Spend Less, More Often - How to Save Money without Sacrifice
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Savings One Penny at a Time
Hard times causes everyone to cut back on their spending, and lock up any additional incoming funds for safekeeping. But this is not always the best method to make ends meet. Have you ever heard the saying that you need to spend a little to save a little?
The easiest ways to save money are to discover the best available deals and then stock up on the necessities that you know you need to purchase regardless of income situations. Food, clothing, toiletries, body products, and baby or children care items cannot be put on hold for any reason. So, why pay more than bare minimum?
Simple Ways to Save Money
Cheap Kids Clothing
Today was Valentine's Day, and while most people were enjoying their flowers and romantic dinners this evening, we spent the lovely day bargain hunting during the President's Day weekend sales to save $788 on children's clothes. 2 years worth of winter clothing for 2 small boys, to be exact...I bought 2-years worth of kids clothing because I had to, regardless of whether it was all at once today, 6 months from now, or a few pieces of clothing every month for the next 24 months. The difference is, I spent WAY less now than I would have over the next 2 years making minor purchases. $788 worth of savings, averages out to $32 a month that I did not have to spend every month for the next 2 years in total. Don't be afraid to purchase larger sizes in advance if their growth remains at a steady pace. Once kids are past infant size, you know they are going to hit 2T, 3T, 4T, plus without a doubt... ;-)
So, I saved $788. I SPENT only $290 for over $1078 worth of kids clothing. And my kids aren't going to be "unfashionable" by wearing another year's style because I opted for plain colors, popular characters, and some of the skulls and tribal patterned items that Daddy always wears. Can't go wrong with what Daddy wears with 2 boys. LOL
Stock Up on Necessities
Good deals, and better deals
If you needed shampoo and found it on sale at 50% off would you grab 2 bottles? You know you need another bottle when you finish this one, and you were just going to spend the same amount for only one. Walk out of the store with both, and put the extra one in your cabinet for later. Then it costs you nothing for your next bottle.The higher the percentage off, the more you should purchase. For instance, if the shampoo was 75% off, you would pick up 4 bottles at the same cost. If you have coupons ready in hand at the same time you purchase, you are that much closer to becoming an incredibly savvy shopper. You may end up with 5 or more with the same $4-$5 you would have spent on a single bottle of shampoo.
Grocery Savings
Slash your Food Bill, not your Food...
1Don't be afraid to shop around!
Write down prices of the products that you buy most often. You can search online for free printable price book pages to keep your prices organized by store in order to see who has the best deals. Competitors are there for a reason. If you have a chance to shop around, take advantage of the better deal on only a few items every week. It adds up quickly.
2Stock Up.
Test the maximum capacity of your pantry, and then make way in the closets for more. When you find a deal that can't be beat, chances are you won't find it again for a very long time. The more you buy, the more you save - and it only hurts your funds if you buy more than you end up using. Rotate your shelf products often so nothing gets hidden and goes to waste.
3Get on mailing lists.
That's right - you WANT junk mail!!! It's only junk if you're not going to use it. Enjoy a particular brand of cereal? Find their website and sign up. Having a baby? Sign up for diaper and formula coupons. New cat or dog? Sign up for pet food and litter coupons. You can always remove yourself from the mailing lists later on in life if you change brands or situations. Keep a list of user names, passwords, and website URLs handy in one list to know what you've signed up for already.
4Use coupons.
Buy a Sunday newspaper or two - every Sunday. Buy multiple copies if there are coupons in there that you know you will be using that add up to more than the cost of the newspaper. I've bought multiple copies for other savings as well. The craft store 40-50% off coupons usually save me 3-4 times the cost of the newspaper on larger purchases. Also, it's very handy to have all of the store flyers in one place to bargain shop and price match each week.
Write down prices of the products that you buy most often. You can search online for free printable price book pages to keep your prices organized by store in order to see who has the best deals. Competitors are there for a reason. If you have a chance to shop around, take advantage of the better deal on only a few items every week. It adds up quickly.
2Stock Up.
Test the maximum capacity of your pantry, and then make way in the closets for more. When you find a deal that can't be beat, chances are you won't find it again for a very long time. The more you buy, the more you save - and it only hurts your funds if you buy more than you end up using. Rotate your shelf products often so nothing gets hidden and goes to waste.
3Get on mailing lists.
That's right - you WANT junk mail!!! It's only junk if you're not going to use it. Enjoy a particular brand of cereal? Find their website and sign up. Having a baby? Sign up for diaper and formula coupons. New cat or dog? Sign up for pet food and litter coupons. You can always remove yourself from the mailing lists later on in life if you change brands or situations. Keep a list of user names, passwords, and website URLs handy in one list to know what you've signed up for already.
4Use coupons.
Buy a Sunday newspaper or two - every Sunday. Buy multiple copies if there are coupons in there that you know you will be using that add up to more than the cost of the newspaper. I've bought multiple copies for other savings as well. The craft store 40-50% off coupons usually save me 3-4 times the cost of the newspaper on larger purchases. Also, it's very handy to have all of the store flyers in one place to bargain shop and price match each week.
Frugal Living Resources
Frugal living, free coupons, save money, budgeting
- The Dollar Stretcher
- Money Saving Articles to Stretch Your Budget, Living Better for Less, Simple Living, Frugal Living.
- ThriftyFun
- Frugal living and gardening community.
- Slickdeals.net
- Save money with Slickdeals: find the lowest and cheapest price, best deals and bargains, and hot coupons.
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- ChapelHillFiddler ChapelHillFiddler Nov 25, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
- I'm featuring this lens on my new fan-club thank-you lens - so - thank you!
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- Wysiwigs Wysiwigs Apr 6, 2009 @ 5:29 am
- Great lens - I am all about saving money :o) The best thing we ever did was purchase a large freezer (on sale). Now we can hit the buy one get one free sales on freezable items at the supermarket and stock up on bread (which also freezes) from the bread store where it's half price! Nice job 5*
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