Whether you’re fresh out of college, a new parent, or recently retired you may have reasons for wanting to save money when you’re out shopping. There are plenty of tactics for saving money that you can take advantage of beyond simply not buying what you don’t need.
Here are a few tips to consider:
- Try Craigslist or other used goods sites. If you don’t mind buying a particular item second-hand, you might be able to find it on Craigslist (or another online thrift site) for significantly less than you would in stores. This goes for everything from toys to electronics to cars. As long as you check it out in person before you buy to make sure the item is in good condition, using such sites to your advantage can be a huge savings opportunity.
- Look for online deals with free shipping. A lot of online retailers offer products for cheaper prices than you’d find them in stores. You can add some extra savings if there are free shipping deals.
- Sell old items before buying new ones. If you’re going shopping for items to replace old ones, try selling the old item on Craigslist or eBay first to reduce the financial hit you’ll have to take with your new purchase. You’re probably just going to toss the item in the garbage anyway, so why not try to make some cash off of it instead? Even just a little bit helps out.
- Take advantage of price-matching. Many larger retail chains offer price matching if an item is on sale for a lower price at a different retailer. If the location with the lower price is too far away to be worthwhile, approach a customer service representative to let them know you’d like them to match the lower sale price.
- Buy in bulk during sales. If you know you’re going to be using a specific item regularly in the future, you may as well buy in bulk while it’s on sale at a low price to save some money in the long run.
Looking for more tips to help you better manage your finances and control your spending? Work with the team at Money Mastery!
