Would you like to know my 6 savings tips? I’ve narrowed it down to 5 so you can get living a frugal live in small easy to understand bites!
Frugal living is way more then just snipping and clipping coupons and taking them to the grocery store – its a lifestyle that when you live it will allow you to do all sort of fun things, have more, be more and do more! I’m living proof! Here are 6 of my savings tips and strategies to help you pinch another penny so you can buy that Coach purse, take that dream Disney vacation or buy that new car.
1) Re-use containers – When you buy chicken & it comes in a plastic container wash it with warm soapy water and reuse it. When you get a loaf of bread keep the plastic bag (its food grade after all) and re-use it, instead of throwing away a plastic container of baby wipes make a baby car pack with it. Re-use medicine and pill containers too! Get creative!
2)Whenever you’re at the grocery store, Walmart or Target and you see a store display (like for Superbowl Sunday or Christmas etc) then make a point to stroll around the display quickly just to check for coupons. It only takes a few extra seconds and its a great way to get coupons!
3) ALWAYS check for clearance whenever you’re in a store. When I’m at Target I walk down the interior aisle so that I purposefully go past the end caps which is where Target keeps clearance merchandise (so not a main aisle end cap but an end cap that faces another department or maybe the store walls) Its just a habit that I’ve gotten into and its saved me a bundle over the years. Make it your habit. For Walmart, just ask where your local Walmart store place clearance items. For many stores its an aisle where they always clearance merchandise. I always check Walmart shoe clearance too (that is always in the shoe department) because kids go through shoes like crazy (especially if you have puddle jumpers for boys!☺) At your local grocery store ask where they clearance merchandise. At my local Safeway on Kent Island, MD clearance is HUGE and its back behind the eggs at the very back of the store leading into the employee part. Keep your coupons on you – as you’ll never know when you’ll come across a HOT clearance deal and be able to pair it up with a coupon! Would you like to know the secrets to Target Store Clearance? Read my article about it here
4) Sign up (free of course) for all birthday clubs and e-mail newsletters. Be sure to use a new email address that you create just for couponing and deal seeking. This way if anyone sells my name and email I don’t get a ton of spam to my main email address and I can sort through e-newsletters (that are sometimes packed with coupons) when its convenient for me. I always sign up everyone in my family (spouse and kids too) so that if we decide to eat out for a birthday we have at least 20 different coupon offers so we never pay full price! Remember saving is a lifestyle which is more than just clipping coupons for the grocery store!
5)I buy used whenever possible. I know that some of you have never thought about this but I buy used clothes (except undergarments), outside play equipment for my kids, tricycles, bikes etc. I literally only pay a fraction of the retail cost in a store and I’m able to purchase so much more! My favorite thrift store is Value Village. I have to travel an hour to get to one but if you go on holidays (like 4th of July, Martin Luther King Day etc) they offer a 50% discount on already seriously CHEAP prices! Its worth my drive! MANY of the items still have the tags on them. Read my article on 5 Tips for Thrift Store Shopping here (you’ll learn how to shop thrift and save a bundle) When you bring them home just wash them twice or buy that disinfecting wash you can add to your laundry and they’ll be as good as new! Good Will frequently offers sales too! Did you know that Target frequently sends clearance items to Good Will? Read my article about it here
6) Buy gifts after a holiday. For instance shop for candy to fill a party pinata after Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Christmas. Shop for an anniversary gift for your spouse the day after Valentine’s Day. Buy end of the year teacher gifts, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts and birthday presents on after Christmas clearance special. Be sure to stock up on “generic” gifts for when your children are invited to a birthday party. Remember that if you wait until you “need” a gift then you might just be stuck paying full price and that is a “no no” in your frugal living plan!
Have you seen my video on re-using containers yet? It will help you with ideas that will save you money!
Love the tips!!! ….going to use them 🙂