very fast, |
| in exchange for some other chore where you | | | | as it offers every kind of information. Apart from |
| need help. Such bartering of services will save a | | | | information, you can also save your money |
| substantial amount of money for all concerned. | | | | through internet. Online shopping has brought a |
| 10. Avoid Competition | | | | considerable change in the field of shopping. You |
| Live life on your own terms. Do not let others | | | | can order the product online, that too at a |
| dictate what you should buy and what you should | | | | discount price. They also offer instant delivery |
| not. If you care to be introspective, you may find | | | | with added warranty. Moreover, you can go |
| that many times you had to buy things just | | | | through the online catalogue and check out the |
| because your neighbors had it and you did not. | | | | wide varieties offered. For instance, there are |
| This sense of competition leads to wasteful | | | | several websites that offer a great variety of |
| buying. At times people tend to buy things just to | | | | books, clothes or other appliances online and that |
| be one up on their friends or neighbors. The | | | | at too at huge discount. So, take care not to |
| consideration at such moments is neither need | | | | waste your time and money, as both of them |
| nor affordability. They just buy to have a | | | | are precious. |
| competitive edge over others. Such wasteful | | | | 23. Smart Shopping |
| expenditure can cause a severe dent on their | | | | You are saving money to buy your favorite car |
| saving. | | | | for a long time. Now, the time to purchase has |
| You need to be conscious of the fact that you | | | | arrived. You are eager to have the keys of your |
| are not in any competition with anyone. Your life | | | | dream car. Wait! Do not act in haste. It may be |
| is yours and hence, your needs need not be | | | | possible that in a hurry, you will end up in wasting |
| dictated by others. Before buying anything, see | | | | your long time saving. Check out the rates of the |
| whether it fits the criteria of need and | | | | car in other cities. You will be astonished to find |
| affordability. | | | | considerable difference among the rates. Thus, |
| 11. When to Shop | | | | your little patience and intelligence can save you |
| It is important not to indulge in anytime shopping. | | | | good money. Now, you can do anything with this |
| A person may go for shopping when he/she is | | | | saved amount. |
| anxious, depressed, sad, or hungry. It has been | | | | We hope the above tips are helpful in saving you |
| found that under such state of mind a person | | | | money, in the current climate around the world |
| tends to overspend on shopping. If you happen to | | | | we all can do with saving some money! |
| be in a melancholic state, avoid shopping. Wait until | | | | |