Quick tips for saving on shopping for everything

I love to shop.  It is like a hunting trip for people who are not into guns.  The trophy is defined by how much real quality you can bag for a very low price.  First of all, stick to a list or you will impulsively overspend by bagging "good deals"  that you don't really need. Sometimes I have an item on my "list" for months until I finally find the deal for a steal.  It will happen, you just have to keep your eyes open and be patient.  After the busy holidays are over, I will share some real success stories with you.  I know there are many other online ways to compare pricing for identical items.  Check Amazon and e-bay.  Please post your favorites as comments here.  Let's go bag the big one!

Just to help you get your holiday shopping tidied up quickly, here are a few strategies:
1.  dealnews.com
2.  woot.com
3.  The sale or clearance area of any of your favorite retailers web site.
4.  Always start at the back of the store or department that you are hunting in, rather     than up front.
5.  Look at the recent adds.  Often they are the loss leaders to draw you into the store.
6.  Buy the store label whenever you can rather than brand or designer.  (goes for groceries and clothes)
7.  Before you go to your favorite store, check online to see if they are offering a discount coupon.
8.  Ask at the checkout if their are any coupons running.  Sometimes the clerk will have an extra one she will scan in for your purchase.
9.  I know some folks who Christmas shop all year and limit themselves to the Salvation Army Thrift store and Goodwill.  It takes time, but they have more time than money and have found some very nice gifts that way.
10.  Homemade gifts can backfire.  I tried making organic cosmetics and toiletries.  By the time I purchased all of the essential oils and jars, I could have bought better at full retail.  Oh well, I had fun inventing some new potions, but lesson learned.
11.  A gift of a homemade dinner or fancy dessert for a special occasion from your grill or kitchen would be really appreciated.
12.  Keep stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and Gordman's in mind.  They often have real designer treasures tucked in amongst the lower quality things. 
13.  Never pay full retail for anything if you can help it.  Sometimes, even just asking "do you give a discount for cash?" will gain you a quick 10 or 20% off, even at the doctor's office. 

Happy Hunting!

BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING - SELL or DONATE

Ask yourself if you really need this or just want it?  Slow it down.  It is just like going on a diet.  Think about what you are eating, chew slowly, enjoy it, make a wise desicion.  Just like loosing pounds, you can save dollars by going slowly.  If the purchase really makes sense to you, as an act of discipline and orderliness, get rid of something else you no longer use.  I used to hang onto baby clothes that I had enjoyed seeing my children in.  The clothes were cute and not worn out, just outgrown.  After a year or two of being packed away in a garage or attic, those cute things changed into something no one would put their baby into if they had a choice.  Age doesn't do nice things to elastic, colors, softness and hidden soiling that begins to stain.  Give those cute things away or sale them fast while the style and color is still "in".  Get over the sentimental attachment, if you must take a picture and move on.

I have a large sack that I keep in my clothes closet.  It is always in the process of being filled.  An article of clothing that no longer fits well, a color that I decide is not flattering, a great quality jacket that is so dated, I can't bring myself to go outside in it.  Sometimes being honest about what we must keep is a very emotional process.  Obviously, I had to like something enough to pay for it at one point.  Giving it up almost seems like throwing away my money.  When the sack is there, the item is in a holding place where I can enjoy the newly claimed space, plus make certain I don't need what I put in the sack.  When the sack is full, my favorite charities get the benefit and I get the write off.  If you go to a re-sell shop, you will need to do it by season. 

Remember, whether or not you enjoyed the item for a period of time, or learned a painful lesson about why you shouldn't have made the purchase in the first place, that item has served it's purpose in your life.  It's time to say goodby.  Now whether you re-sell it on Craig's list, or donate it to your church or local clothes closet or Goodwill, it is doing your pocket book some good.  Your time is worth something if you have an outside job.  Maybe it is better to donate (less time) and enjoy the tax write off.  I have had some beautiful quality things that would have done well at the local resale store, but I don't enjoy taking my things in and having them evaluated.  I much prefer to donate, even the very nice, newer designer things.  My daughter, on the other hand, can take several things to a young person's resell shop and walk out with cash in hand.  She feels rich, her closet is better off, and it doesn't bother her at all.  You get to choose, just as long as you do one or the other. 

Sell before you buy.
Before you buy anything you want, make it a habit to first sell something you no longer actively enjoy. Your garage and closets are full of stuff you no longer use. So before you go to the store or click that online "checkout" button, stop. Put off the purchase -- first, take some clothes to the consignment shop, or take a picture of something you're no longer using and put it on Craigslist. It only takes a minute.
As soon as it sells, apply the money to the purchase you were going to make. Now you've saved on something you wanted, and gotten rid of something you didn't.

The Land of Lost Bags

http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/index.html

If your travels bring you anywhere near Jackson County, Alabama, check out the unclaimed baggage store.  This is the place where the contents, as well as the bags that never find their way home wind up.  There is clothing and shoes, of course.  But also expect great deals on cameras, sports equipment, kindles, and perfumes.  People tend to pack the good stuff that is functional and fashionable when they travel.  So I would expect the selection to be outstanding.  Let me know if you get to make a personal visit.  Better yet, invite me to go with you to  check out this 40,000 SF store of real value!

Best and Worst Dollar Store Buys

(3)

• Share
• retweet

By Erin Burt, Kiplinger.com

When you're trying to save money, the dollar store can seem like a magical place. Abracadabra, everything's a buck or less! But just because something's inexpensive doesn't make it a good buy at such retail establishments.

Party Supplies: Dollar Store Deal

We went shopping to find out what's a good deal at the dollar store, and what's not:

Party Supplies: DEAL

Everything from party invitations to decorations to balloons are worth buying at the dollar store. For instance, foil balloons easily run from $3 to $8 a pop at party-supply stores, gift shops and supermarkets. But you can get them for $1 each -- helium included -- at the dollar store.

Goodie bags, party favors and color-coordinated paper plates, napkins, cups and plastic cutlery are also a good buy.

More from Kiplinger.com:  The Best Buys of Spring Save Money on Shopping and Entertainment 12 Things That Will Cost Less in 2011

Cleaning Supplies: Dollar Store Deal

Cleaning supplies: DEAL

According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, the cleaners you buy at the dollar store work just fine. You probably won't find many name brands, but the ingredients are similar -- though perhaps more diluted. For everyday cleaning, they should do the trick. (For tougher cleaning jobs, you may have to spring for something more heavy-duty.)
You can also get a good deal on rubber gloves, sponges, and scrub brushes too.

Vitamins: No Dollar Store Deal

Vitamins: NO DEAL

Don't scoop up your vitamins at the dollar store. Consumer Reports found that dollar-store multi-vitamins didn't always have the amount of nutrients claimed on the label. And others didn't dissolve fast enough to be absorbed by the body. You may be better off getting vitamins from a well-known store brand, such as Rite Aid, Walgreens or CVS.

Greeting cards: Dollar Store Deal

Greeting Cards: DEAL

Greeting cards are nice, but are they really worth $4? We think it's the thought or sentiment that counts, not what you spend. Our local dollar store has a big selection of cards for every occasion, at 50-cents each. They're good-quality, too, so the recipient won't even guess that you scrimped.

Basic School Supplies: No Dollar Store Deal

Basic School Supplies: NO DEAL

While the dollar store has decent deals on many school supplies, we didn't find them to be much better than the prices at Walmart.
For pencils, notebooks, highlighters, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, sticky notes and more, it's best to stock up when they go on sale during back-to-school season (August-September). The rest of the year, you can hit either the dollar store or Walmart with confidence.

Seasonal or Holiday Items: Dollar Store Deal

Seasonal or holiday items, such as Valentine's day, Easter eggs and Christmas tree decorations: DEAL

Whether you need to stuff Easter baskets or Valentine's day boxes, or you simply want to deck the halls for your favorite holiday, you might save a few bucks at the dollar store.
Seasonal paper plates and napkins (i.e. with pumpkins or Santa Claus on them) are also a good deal -- we found packs of 20 for $1. On decorations, bargains can be hit-or-miss and subject to opinion. For example, we found a set of icicle ornaments that looked beautiful on our tree this year, but the imitation pine wreaths looked too cheap and scraggly for our taste.

Pregnancy Tests: Dollar Store Deal

Pregnancy Tests: DEAL

Babies are expensive from the very beginning. The cheapest pregnancy test at our local Walgreens cost $8. But you can get one at the dollar store for a buck. Both are 99% effective, both test for hormone levels with similar sensitivity. And at $1 a pop, you can afford to test and re-test as much as you like if you simply don't believe your eyes.

Pain Medications: No Dollar Store Deal

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other medications: NO DEAL

Consumer Reports warns that aspirin and other medications may be left on the shelf past their expiration dates. It also points out that some labels may not say where the medicine was manufactured.
While there haven't been any safety concerns about dollar-store meds, generic aspirin from your local pharmacy or supermarket is probably a better bet -- and may not cost too much more.

Gift Wrapping Supplies: Dollar Store Deal

Gift Wrapping Supplies: DEAL

You can get a 20-foot roll of gift wrap at the dollar store for a buck, while you'll pay at least three times that at big-box and party-supply stores. Gift bags cost up to $5 at other stores, depending on size. But at the dollar store, all sizes are $1. We also found huge savings on tissue paper, up to 75% off prices elsewhere. And don't forget the Scotch tape!
 

Toys: No Dollar Store Deal

Toys: NO DEAL

It's tempting to buy toys for only $1. But there's definitely a trade-off in quality. Many dollar-store toys are cheaply made and they can be dangerous when they break.
Baby toys should generally be avoided because they will go directly into the mouth, and dollar-store toys may have unsafe levels of lead and phthalates, which are a class of chemicals found in soft plastics.

Canned food and other pantry items: NO DEAL

You may be able to get these cheaper elsewhere. For example, our nearby dollar store sells Green Giant canned vegetables and Goya beans for $1 a can. But we found the exact same items at Walmart for less, and generic brands at even bigger savings. Dollar-store cake and brownie mixes come in smaller packages so watch the unit price. Also, you should keep an eye on the expiration dates on food at the dollar store. They may be near or past their freshness date.

Batteries and Electronics: NO DEAL

Consumer Reports warns that dollar store electronics and extension cords may have fake UL labels and could be unsafe. It's better to spend a little extra for quality and safety. Also, cheap batteries may be prone to leakage, or may not run your gadgets as long as pricier brands. Many dollar stores sell carbon-zinc batteries which are less efficient than the alkaline variety.

Cooking and Dining Accessories: DEAL

We found spoons, spatulas, cheese graters, ice cream scoops and more at the dollar store for 50% to 90% off the prices at Target and Walmart. We also spotted wine glasses, dining plates and flatware for less. Almost anything is a good buy in the kitchen department, with the exception of knives, which may be flimsy or dull.