Clothing and groceries can wreak havoc on any household budget. With groceries, you typically have little choice but to spend quite a bit, particularly if you’re buying for a family. With clothing, even if you focus on pieces that’ll last, you often have to replace items semi-regularly. Fortunately, I’ve been able to come up with a few strategies that help me save big in both areas. Here’s a look at how I save money on groceries and clothing.
How I Save Money on Clothing
Buy at the End of the Season
When it comes to clothing, timing matters. Usually, I’ll scoop up winter weather items right after Christmas, as after-Christmas sales can lead to significant savings. After that, I pick up bargains at the end of every season during the year.
Many off-season items can serve you well during other parts of the year. For example, you can use summer clothing during the fall by layering it under other lighter pieces. The same goes for fall attire during the winter.
Often, fall and spring clothing are similar weights; the main differences are the color and style. However, by sticking to classic colors, patterns, and cuts, attire from either season can work practically year-round.
Ultimately, end-of-season sales and clearance racks are a great way to find bargains. Since that’s the case, I usually turn to them when I need new clothing.
Tracking Sales Online
Most retailers have sales regularly throughout the year. Since that’s the case, I keep an eye on what’s happening at my favorite clothing retailers online.
My strategy involves more than just spotting sales as they happen; it’s a comparative process. I’ve learned when a sale does and doesn’t represent a genuine deal, allowing me to spot opportunities for dramatic savings that don’t occur often.
Usually, this approach works best for people who aren’t inclined to shop spontaneously and don’t have much fear of missing out. Remember, it’s only a bargain if you’re getting something you genuinely need for an excellent price. If you buy stuff you don’t require, the price doesn’t matter; you’re still potentially overspending. I’m lucky in that I’m able to stick to my necessities. Since that’s the case, this process works well for me.
How I Save Money on Groceries
BOGO Deals
At the stores I regularly use for groceries, BOGO deals represent genuine opportunities to save. It brings the price per unit way down, often far below what you find with typical sales. Since that’s the case, I keep my eye out for these opportunities. If I can couple them with other kinds of savings – like coupons or rewards points I can spend later – that’s even better.
However, for this to work, you do need to know when a BOGO is actually a bargain. As I mentioned, it’s helpful to know what the typical price per unit is for your favorite products. Then, with a little bit of math, you can find out which sales are legitimately saving you the most money.
Dented Items
Where I shop, you can occasionally get discounts on dented cans or items with damaged packaging. Since the condition of the packaging doesn’t typically impact the quality of the product, I scoop these up whenever it makes sense, particularly for non-perishables I know I’ll use.
In the end, how a can or box looks in my cabinet isn’t a concern as long as the food itself is fine. Since that’s the case, it creates an excellent opportunity to save.
Upcoming Sell-by or Use-by Dates
Similar to dented items, some stores offer discounts on products that are fast approaching their sell-by or use-by date. If I spot foods that a store needs to get off the shelf that I can either use immediately or freeze for later, I take advantage of those discounts. After all, a food isn’t magically inedible once that date arrives; it just needs to be handled or stored appropriately.
Bulk Buying at Costco
Buying in bulk often creates opportunities for savings, particularly at places like Costco where the price per unit is reliably low in many cases. I mainly focus on either non-perishables or foods that I can easily freeze. That way, if I can’t use them immediately, they’ll be in good shape when I do add them to a meal.
Along with saving cash, this helps me maintain a small food store. If supply chain issues or other problems make certain foods harder to get or more expensive, this lets me keep a sort of buffer, ensuring I can feed my household with less stress.
Do you take steps to save money on groceries and clothing? Do you have any tips that could help others keep their budgets in check? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read More:
- 5 Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries
- How to Save Money When Purchasing Summer Clothing
- 5 Steps for Budgeting Your Finances
Come back to what you love! Dollardig.com is the most reliable cash back site on the web. Just sign up, click, shop and get full cash back!
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
Comments