You work all week, then come home and spend all your money on food, bills, and taxes. What if there were an easier way? What if you could have more time off and more money to spend?
It’s not impossible – you just have to start shopping smarter. Careful shopping can save you tons of money, especially if you have a plan and organize yourself beforehand.
Seek Out Sales
Everyone loves a sale, but you have to make sure the sale is working for you. Sometimes sales are set up to coerce you into buying unnecessary items just because they’re cheap. Other sales appear good percentage-wise, but are really just overpriced to begin with.
When shopping the sales, be sure to check out alternative places you could be buying from. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy something elsewhere. With that said, take advantage of a good sale when you see it! Sales for basics and essentials should never be missed. It’s great to get what you need for a decent price.
Clever Couponing
Clipping coupons may seem kind of boring. However, the amount of money it can save you is anything but. You’ll be excited about couponing once you are saving hundreds of dollars on all types of purchases.
There are a few keys to good couponing. If you have a coupon for something, especially something that doesn’t have a limit on quantity, it’s a good time to stock up! Your household will always need essentials like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and toothpaste.
Keep your couponing reasonable and try not to turn into one of those TLC special episodes – you want more time off, not a second job. Use coupons whenever you shop, but don’t shop just to use coupons.
Think Twice, Buy Once
This is very hard for most people! We live in a nation where buying stuff is seen as a balm for any kind of pain. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt anxious about how much money you had, and then gone out and bought something to make yourself feel better? What about after a bad breakup or losing a job? Sometimes buying a big ticket item feels like just the confidence boost you need to feel better about yourself.
The truth is that retail therapy doesn’t help in the long term. It’s better to save your money and buy things that you really need, or things that you love, instead of splurging on something that will make you feel good for a second, then hang around the house for years, unused.
One of the best ways to save money is by thinking about your purchases and not buying on impulse. Think twice before you buy anything to see if you really need it or could be getting a better price elsewhere.