One of the first places that we are trying to save money is the grocery store! I have started the coupon clipping and looking at the sale ads. If you can find an item on sale and you have a coupon, you are in for a great savings! Unfortunately, we do not have any grocery stores that double or triple your coupons. If you live in an area that does, definitely take advantage of this!! One other little hint is to organize your coupons based upon the layout of the store. Many stores have a written format, so it should make your grocery shopping with coupons fairly easy!
Two things I have found that I need to look out for in dealing with coupons are #1 - Can I purchase the store brand at a cheaper price? #2 - Is this a product that our family will use? I'm all about a "good deal", but if it isn't something that we will use, then it isn't a wise purchase. However, if it is a great price, consider purchasing the food and donating it to your nearest food pantry!
Another area of being thrifty is to purchase items, especially clothing, ahead of time. I'm taking baby steps in this area, as it is a new concept for me. If you shop for clothes at the end of the season, you can save a lot of money for the following year! Here is my latest deal! I purchased this Chaps purse for next fall. Can you see the price? If not, it is $3.95!! The purse was 90% off because of an end of the season sale! If I had been thinking, I should have purchased several and used them for future gifts!
I have purchased a number of small kid's toys, at discount prices, and used them for birthday celebrations. Besides saving money, I'm also saving time! There have been too many times that I had to run to the store for a gift. Those "little trips" can really add up!
I'm looking forward to the garage sale season! In our area, the sales should be starting in a few weeks and they will last all summer! I must admit, I need to work on this area of thriftiness. I get impatient when shopping at garage sales. If you aren't into garage sales, check out your local Craig's List or thrift store.
Here are some of my favorite posts on being thrifty! Please leave a comment with your favorite thrift idea or favorite thrift post!
Designing a wardrobe on a frugal budget!
Frugal Friday
Kitchen Make-Over
6 comments:
We have a grocery store chain - Giant - that not only doubles coupons, but occasionally will have coupons that will triple manufactures coupons. In addition, they have their own brand of gasoline stations. You can earn points on 10, 20, or 30 a gallon off of gasoline. We will wait until we are on empty and fill it up.
Many, if not most, stpres will honor competitors coupons, even AC Moore & Michaels.
Oh - can't wait to go see the kitchen make over. :)
Thanks much, Kim.
I'm going through the coupons from Sunday's paper this morning.
Also, here is the link to my post with a DIY facial mask.
http://bellamella-melanie.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-hoped-i-havent-scared-mousse-out-of.html
Loved this post. I'm really getting into using coupons. That purse was a great deal!
I agree that thrify is in! I do the same thing as far as stockpiling gifts. I just found the greatest little pocket sized tape measures in great colors and sweet little paper soaps @ Pier One that were so inexpensive. I had to go back a 2nd time to get more just for that reason---buying ahead. I am enjoying my freezer cooking group too. We each make 2 entrees, everyone saves their receipts and we each pay the same amount, and I end up with 10 entrees to use on those evenings when I have nothing planned and am leaning towards heading out to a restaurant where we'll spend around $75.00....
I've been thrifty for a long time (some might even say cheap!), so I love that there's so much talk about ways to save and find bargains!! Coupons, thrift shops, trash to treasure projects, using stuff I already have (pantry, freezer, craft supplies, etc.) are all ways that I'm trying to save right now.
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