Save on Shopping
You can snag a deal on just about anything if you know when and how to shop. Start with these tips
En español | Compare online. PriceGrabber.com, Nextag.com, Bizrate.com and Pricewatch.com provide price comparisons from scads of vendors selling just about everything. Decide what you want, and a link takes you directly to the product site.
SNAP. Of those eligible, 68 percent don't sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps). Now, users can double the value of their benefit at some 200 farmers' markets nationwide, thanks to Wholesome Wave, a nonprofit that works to bring affordable, fresh, local produce to American homes.
Time is money. On average, coupon users save $8 per supermarket visit from 13 minutes of clipping—more than $400 a year, according to the coupon industry. Those who devote 20 minutes a week to the task shave their annual grocery bill by nearly $1,000.
It’s a wrap. Use Sunday comics or old maps and calendars for colorful gift packaging. Twist a nice dish towel around a bottle of wine to create a
double gift.
Photo by: Chris Mueller/Redux
Hunt for the best shopping deals to save money.
Deal-a-day. Social buying websites have taken off this year. You can join Groupon, LivingSocial and BuyWithMe for daily deals that show up in your email promising local discounts on everything from teeth whitening and yoga classes to maid services and fly-fishing. Dealfind and Dealon also feature deals on food, local events and services. Dealery.com and Yipit aggregate offerings from multiple sites for one-stop e-shopping.
Organics on a budget. Fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides can cost twice as much as non-organics in supermarkets. Local growing means lower shipping costs. Go to the Organic Consumers Association for bulk-buying co-ops and farmers’ markets in your area.
Menu online. Before you leave for a restaurant, find dining bargains online. Many chains and local spots post menus on their own sites, or if you're in a major city, check Grubstreet.com or Gayot.com.
Click, don't stick. Many banks offer a secure and convenient way to pay bills online for free, saving you the cost of checks, envelopes, stamps and the occasional late fee. Check with your bank.
Rebate follow-up. Some 20 to 40 percent of shoppers never collect the rebate that helped seal the deal. Merchants are counting on this — prove them wrong! Save all receipts, forms and packaging needed to apply. Send them in immediately. Be careful to follow all directions and keep copies. Cash or spend your rebate right way — it may expire.
Treat everything as returnable. Don't throw up your hands if a new purchase breaks or you decide you don't like it. Many merchants and manufacturers will give you a replacement for free, no questions asked, with or without a receipt — but you've got to ask.
Say when. Winter is the best time to buy homes, exercise equipment and TVs; spring is best for computers, digital cameras and carpeting; summer for indoor furniture, camcorders and snow blowers; and fall for lawn mowers, gas grills and GPS navigators.
Books for less. Many libraries sell donated books to raise funds. You can often find like-new recent titles at a low cost — and support your library at the same time.
Hang on to hangers. When you buy clothes in a store, ask if you can keep the hangers they're on. Many clerks will say yes.
Be a yard sale shark. Wall Street knows how to exploit price differences between markets. Likewise, you may make pocket money buying choice items at yard sales, then selling them on online auction sites or community boards.
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Contributors: Arthur Dalglish, Sid Kirchheimer, Cathie Gandel, Joan Rattner Heilman, K.C. Summers, Jeff Yeager, Bob Calandra and AARP members like you.