Saving money on purchases doesn’t require any specialized training and is an easy way for anyone to stretch their budget a little further.

No matter your income level, you can give yourself more breathing room by becoming a savvy shopper. Here you will find tips to help you get started.

What Can I Do To Save Money When I Shop?

There are series of tips which you can utilize while shopping. 

1: Consider The Store As A Last Option:

Most people’s default response is to go to a store anytime they need something, but that’s not the only way to obtain a needed item. Ask yourself the questions below about the desired item.

Can I Find the Item for Free?

If you don’t need something right away, and you usually don’t, it’s worth searching on community ad sites like Craigslist or Kijiji. Another idea? Sign up some local Freecycle groups, and ask around to see if anyone you know is getting rid of whatever you want.

Can I Borrow It?

Many home improvement stores even have tools you can rent. Likewise, instead of spending money on the latest bestseller novel that you will probably only read once, head down to your local library and see if you can borrow the book.

This tactic can be a great money-saver for any item that you use infrequently or will only need to use once. For example, if you only need to use a drill once a year when you change apartments and have to reinstall your curtain rods, you can simply borrow a drill from someone else.

2: Try to Lower the Price If Possible:

Ask If There Are Any Special Offers:

Some prices are set in stone, and it’s a waste of time trying to negotiate with someone who won’t budge. However, when you think there’s some wiggle room, consider the strategies below.

While you probably can’t negotiate the price on many items, there are plenty of situations where you can negotiate, even in a retail store. For example, if an item is cosmetically damaged, a store may be willing to offer a small discount because that blemished item tends to be more challenging to sell.

If you’re buying an item from a private party that is used, you can always negotiate. This is because negotiation is standard practice on these types of purchases, and the sticker price is generally higher than the amount the seller will accept.

Important: If a salesperson wants you to buy a bunch of extras with a new computer or phone plan, ask for a discount

3: Schedule Your Purchase Wisely:

If you wait to purchase something until you need it, you’re likely to pay the sticker price, but with a little advanced planning, you can save big bucks. For example, ask yourself the questions below.

Will This Item Go on Sale?

If you want a new electronic device, like an iPhone, you may have to wait for a lower price. Usually, once a newer model comes out, the regular price will usually drop as supply increases and demand drops.

As new items become more popular, even if they don’t officially go on sale, you may be able to get a good deal on Amazon or eBay. Black Friday sales are usually a good time to score expensive or popular items, as well.

Is There a Coupon?

When shopping online, search for the store’s name plus “coupon code” before making a purchase. Many sites will advertise coupon codes to help give consumers a break.

Sometimes you’ll enter coupon codes to no avail, but sometimes you’ll get lucky and get some savings like $5 off shipping fees or 20% off your entire purchase. It’s always worth taking a few minutes to look.

Can I Find It Cheaper Somewhere Else?

It’s usually a bad idea to buy an item in the first place you see it because it’s very likely it is cheaper somewhere else. For expensive purchases where you have a lot to gain by comparing prices, and for situations, like online shopping, where it’s straightforward to compare prices, the savings you’ll achieve are worth the extra time and effort.

4: Look for an Alternative:

If the item you want to buy doesn’t quite fit into your budget, think about similar but less expensive alternatives. Figuring out the real reason behind a pending purchase can help you brainstorm ways to achieve the same result more affordably.

Similar Options At A Lower Price

For example, if you’re worried about being bored during a long flight, you may want to buy a spare battery for your laptop so you can get some work done. In this case, your primary concern isn’t getting more work done but rather finding a way to occupy your time.

Instead of buying that extra battery, you could use your laptop in the most energy-efficient setting until the battery runs out and then spend the rest of the flight reading a library book.

5: Explore More Shopping Avenues:

If you usually head straight to your favorite website, specialty store, or the mall when you need to buy something, consider these other shopping options that can save you a great deal of money.

Alternative Venues

Garage sales, moving sales, and estate sales tend to offer all types of merchandise at much lower prices than retail stores. You are most likely to benefit from this type of shopping experience for items that are not necessarily needed right away, such as goods like canning jars, dishes, or a jewelry organizer.

This can also apply to more practical products as well. Don’t expect to find everything at these sales, but do check them out from time to time to add value to your shopping budget.

FAQs For Shopping Tips:

• How do I start saving?

Before you buy something, ask yourself:

Have I:

looked for coupons?

checked the price at more than one store?

asked about when it might go on sale, or thought about waiting for a sale?

thought about what else I might spend my money on if I do not buy it?

• When I find a good deal, should I buy the product?

Maybe you should buy it. Maybe not. Before you buy, think about whether this is the right deal for you. 

Ask yourself:

Am I buying this just because it is on sale?

Do I really want or need this thing?

Can I afford this product, even on sale?

Do I want to buy it, even if it adds to my credit card debt?

• What are coupons?

A coupon offers a deal on certain products or at certain stores. A coupon might be a piece of paper that you cut out of the newspaper or a magazine. A coupon also might be a code you enter on a website.

• Do coupons really help me save money?

A coupon can help you save money on certain products or at certain stores.  But coupons can help you save only if you are buying something you need. Do not buy things just because you have a coupon for them.