5 Money-Saving Shopping Tips

Have you already squeezed every last penny out of your budget? Maybe not. Thanks to free-market capitalism, we can choose from a wide variety of products at a wide range of prices pretty much any time we want to buy something. Unlike investing, saving money on purchases doesn't require any specialized training, and is an easy way for anyone to stretch their budget a little further.

No matter what your income level, you can give yourself more breathing room by becoming a savvy shopper. Here are five tips to help you get started.

Tip 1: Make the Store Your Last Choice

Most people's default response is to go to a store anytime they need something, but that's not the only way to obtain a needed item. Ask yourself these questions about the desired item:

Can I Find the Item for Free?

If you don't need something right away, and you usually don't, it's worth searching on community ad sites like Craigslist or Kijiji. Another idea? Sign up some local Freecycle groups, and ask around to see if anyone you know is getting rid of whatever you want.

Can I Borrow It?

This tactic can be a great money-saver for any item that you use infrequently or will only need to use once. For example, if you only need to use a drill once a year when you change apartments and have to reinstall your curtain rods, you can get by with borrowing a drill from someone else.

Many home improvement stores even have tools you can rent. Likewise, instead of spending money on the latest bestseller novel that you will probably only read once, head down to your local library and see if you can borrow the book.

Tip 2: Negotiate Price When Possible

Some prices are set in stone, and it's a waste of time trying to negotiate with someone who won't budge. However, when you think there's some wiggle room, consider these strategies:

Ask About Discounts

While you probably can't negotiate the price on many items, there are plenty of situations where you can negotiate, even in a retail store. For example, if an item is cosmetically damaged, a store may be willing to offer a small discount because that blemished item tends to be more challenging to sell.

If you're buying an item from a private party, you can always negotiate. Also, you probably already know not to automatically pay the sticker price on a car or house. This is because negotiation is standard practice on these significant purchases, and the sticker price is generally higher than the amount the seller will accept.

Barter for It

Bartering can be complicated because many people are not accustomed to doing it, and it may be hard to find someone who wants the service or goods you have to offer in exchange for what another person is selling.

If you have some valuable products or services to offer, however, and you're purchasing from a private party, it's worth asking. Even if the other party isn't willing to barter for the entire item, they may be agreeable to at least reducing the price in exchange for an hour of your expertise.

Tip 3: Time Your Purchase

If you wait to purchase something until you need it, you're likely to pay the sticker price, but with a little advanced planning, you can save big bucks. For example, as yourself the following questions:

Will This Item Go on Sale?

If you want a new electronic good, like an iPhone, you may have to wait for a lower price. Usually, once a newer model comes out, the regular price will usually drop as supply increases and demand drops. As new items become more popular, even if they don't officially go on sale, you may be able to get a good deal on Amazon or eBay. Black Friday sales are usually a good time to score expensive or popular items, as well.

Certain everyday items, like groceries, toiletries, and cosmetics, will always go on sale sooner or later, providing an opportunity for you to stock up when your favorite brands are priced at a discount.

For anyone who doesn't carefully follow the latest fashion trends, clothes are best purchased during end-of-season sales, even if it means you don't get much use out of them until the following year.

Is There a Coupon?

Combine sales with coupons, and you'll save even more. eBay can be a great source of coupons, such as 10 buy-one-get-one-free coupons of your favorite deodorant. The coupons might cost you $2.50 total, including postage, but if you use all 10 of them, your net savings on a $3 stick of deodorant will be at least $27.50 plus tax. If you have time to look through a few pages of content, then sites that offer free printable coupons, like Coupons.com, could be a good option for you too. 

When shopping online, search for the store's name plus "coupon code" before making a purchase. Many sites will advertise coupon codes to help give consumers a break. Sometimes you'll enter coupon codes to no avail, but sometimes you'll get lucky and get some savings like $5 off shipping fees or 20% off your entire purchase. It's always worth taking a few minutes to look.

Finally, apps like Rakuten and Ibotta offer cashback on items ranging from groceries to clothing to hotels, and much more.1 2

Can I Find it Cheaper Somewhere Else?

It's usually a bad idea to buy an item in the first place you see it because it's very likely it is cheaper somewhere else. For expensive purchases where you have a lot to gain by comparing prices, and for situations, like online shopping, where it's extremely easy to compare prices, the savings you'll achieve are worth the extra time and effort.

However, if you don't stand to save much or are likely to waste a lot of time, gas and money by shopping around, don't bother. If you're pressed for time, you can avoid shopping around altogether by making a habit of doing all of your shopping at stores that regularly offer bargain prices, and you'll be confident that you're already getting a good deal.

Tip 4: Find a Substitute

If the item you want to buy doesn't quite fit into your budget, think about similar but less expensive alternatives. Figuring out the real reason behind a pending purchase can help you brainstorm ways to achieve the same result more affordably.

Similar But Less Expensive

For example, if you're worried about being bored during a long flight, you may want to buy a spare battery for your laptop so you can get some work done. In this case, your primary concern isn't getting more work done, but rather finding a way to occupy your time. Instead of buying that extra battery, you could use your laptop on the most energy-efficient setting until the battery runs out, and then spend the rest of the flight reading a library book.

Make a Wish List

Wish lists can go a long way toward preventing impulse buying. By keeping a never-ending wish list, a person is less likely to buy items that have not been contemplated for at least a month, which provides sufficient time to decide whether the item is a necessity or just a want.

If the mere prospect of saving money isn't enough incentive, consider the opportunity cost of buying an item. Maybe that new suit or purse isn't worth it when you could use the money toward going on a vacation.

Tip 5: Expand Your Shopping Universe

If you usually head straight to your favorite website, specialty store, or the mall when you need to buy something, consider these other shopping options that can save you a great deal of money:

Alternative Venues

Garage sales, moving sales, and estate sales tend to offer all types of merchandise at much lower prices than retail stores. You are most likely to benefit from this type of shopping experience for items that are not necessarily needed right away.

For example, goods like canning jars, dishes, or a jewelry organizer. This can also apply to more practical products as well. Don't expect to find everything at these sales, but do check them out from time to time to add value to your shopping budget.

Buying in Bulk

Consider big-box discounters as a source for the same products you usually buy at more expensive, specialized stores. You may not have ever thought of the drugstore as a specialty store, but when you start comparing their regular prices to those of discount stores like Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale, you might change your mind. Even on inexpensive items like shampoo and toothpaste, drugstore prices can be significantly higher.

As a bonus, you can knock out several visits to smaller stores with one visit to a big box store, which also saves you time. But keep in mind that it doesn't always make sense to buy in bulk. Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's all charge annual membership fees that can easily offset your annual savings, and many people can't use up an extra-large container of pretzels before they get stale.345

The Bottom Line

The ideas presented in this article might seem excessively frugal to some, but when you cut costs in lots of little ways, you can achieve significant savings without making big sacrifices.

Even thinking about how to save money on relatively minor purchases, like cans of soda or packs of gum, can result in significant savings when you buy these items habitually. It doesn't take much time or energy to get into the habit of considering your purchases more carefully.

You may not always make the choice that will save you the most money, and instead, opt for convenience, but at least you will have made a conscious and well-informed decision.