When reading newspaper ads for sales, decide which store has the overall lowest prices on what you normally buy. If you drive all over town getting the best prices on single items, you waste time and gasoline, and may end up paying more. If you go to the store with the lowest prices overall, you may pay a few cents more for a few products, but your total bill will be lower.

Clipping coupons is a great way to lower your expenses. Remember to only clip coupons for the items you normally purchase and resist the urge to try new products just because there are coupons for them. Don't clip coupons for large quantities if you don't normally buy in bulk. If you have a place to store six rolls of paper towels, go ahead and purchase them if there's a significant discount. If you can't use three pounds of ground beef, though, don't use the coupon. Buy only what you will use or have room to store. Another idea for clipping coupons is to only save the ones for a particular store. Often those coupons have greater savings than the ones you can use at any store. Watch for rebate coupons, too. Rebates are just coupons you trade in for cash after you complete your purchase. Although it may take up to three months to receive your refund, it's generally well worth the wait.

When shopping for a particular product with a large ticket, be sure to look through newspaper ads and search online for the best possible price. It pays to take your time and investigate all possible sources. Remember, price isn't always the only issue to consider. Make sure the product meets your needs and then shop for the best price.

You can also find lots of bargains through online shopping services. Go to any search engine and enter online shopping; you'll likely get hundreds of possible sources to find bargains in online stores. Don't forget to check out the store with which you plan to do business. You can also try out auctions, both online and in your local area. Auctions are often a great way to get terrific prices on certain items.

Don't be afraid to haggle or barter with retailers, whether they are traditional or online, particularly when shopping for large ticket items or out of date merchandise. It never hurts to ask for a reduced price. For advice about negotiating a better deal, see the Reader's Digest article Haggle Like a Pro: 5 Lines That Work.

Instead of rushing out to get your kids new shoes and paying whatever price is marked, try this: trace your kids' feet on pieces of paper. They think this is fun and you can do it every few months! Keep the paper in your wallet or purse and the next time you run into a great bargain on kids' shoes (and they aren't with you), you have their size and can match the shoes to their feet

When you're ready to buy a new car, call your local bank and ask to see a list of their repossessions. It's possible to get a competitive purchase price and a deal on financing at the same time. When buying used cars, be sure to inspect them carefully.

When shopping for holiday decorations it's sometimes hard to pay full price knowing they will go on sale right after the holiday. To get a bargain, shop within the two weeks before the holiday. Most stores have a policy to give a refund on the difference between your original price and the sale price. If you return to the store with your sales receipt after the items go on sale, you may be within the store's policy to get the difference refunded. Not only do you end up with the lower price, but you shopped when the selection was better.

Cover your cabinet shelves with wallpaper. Go to wallpaper stores and purchase paper from their bargain bins. You can get a better deal than buying actual shelf paper and even have leftover paper to cover damaged spots later on.

Each time you get an unwanted gift or premium item, stick it in a labeled storage bin. You can have several bins labeled for different occasions, such as wedding, baby, birthday, etc. When an event or holiday arrives, check your bins to see if you have an item you can use as a gift.

Shop consignment stores for clothing for yourself, kids, or to use as gifts. Often people buy clothes and then never wear them. You can find great bargains on new clothing in a second-hand store, especially in the children's department.

Bargain shopping doesn't have to be difficult. It may take a little time to find the best bargains, but you'll be able to buy just about anything at a reduced price. Follow some of these simple tips and you'll be amazed at how much money you can save. For more advice about bargain shopping, see Pat Veretto's articles at http://frugalliving.about.com, a website offering information about living cheaply.

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