3 Simple Steps to Save Money Every Time You Shop

without clipping coupons!

A simple method to help you save (or even make) money every time you shop!

Hey there friends!  Have you ever bought something, only to find it cheaper somewhere else?  I think we’ve all done that.  But the truth is, if you are on a tight budget, you really can’t afford to spend any more than is absolutely necessary.

As we scrimp and save our way through paying off debt, I’ve had to be very savvy about getting the best deals on, well, everything.

I used to spend hours before each purchase scouring the internet to find the best deal.  But that’s counterproductive.  As moms’s, our time is worth way more than we realize and being on the internet steals us away from our kids.

So, I came up with a simple system to make sure I get the best deals I can in a short, reasonable amount of time.  And it can work for you too. Sound good?

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1 – Make sure you get money back when you shop

 Whether you shop in brick and mortar stores or if you prefer to shop online, getting money back is an absolute must.

But that can be time consuming too.

You need to streamline the process to maximize your cashback.  You might not think it’s worth it, but when you are trying to pay off debt or living on a tight budget – every. dollar. counts.  Really.

There are tons of sites that offer money back in one way or the other, but trying to use too many sites is overwhelming.  I’ve found that if you narrow it down to a couple, manageable sites, it will be easier to use (and remember to use!) them.

Personally, I’ve found that three sites/apps that work great in tandem.  I use Swagbucks as my search engine, click through Ebates whenever I shop online (click here to learn more about how Ebates works), and then use the Ibotta app whenever I do regular in store shopping.  In using Ibotta, Ebates, and Swagbucks together, I am  making cash back in every way that I can.

2 – Decide how you will pay

Um, with money?  Well, it’s not that simple.

Depending on your financial goals you may be a cash/debit only sort of family.  Great (Dave Ramsey will be proud)!!  Since you know how you are paying, you can skip ahead  – now you are ready to shop!

If you’re a credit card sort of person, then you need to take the time to have a plan and be smart about it.

• First off, make sure you have a budget.  Going off and spending without a budge is a recipe for financial disaster.  A great, completely free, online budgeting tool is Every Dollar (completely free and easy to use – it’s what I use for my family budget).
• Then, make sure you are getting cash back on purchases or points back for purchases.  If you are not, find a card that gets you rewards.  They are everywhere!  This is the one sure fire way to make money with every purchase that you make.
• And finally, consider using an app like Earny that ensures that you are getting the best price  you can when you make a purchase.

Just to be clear, I’m a cash/debit sort of girl and I think that’s the best way to get control of you money, but if you are a credit card person, then make sure you using it to your full advantage!

 

 

3 – You are ready to shop!

 

Start by checking if the item you need can be gotten used.

Always, always try to buy used first.  Not only can it save buko dollars, it’s taking a stand against mindless consumerism and making a difference in the world.  So, whatever it is, check if you can get it uesed first.

Here are some of my favorite ways to find used goods –

• Thred up (clothes)
• Betterworld books
• ebay
• Local sell sites – facebook, etc. (you can find everything on these sites!  We’ve sold everything from puzzles to our car on a facebook sell site.  Just remember to be careful – never meet someone alone and always meet in a very public spot).
• Local Thrift Stores

 

If it can’t be bought used…

Ok, used is great, but what about things like restaurants and shampoo?  Just remember that we are trying to never pay full price!  Check out these sites first –

 

• Subscribe and Save – with Amazon

Did you know that you don’t have to have Prime in order to use Subscribe and Save with Amazon?!  I don’t think people always realize this!  For example, here is a link for my favorite laundry soap.  If you look in the ordering area there is an option for Subscribe and Save.  If I order it this way, I will get 5% off.  If I Subscribe to at least 5 items in my order I save 15%.  It’s a great way plan ahead and save on basic household necessities.  You won’t get your order super fast, but you will save!

 

• Groupon

Groupon is a great way to save on activities.  If you are planning to any site seeing (museums, attractions, activities), eating out, working out, getting a haircut trying a new service, etc. you need to check Groupon before you go.  You can save lots of money and it’s super easy.  They even offer extra discounts periodically.  If you take advantage of those sale you can save even more.  It’s pretty crazy.  For example, I got four passes to our local Get Air (including 4 pairs of socks) for $9.  Yep, it’s pretty great.

 

• Other Local Sites

Don’t forget to check if your community has any local saving’s sites.  Many communities run sites that are similar to Groupon but include more small, local businesses.  For instance, I can usually get 25-50% off local restaurants or coffee shops.  My most recent savings was $20 worth of gift cards to a local coffee shop for $10.  Hello, savings!

 

• Hotels

If you are going out of town, always, always check with a site like Hotwire.com first.  You can save a ton of money on hotels if you are willing to be flexible!

 

• Wholesale Shopping

It may seems counterproductive to spend money on a wholesale shopping club when you are trying to save money.  But this is honestly one of the best ways to save money on day to to day items like food and toilet paper.  I often comment to my husband that we can’t afford not to shop at our local club!  Especially if you have a bigger sized family, it’s the way to go.

But remember, even at a wholesale store, shop the sales!  Ours has a sale cycle – if you pay attention and stock up, you save even more!

Also our club has a membership option that we pay more upfront and then earn 2% cash back throughout the year.  At the end of the year we get a check with all of our savings.  It’s a great way to offset the cost of membership if you use it a lot.  Last year (after our cashback check) the annual membership cost us about $20.  Not bad!

• Discount Stores 

Check your  area for discount stores.  There are many different types, but most areas have some kind of option.  There are discount damaged goods stores or stores like Big Lots that even carry food at great discounts.

When you absolutely must buy new –

• Plan, plan ahead.  

When you go into the store have a specific list and a specific budget.   Not having either one will cause you to overspend and clutter your home with unnecessary items.

• Cash is your best tool

If it’s a big purchase, save up the cash for it.  It’s that simple.  Having cash will give you leverage to offer less and incentive for the seller to take your offer.

 

Hope these resources help you to have a plan and make good choices with your money.  With so many options nowadays, it can just be so overwhelming to find the best deal.  By having a simple system to follow when you make purchases, you can really save a ton of money and remove the stress too.

 

By simply shopping smart and having a plan, you can rock your budget and save money every time you shop!