Please welcome Christina, Queen of nifty and thrifty shopping! She gives us some great ideas on how to get the best deals during bargain shopping excursions! ~Kelli
I am the first to admit that I have an addiction to bargain shopping. I love to shop, as many women do, but honestly, it’s the thrill of finding the best bargain that really excites me. There are several ways of finding the best deals, but I’ve found three ways that have worked for me time and time again; I’d like to share them with you, as well as some helpful tips.
1. Shop Clearance. Browsing clearance is the best way to get an amazing deal on brand-new merchandise.
Many stores, such as Target, tend to put most of their clearance items on end caps (the small shelves in the inside end of the aisles) but be sure to browse the aisles if you have the time; some items aren’t moved to the end caps right away.
Scan it if you aren’t sure of the price. Sometimes, the price is updated but the sticker is not.
Check your receipt before leaving the store. Even if the sticker on the item says one price, it may ring up incorrectly. This happens quite often! So after leaving the register, do a quick check to make sure everything scanned as it should have.
Remember to shop for the future. You can score great deals on clothing at the end of each season; pick up a few things for next year. If you know you have birthdays, holidays, or baby showers coming up, keep a look out for toys, blankets, wrapping paper, and other useful items.
2. Go Thrifty. Thrift shops are a great place to catch some incredible deals – you just need to know what to look for.
Most thrift stores are also operated by a charitable organization, so you can feel good about where your money is going.
The best items to shop for at a thrift store: toys, books, clothes house wares, home décor, and board games. To read more about thrift store best-bets, check out my post on thrift store shopping. (Use link http://www.niftythriftyhomemaker.com/2009/01/thrift-store-shopping.html for the underlined portion)
Always check the quality of an item before buying it. Make sure to look for stains, holes, broken buttons & broken zippers. If you find something you love, but it has a missing button, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a discount.
Steer clear of car seats, cribs, bike helmets, and things of that sort. These items could have been damaged or recalled, which compromises the safety of the item. You’re better off buying these things new.
Make sure to thoroughly wash anything bought at a thrift store. Even if something doesn’t look dirty, remember that thrift store donations aren’t packaged as new items; so many hands have touched it. If something you purchased has a musty thrift-store scent, and can be machine-washed, wash it with some white vinegar; this can erase almost any smell.
3. Surf The Web. Online shopping has several advantages; the ability to research products, find the best price, and make the actual purchase – All from the comfort of your own home.
Make sure to research everything! If a price sounds too good to be true, use your head; if you’ve heard very little, if anything, about the company selling it, do your research. The Internet is a playground for scammers. Just because a site looks legitimate, does not mean it is.
Shop through cash back sites. All you have to do is sign up, access the site you want through the cash back site, and make your purchase. You will receive a percentage of cash back usually payable a month or more after the initial purchase.
Search for coupon codes. Almost all retailers have a space on the checkout page for coupon or promo codes. If you see that when you are shopping, do a quick search for coupon codes specific to that retailer. One of my favorite sites to use for online codes is Retailmenot.com.
Watch prices with Price Protectr. Just copy and paste the link to the item you want to watch, and click “look it up.” Check to make sure the information is correct, then enter your e-mail and click “start protecting.” When the price drops, you will be sent an e-mail alerting you to the price change. This is especially helpful with sites that do price adjustments.
So…do you have any tried-and-true bargain hunting tips?
Happy shopping!
Christina is a 23-year-old wife & stay-at-home mother of a 3 year old girl. She is due with another little one in less than a month! She blogs about saving money, frugal shopping, and personal finances at The Nifty Thrifty Homemaker.
*This post is linked to Madame Deals Linky*
About Kelli
