Simple, Smart Shopping Ideas

[poundwise]

In this thread, lets share brief, simple tips on getting good deals and saving money while shopping.

For example, I'll start:

• Batteries - I have found that Dollar General brand alkaline batteries work just as well and for just as long as Duracell and cost much less. I use rechargeable batteries for some things in my home but, for others, I always buy the blue and yellow packs from DG. The larger package you get, the more you save. The AA size, for instance, can be purchased as 4, 8, etc., up to a 24 pack. DG and other retailers, like Family Dollar, also sell Polaroid and Panasonic batteries, which are also inexpensive, however, I have found the Polaroid batteries to be lacking and the Panasonic batteries are more expensive than the DG brand most of the time.
  
  
• Greeting Cards - Again, the nod goes to Dollar General. They offer some very nice cards at 2 for $1 and an option to get a little bit nicer for $1 each. To be fair, Dollar Tree, as well as some other similar stores, offer the same pricing, but I prefer the selection and quality of the cards at DG.
  
  
• Movie Rentals - I never, ever rent a movie at Blockbuster or other such chain. It is an incredible rip-off IMO. My local Mom & Pop video store rents non-new-releases for $1.25 each. New-releases are $2.50. They also have a deal that offers 5 movies for 5 days at $5. I don't rent many movies, but when I do, I get them from here and pay a lot less.

Please share your tips and ideas!

[Ima saver]

I always buy my batteries and greeting cards from dollar general. I also noticed that Kingsford charcoal sells for $4 a bag there, but is priced at $4.59 at the grocery store. When invited to a baby shower, I can buy 4 cute outfits for a baby there for about $20 for all of them.

[LuxLiving]

Okay - here goes - this works on any bagged over loose items. Weigh the one price bags of potatoes, onions, etc. 5 lbs. of potatoes at 1.89. Some bags have 5.25 lbs. others 5.16 lbs. Which one is the better buy? Easy! Takes only a minute or two to weigh them. More for your money hunny!

[Ima saver]

Always check the price per ounce. I started to buy the large bag of charcoal, but upon checking, the smaller bag was cheaper per ounce!

[Thrifty Ray]

Take the time to learn your local stores' coupon policies. Before joining this site, I had no idea that you could BOGO free and still use a $1 off on 2 coupon.....I had several questions and went to the manager of the storeand asked him my questions...he was very helpful and encouraging and pretty much the stores policy ended up being 'save away'!!! Now I shop and save with confidence that I am following policy!!

[Ima saver]

We all know, not to grocery shop when you are hungry![Automated by GetSmile]

[Faeanne]

One word- Goodwill! You can find awesome deals there on things you want/need! And always go on the 1/2 day they do every month. (Here it's the last Saturday of the month.)

[poundwise]

• Thirft Stores - The previous post made me think of places like Goodwill and other thrift stores. Some are actually quite nice. We have one here that specifically only sells high-quality, mostly name-brand, second-hand clothing.
  
  
• Great Value - The designation given to the store brand at Wal-Mart stores. We use several Great Value products such as peanut butter, coffee, yogurt, and flour, as well as some packaged foods, sugar-free drink mix, bacon, etc. The vast majority of the time, we have found these products to be just as good, if not better, than the name-brand.
  
  
• Ebates, Coupon Sites - Using online coupons at online stores to save a percentage, a dollar amount, or shipping charges can be useful, particularly if you can combine using online coupon codes with shopping through a rebates site like Ebates. The tri-fecta then would be to go through Ebates to a store, like Amazon.com, and use a coupon on your purchase there, then, pay for the purchase with a cash-back or rewards credit card. It may not always be easy, or even best, to go through all that, but I do try to make higher dollar purchases through Ebates in order to recoup that % back. School books, office supplies, contact lenses, etc.; it can really add up.
  

[Ima saver]

Put a pinch of salt in the milk when you open it, it will make the milk last longer and not affect the taste.

[getforfree]

Larger containers are not always cheaper than smaller containers of same thing, if you count price per oz. because the smaller could be on sale whil the larger is not. Sometimes a pack of 18 eggs is more expencive per each egg than a pack of 12.

If you have coupon for $ off, and it doen't say size, usually the smallest size available would be cheaper per oz. with that coupon

I always use my cell's calculator while in the store to figure which package would be cheapper by price of 1 oz. Or you can buy a small calculator at $1 store.

When I am not sure if the price of a dozen of med eggs is a better deal than a dozen of large eggs, I go by price per oz. instead of price for each. The nutrituon facts should have a weight of an egg listed there.

I always look at the expiration dates. If it is something that I plan to use today, and it expires tomorrow, I find a store employee and ask it this item can be marked down, half of the times they do. If they don't I go and get another package with the longest expiration date on it, that way I get the freshest, and let them throw it away, so maybe the next time they will give me a discount.

Talk to the store employees and make some friends there. They might tell you about upcoming special unadvertised deals and markdown times. I know that in one of local FoodMaxes they mark down the meat at noon every day, so the best time to shop for meat is about 1 pm.

If a store has a very good deal and a limited amount of those advertised items, I would go buy all of them (only as much as I can use of course) and get a rain check for more. Raley's raincheck has a $1 off coupon on it, so I like those, plus you have longer time to buy those good deal items, and you might get a coupon for those items by that time too, so they might end up being free.

I collect coupons at Albertsons and other expencive stores, and use them at the Disocunt stores, like Foodmax.

[geojen]

[I collect coupons at Albertsons and other expencive stores, and use them at the Disocunt stores, like Foodmax.[/quote]

I do this too. I always feel kinda guilty surfing the isles for coupons and not buying anything! Sometimes I buy a little something just because...

[Great to be Debt Free]

Movies: Cheapest way-- share among friends OR check them out at your library (just don't return it late).

Another Inexpensive way is RedBox -- these are self-serve movie vending machines. You swipe your debit or credit card, and for $1.05 per night, you get a new release movie. We have one outside WalMart and another outside McDonalds. Each night is only $1.00 plus tax -- so if you get it back before the next night, it's just a buck!

The library and friends are my favorite way though.

[LuxLiving]

Matinee movies here are $2. Splitting a meal at our favorite BBQ place.

[Ima saver]

We like to get 2 appetizers and share them as our entire meal.

[Broken Arrow]

I'm moving soon, and there's going to be a dollar store near me.

Muahahahah!

[Great to be Debt Free]

OOh, BA -- be careful of that dollar store. They can be GREAT, but they can be SNEAKY! BB (Before budget) I would easily spend $30 or more in there -- "oh, this is a cute frame, what a nice gift to have on hand... I should have 2 of every color -- they're ONLY $1... oooh, can you believe this tray -- I could serve .... every color... $1..." YIKES!!!

And of course, a bunch of it moved with us up to our new home in MD and because I don't want to move it to Colorado I have now sold most of it at a garage sale. And nope -- not for $1 each, either.

Other than that, have fun!

[Ima saver]

I shop the dollar store always for office stuff and batteries. You can get cute baby outfits in there too.