How to Get a Deal Bargain Shopping

Bargain shopping means paying the lowest possible price for the items you want and need. In order to do this, you'll need to know a few things. First, know your sources. This may be local retail stores, online stores, or mail order catalogues. Second, know what you need and don't buy other items, just because they are a bargain. Third, know your budget and stay within it. There are also other steps you can take to make sure you get the lowest prices on the things you need.

Search For The Best Source Sales

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.

Clip Those Coupons

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.

Advice on Large Purchases

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.

Talk Down The Price

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.

Shoe Shopping With Ease

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

Their Trash Is Your Treasure

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.

Shop Before The Sale

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.

Kitchen Decor

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.

Holidays and Special Occasions

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.

Creative Clothing

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.

Take control of your finances with our debt help tools. Use our calculators and budget planner to help you manage your money.

For more information reducing your expenses, search the CareOne Credit Knowledge Center Articles.

To learn about our debt management program, see the CareOne Credit Quick Answer Guide.

If you liked this you may also like:

• Five Ways to Be a Savvy Shopper

  1. Be Prepared to Haggle – In today’s economy, a certain amount of haggling is expected, so don’t be reluctant to ask for a better price. For better results, try asking if there is any flexibility in the price, instead of demanding a discount. Getting a better price can often be as simple as asking if the product is going on sale anytime soon, and if so, can they match that price. 2. Wait on Purchases – To avoid wasting money on impulse purchases and experiencing buyer’s remorse, wait a couple of days before buying any non-essential item. If you still think it’s a good idea after sleeping on it for a couple of nights, chances are it is! 3. Beware Pressure Sales Tactics – Don’t fall for high-pressure sales tactics. When a sales representative tells you that the deal is only available if you buy it right now, you probably should probably walk away or ask to speak to a manger to hold the price. If they believe in their product – they should want you to feel good about your purchase and not buy it out of fear of losing a special price. 4. Know Store Policies – You should make sure you understand the policies of stores where you shop to avoid over-spending. Some stores only allow returns for store credit or exchange. Other stores have generous price matching policies if you find an identical product for less within a certain amount of time. Knowing these types of policies can prevent you from spending more than you need. 5. Research – You don’t have to spend hours visiting different stores trying to find the best deal, but it’s important to know what a fair price is. Spend a few minutes searching on the internet or visit a price comparison search engine such as Price Grabber or Next Tag before making a purchase.

• Coping with Soaring Gas Prices

  Learn how to improve your fuel efficiency and stretch your dollars each time you fill up at the pump.

• Plan Your Meals and Plan to Save

  Feeding your family can consume a large part of the household budget. With prices for everything from gas to groceries going up and paychecks not keeping pace, your food expense is one area you should pay particular attention to if you are looking to make your paycheck go farther. By investing some time in planning meals, you can avoid last minute trips to the local take-out or drive-through, which will save you a tremendous amount of money and most likely provide more nutritious meals for your family.

• You Don't Have To Spend A Million Bucks To Look Great

  You don't have to skimp on clothing just because you're on a budget. Find out ways to save money and still look fashionable.

• Shopping Online

  If you like the convenience of shopping by mail or phone, buying goods and services over the Internet may seem appealing. However, just like shopping in the traditional retail market, you must be wary of where you shop and take steps to prevent potential problems.

Begin our online process to see your personalized savings.

Start Now

Back Print