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Whether shopping for groceries or shopping for something major, the goal of a frugal shopper is to purchase everything at the cheapest possible price. You can do this by comparison shopping, using coupons, using coupon codes online, taking advantage of a store’s rewards program, etc. Sometimes you can combine two or three of those methods and walk away with free items. Yep, some things in life ARE free. But only if it’s a frugal life. Check out the information below to help you become the best frugal shopper. Also, be sure to subscribe to The Saving Sense newsletter for monthly links and tips on frugal shopping!
Frugal Grocery Shopping
Frugal grocery shopping cannot be successful without a list. You must make a list! Try to list the items according to their location in the store. This will help you stay focused and you’ll spend less time in tempting isles that don’t have what you need. When making your list, put a star next to each item that you have a coupon for. (more on getting coupons below!) This will help you remember to refer to your coupon while in the store to be sure you get the right brand and/or size.
Take the time to cut coupons from the Sunday paper and other coupon sources. Many grocery stores will double and sometimes even triple coupon values. If you’re buying something that’s already on sale and then use a double or triple value coupon - you’ll often walk out with free food! Here are just a few of the many great sources for coupons both on the internet and at home:
- The Coupon Clippers- This site lists thousands of available coupons for you to pick and choose from. They charge a minimal fee for shipping/handling, and customers say it’s more than worth it the fee. This is a great service for people who aren’t fond of sitting down with pages of coupons and a pair of scissors.
- The Grocery Game - Many a coupon fan will tell you that The Grocery Game is worth the minimal membership fee. It is a popular website that can help save save you money on your grocery bill each month. You’ll get a weekly list of the lowest-priced products at your supermarket matched with manufacturers’ coupons and weekly specials — advertised and unadvertised.
- Red Plum- Red Plum sends out a coupon section in almost every Sunday paper. It consisted of 10-12 pages of assorted coupons ranging from diapers and deodorant to pretzels and pizza - something for everyone. They also have a website where you can stay informed on their savings.
Once you’ve racked up those coupons, having a coupon organizer is also a must. You will find you utilize your coupons best when they are organized in a way that meets your needs. You can find store-made coupon organizers at any office store. You can also find a plastic purse-size organizer that can be turned into a coupon organizer at just about any store with an office supply section. Our favorite organizer is the Couponizer. We’ve declared this our favorite for good reason; we’ve put it to the test ourselves. The Couponizer met all of our expectations and made it easier to stay organize and save money. It’s a small investment for the long-term use you’ll get out of it and we promise it will pay for itself in coupon savings w/in a month, or less if you’re an experienced coupon user. Try to remember to put your organizer in your purse or car as soon as you’re done adding coupons each week.
Stockpile!!! Stockpiling when there is a sale on something your family uses often. Be sure you only stockpile when the items are on sale, and using coupons in addition to the sale will make it a very wise purchase. Stockpiling during sales saves you money or purchasing the same items in the coming weeks at a higher price. Once you’re accumulated stockpile on several items you’ll find your need to go to the grocery store decreases. That can save you money on gas, too!
Growing fruits and vegetables grown in your own yard will save you money. In addition to being a frugal food, home-grown foods are more nutritious and are much more eco-friendly. Google “grow fruits and vegetables” or head over to your local library and check out a book on growing your own vegetables. You won’t need much space to grow them, and you’ll find that it’s very easily done. It’s also very gratifying to feed your family foods that you grew yourself.
Frugal Shopping on the Internet
There are four easy words you MUST keep in mind when shopping on the internet: DON’T PAY FULL PRICE. You don’t have to. Not ever. Really. Here’s a simple 5 step guide to making all of your internet purchases frugal ones.
- Once you know what it is that you need to shop for, get on the internet and find the item for the cheapest available price by searching a free comparison shopping program like BizRate. This will help you find the online store with the item you want at the cheapest possible rate. Don’t go buying the item at that store, yet. There are a lot more savings to be had on your purchase. Read on.
- Get yourself registered at a couple of the free-to-join “cash back” shopping sites like Big Crumbs or My Points. These sites will award you with a 2-8% rate cash-back (or points that you trade in for gift cards) just for clicking through their site to go to the store of your choice! So, lets say your search at Step 1 told you that Target.com has the item you want for the cheapest price. You’ll log in to your Big Crumbs account and click the “Shopping” tab. You will then scroll through the list of retailers and click “Target.” That click through from Big Crumbs to Target will not only take you to the place where your item is the cheapest, but it will also award you with cash-back that you will get in the form of a check! Now you’ve got your item at the cheapest rate available online and a check in the mail to boot. But wait, it gets cheaper than that, even!
- Head over to a coupon code site like Coupon Cabin or Retail Me Not. Search for the store where you are making your purchase to find any current coupon codes. Entering a coupon code at checkout will drop your price even further! In fact, some stores will even let you enter TWO coupon codes! (For example, you might find a code to get $20 off a $100 purchase and then a second code for free shipping!) Sounds good, right? Well, there’s more.
- To pay for your purchase, be sure to use a credit card that gives you points, cash-back, air-line miles, etc. just for using it. In addition to major credit card companies, most banks award cardholders with points if they use their credit/debit cards as credit-cards. The cardholders then trade those points in for gift cards, merchandise, and other rewards. Take advantage of it!
- Okay, so this is an optional step, but one worth reading. Before you place your order with any online stores, give your closest friends and family a call and ask if there’s anything they need from the site you’re shopping at. If there is a shipping cost, you can split the shipping. (Though you’ll likely have found a code for free shipping.) In addition to possibly saving on shipping, you will GREATLY increase the amount of cash-back rewards you get from the cash-back site and your credit card. Also, the more you spend, the high value coupon codes you will qualify for! This is an especially effective way to save money on holiday shopping.
If you haven’t already been to eBay - go now. You can find just about anything you’re looking for there at a lower price. I do mean anything - check out the search box below and find out for yourself. A free account at Big Crumbs will also offer you cash back on any auction you win if you go through their site. Using Big Crumbs to shop at eBay further increases your savings, and is highly recommended! You have to go in smart, though. That means that before you bid on anything, be sure to check the seller’s feedback and read all the terms of the sale. A smart eBay shopper does not over-bid. Remember you’re there to be a frugal shopper. Every eBay buyer or seller should have a PayPal account to ensure fast and reliable transactions. If you don’t already have an account, be sure to sign up for one now:
