The trick to saving big on little things is to know when and where to shop. Making a sub-conscious habit to save money in your daily life can add up to a surprising amount of savings. It is relatively easy to save money by becoming a conscientious and informed shopper.
When to shop can be just as important as where to shop. For instance, just before school starts, there are numerous places that offer great deals on everything, lined paper, pens, notebooks, paper clips, markers, etc. Stocking up on these deals can save money, and this is true even if you don’t have children.
We all need these items, and because there are so many stores that offer these supplies, one can look around for the best of the deals. After major holidays, there are also numerous sales, prices half-off or more, and this is a good time to buy things for the following year. Some strategies and ways to save money:
Coupons
Coupons are probably the most common way to save, as they are ongoing and plentiful. There are coupons for just about anything from groceries to free shipping. Looking through flyer’s, and scanning the web, one can find coupons for groceries, travel, fitness, insurance, electronics, gas, clothing, dining out and more. Big name department stores, supermarkets, and restaurants offer coupons regularly, and though it may not seem like it, using coupons frequently can add up to big savings. Look for promotional deals, like buy one get one free, and other sales, and always look for a coupon if you are planning to buy anything; chances are there will be a coupon to reduce the price.
Buying in Bulk
It’s important to think about things in terms of cost-per-use as opposed to total cost. Buy items in bulk and it will cut down on your cost per usage. If there are items you use regularly, buy them in huge quantities, especially items like paper towels, soap, shampoo, diapers, trash bags, Kleenex, laundry detergent, etc., as this can save you money in the long run.
Reward Cards
Sign up for reward cards and get discounts, gift certificates, airline miles, and other perks. Using a reward card is a major cost saving benefit. Accumulating points, and getting cash back on purchases these incentives and rebate programs can save you a lot of money.
There are also numerous store reward cards that offer ongoing savings, such as “Extra Care Rewards,” from CVS, “Rite Aid Wellness + Card,” from Rite Aid, “Reward Zone,” from Best Buy, “Register Rewards,” from Walgreen’s, “My Starbucks Rewards,” from Starbucks, and “Kroger Rewards,” from Kroger, as well as many more. Having these types of cards can save you a lot over time, especially if you frequent the place often. When you combine weekly ad deals, store and manufacture coupons and store loyalty cards you can really come out ahead, and save a great deal.
Free List of Savings
So many websites offer free and great software programs for computer needs, everything from office programs, to multimedia programs, security, and picture programs, and many of these work just as well as those you might purchase so it always good to search for free software. For instance, save money on your cellphone plan by using a free texting service such as Text Plus, or save $15.00 by printing out your own passport photo, and go to at ePassportPhoto.com where it will help you to size it properly.
Find free books, e-books, DVD’s, Audio books and videos at your local library.
When traveling, there are plenty of hotels that offer free breakfast, free WI-Fi, free parking, and free fitness facilities, all of which you can take advantage off while saving money.
Many restaurants have free meals for kids, and free birthday meals, or specials where you can order one meal and get the other free. Many fast-food places have annual freebie day, places like I-Hop, Rita’s Italian Ice, Ben’s & Jerry ice cream, Pretzel Marker Pretzels, Starbucks, Haagen Dozs, Kristy Kreme dough-nuts, and Chick Fil-A, just to name a few. Check on-line or go to your favorite franchise for the month and date to take advantage of these free goodies.
Staying healthy is a benefit, and there are free health preventive-care screenings that don’t charge deductibles or co-pays. Some of these include things like routine vaccines, cholesterol tests, diabetes tests, mammograms, and flu shots. Check these sources out to save money.
Depending on your income, there are free income tax software and filing programs to help at tax time, and regardless of your income, there are free filing sites available to everyone. Many communities offer free face-to-face help, and many volunteers that are trained to help during income tax season, these can be found at the local library and at your local community center.
Many top-notch museums, galleries, zoos, and parks offer free admission year-round, for instance some let you in free on certain days of the week or during a certain month. Places like Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C., or the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, as well as the Getty Center in Los Angeles. For a typical family of four, free admission to these places will certainly save you a great deal.
Parks like the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway do not charge entrance fees, and other several days throughout the year, you can get in free to all national parks that usually charge admission. Places like, “Take Me Fishing,” offers a list of states and dates in which you can fish without a license (a savings of $7.00 – $30.00) and in many locations, they let kids fish free year-round.
Beaches, parks, and forests are ideal for walking, biking, hiking, sledding, picnicking, photographing, and watching wildlife, and most of places are free to explore or cost very little.
Take advantage of your local ads and flyer’s, as they can be helpful and save you a few dollars on expenses. Compare prices, look for coupons, buy in bulk, and search the Internet for savings you are most likely to use. The time it takes to scan for bargains is well spent, it could add up to hundreds of dollars in annual savings, and every little bit can make a difference. The money you save, you can spend on other things, or simply put it into a savings account and watch it grow.