The Sunday paper is full of sales, and coupons every Sunday! First make your shopping list based off of what you already have and second by what is on sale in the adds! Third, by what items are both on coupons and in adds!
GROCERY SHOPPING TIPS
Adapt, Adapt, Adapt! Learn to shop around what is on sale and make your meals that way instead of planing meals and buying the items needed for those meals that may not be on sale!
*Plan, plan, plan, make your grocery list before you leave the house. Double check to make sure you have all the items you will need for your meals until your next shopping trip.
*NEVER SHOP HUNGRY, you will come home with more than you wanted!
*Try shopping with cash only, using a debit card you will be about 30% more likely to spend more than you budgeted for.
*Buy your family snack foods on sale and also "pop or juices" and they will be less likely to shop at convenient stores! Convenient stores are so highly marked up, you will be amazed at how much you will save by just avoiding the inside of all convenient stores!
UTILIZING COUPONS
Coupons are "FREE MONEY" not only for you, but for the store also. The store is reimbursed by manufacturer for each coupon you use. The store is on your side, they make money when you use the coupon and you save money using it. And the manufacturer benefits from you buying their product!
You can use one coupon for each item you buy! If you buy 5 Sunday Papers and get 5 coupons for 1.00 of a box of GLAD zip locks; you can buy 5 boxes of zip locks and use all 5 coupons. ( keep tabs on those sales that are buy 1 one get one because you can use a coupon on the free items also.)
You can stack coupons! You can use a manufacturer coupon for lets say "dawn dish soap" and also use a store coupon "like Walgreens" on that same item. So if you have 5 store coupons and 5 manufacturer coupons, you can use one of each for each of the 5 bottles you buy!
SHOPPING SALES FOR FUTURE HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS
By browsing the clearance section of clothing and super market stores, you will be able to find close out and clearance sales that are unbeatable! Looking for Birthday, Christmas, and special holiday gifts will help you save money in the end and keep you from making last chance purchases for items that are not on sale later on! With little kids this is a lot easier because they are so much easier to please!
ONLINE SHOPPING
Oh the joys of online shopping! There is a sense of accomplishment by being able to purchase items online and have them shipped to your home all while watching your kids build Jenga blocks in your living room!
Before EVER clicking on the "purchase" button when shopping on line do these few things first!
*Go to Google and search for "online codes for __________" and then enter your store! You will be amazed to see codes ( like the one in the picture below ) online! Some will work, some will be outdated! However saving 10+ % on a purchase will make a difference!
Always check outlets, overstock, ebay and other such stores to compare prices before purchasing! And be careful not to give your debit or credit card out on suspicious sites!
* By using PayPal, you will help reduce the possibility of your info being taken from online purchases!
FINDING ONLINE CODES AND COUPONS
Above is an example of what online shopping codes look like and before completely checking out, most sites will give you the opportunity to punch in one of these codes if you can find one that is current.
BUYING SECOND HAND
Some enjoy it, some do not, some prefer it, some do not! However; second had can save money, be careful about things such as zippers, snaps and electronics... make sure EVERYTHING works before paying for it! Also just because it is second hand does not mean it is the best price for your money! I have often found that new items on sale have been at better prices than second hand stores! I like to look for things such as strollers, high chairs, life jackets, hats, and such items that I don't necessarily care if they are new or not!
Second hand stores can also present you with the option of buying your old items that your children are not using anymore and putting a little green in your pocket for something they may need!