33 Basic Smart Shopping Tips
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Here are thirty-three basic smart shopping tips that can be used anywhere you shop. Use them to save money, and as a guide to strengthen your purchasing power.
1. Plan your spending. Avoid impulse buys.
2. Advertised items are not necessarily the cheapest.
3. Watch for unadvertised specials.
4. Remember to ask for a "raincheck" if an item is sold out.
5. To avoid crowds, do not shop after work, on paydays, or just before holidays.
6. Buy items before you run out of them. Buy at clearance, or sale price, instead of regular price when you must have the item.
7. Know the sales cycle in your area.
8. Just because an item is on sale, doesn't necessarily mean it is a good deal for your family. If you won't use it, don't buy it.
9. Due to volume discounts, larger stores are generally cheaper than smaller ones.
10. Your emotions affect your shopping. Be careful of the "I deserve it" mentality.
11. Buy at the end of the season.
12. Stock up when prices are low.
13. Try alternative shopping: Shop salvage stores, thrift stores, consignment shops, warehouse clubs, yard sales, and garage sales.
14. Remember that no particular store has the lowest price on all items.
15. Create a "shopping pool". Agree with family and friends to shop sales for each other.
16. Shop alone. Other individuals will only help fill your shopping cart.
17. Check the entire store for specials and alternatives.
18. Get to know your favorite store's employees. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
19. Know your prices, keep a price book.
20. About Prices: Compare, Compare, Compare. This is how your price book helps you.
21. Larger is not always cheaper. Smaller is not always cheaper.
22. Look at unit prices.
23. You pay more for fancy packaging. Beware.
24. Remember the "Rule of Three": If an item has three different ways it can be used, you will not be wasting your money.
25. Never pay full price.
26. Shop defensively.
27. Try store and generic brands.
28. Watch as the clerk rings up your purchases. Check your receipt.
29. Shop for gifts year round.
30. Return purchases that do not meet your expectations.
31. Complain if it is genuinely warranted.
32. Call before you go to confirm item is available.
33. If you must, leave the checkbook and credit cards at home or in the car.
Written By: Sandy Shields
Sandy is a freelance writer and webmaster of TheFrugalShopper.com. She enjoys living the frugal life, saving money, and helping others to do the same. Subscribe to her newsletter to receive more money-saving ideas and frugal tips. Copyright © TheFrugalShopper.com 1999-2003.
You May Also Like
Powered by Blogger.

Hello and thank you for dropping by to visit the oneincomedollar. Here you'll learn how to save money, learn more about brand favorites,check out our reviews and may even find a giveaway happening. You can also read about places we travel to when we are on the road, and so much more! And be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss out on anything. Love, oneincomedollar.
Inside The Blog
Popular Posts
Featured Post
Blog Archive
-
▼
2009
(238)
-
▼
December
(52)
- Wishing You All A Happy New Year Ramblings
- Winners For Today's Giveaways!
- Draws are Tommorow! Enter Now!
- Winner of Citracal Calcium +
- A Week of Menus
- Still Time to Enter
- Trimming Down Your Health-Related Expenses
- Today's Ramblings
- How To Make Money With A Sewing Machine
- Book Review: "Where is God?" by Dr John Townsend
- Merry Christmas To All My Readers!
- 33 Basic Smart Shopping Tips
- Review and Giveaway! Money Saving, Penny Pinching ...
- Review and Giveaway! A Tribute Book: " A Different...
- Bookmark This Web Site
- 10 Ways To Save $50 Per Month
- Like To Write? 71 Ways For A Writer To Make Money
- Giveaway Winners- Pingo Phone Cards
- Review- Cheap Cookie Cutters
- A New Week of Menus
- Save Money with Low Season Discount Cruises
- A Few Things
- 10 Best Ways You Can Hide Your Valuables
- Today's Ramblings
- CardSwap.ca first in Canada: PLUS Enter Their Grea...
- Review and Giveaway! Citracal Calcium +
- Interested in Taking a Correspondance Course?
- A New Week of Menus
- Chloe - Enjoying A Great Deal I Got
- 99 Ways For A Photographer To Make Money
- I Got the Job!
- Giveaway! Win 1 of 10 Pingo Phone Cards
- Save Money Without Feeling Deprived
- Wasting Time on the Internet Pays Off
- Can You Please Take a Moment and Vote?
- Tommorow
- Avoid Traffic Tickets=Saving Money
- Living in California with $30,000
- Free Stuff, Contests, Product Trials, Gift Rewards...
- Another Week of Menus
- Unemployed
- Indoor Fun for the Kids-How to Make a Volcano
- Cold Night
- 2009 Love/Hate Credit Cards Contest
- Buying A Used Car
- Today's Ramblings
- Food Review- Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars
- Free Report-66 Ways to Make Money with Handicrafts
- Canada- Help Donate with One Click for Homelessness
- Saving Money on Hardwood Floors
- Free-29 Ways To Make Money For Those Interested In...
- Dell Canada-Win Prizes Every Hour! Holiday Gift Hunt
-
▼
December
(52)
These are great tips! My husband has recently gotten into finding coupons on things that are on sale. So far, so good! We've already saved about $15 on everyday items we purchase, and we just started.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll need to crack down more after the holidays. Our grocery bill I find is a killer too- I use coupons and shop reduced but may need to be more careful.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I am terrible with budgeting. I seem to be a horrible impulse buyer at the grocery store, a habit I can't afford as a single mom on a small single income! Your book looks like something I need pronto. Following you from MBC.
ReplyDeleteHi Vivianne- I hope you will enter our giveaways we have currently then for the financial books-
ReplyDeleteas well the ebook is only $5 on site and the paperback version is $19.95 and includes shipping. Glad to have you along!