Save on Shopping, Groceries

Like monthly utilities, grocery shopping is an unavoidable financial obligation. It is a necessary expense, and one that can be unnecessarily expensive. Other items, such as clothes, may not be as crucial as food is to our survival, but even the most self-denying penny pinchers need clothing to leave the house, let alone go to work. So, here are a few shopping tips for people wanting to watch their spending no matter what they’re buying.

Buy in Bulk

One surefire way to save money when shopping is to buy in bulk. While this method is a fantastic idea for some items, it can be inappropriate for others. Joining a warehouse club to take advantage of bulk goods is a growing trend and one that is not limited to large families. Paper goods like toilet paper, napkins and paper towels will never go out of style and getting these items for the bulk purchase price is worth the price of joining a warehouse, even for one person.

Members can stock up on other non-perishables like detergent, trash bags, toiletries and cleaning supplies and be good to go on these items for months. The only sacrifice, aside from taking up significant storage space, is the limited variety of merchandise. Warehouses may not be the best bet for a specific moisturizer or shampoo. But if you are lucky enough to find your favorite brand, you won’t have to buy it again for a very long time.

Warehouse clubs are also good for frozen foods and dried goods; many also offer fresh produce. Bulk produce may not be the quality you may find at your local farmer’s market, but bulk produce may be the answer for large families. If you are tempted to experiment with new and unusual food items, you may want to skip the bulk purchase and get it at your regular grocery store. Otherwise, you could be stuck with a year’s worth of food you don’t actually enjoy.

You can also find many other items in warehouse clubs such as clothing, appliances, electronics and furniture. Warehouse clubs often provide services such as tire service centers, pharmacies, one-hour photos and cheap gas for members. Warehouses stock up on gift items around the holidays as well as tents, porch furniture and other large outdoor accoutrements in the summer.

Be sure to resist impulse purchases in these stores. If you can resist the urge to overbuy, warehouse club membership can be a frugal option for some necessary purchases. Warehouses fees vary but many of the big name warehouses charge an annual membership fee of around $36. So, if your membership helps you save $3 or more per month, the savings more than pay for your membership fee.

Buy Off-Season

Just as it’s wise to be aware of seasonal temptations, it’s also a good idea to be privy to seasonal bargains. Retail stores tend to sell old merchandise at a discount when new goods arrive; so, shopping in the right season—or off-season—can save you $100s on big ticket items. ConsumerReports.org suggests the following:

In the spring, look for portable audio products, microwave ovens, and room air conditioners. Refrigerators go on sale before Memorial Day. Late summer brings deals on TVs; and in September, you can find washers and dryers on sale. Vacuum cleaners sell for less in December, and bikes go on sale after Christmas. Midwinter is the best time to buy DVD players, VCRs, and camcorders.

As with all shopping it’s important to not overspend or buy items just because they are on sale. It is one thing to take advantage of discounted items but quite another to indulge in unnecessary purchases simply because they have an attractive price tag.

The Fabulous Thrifties

Consignment shops, like warehouse clubs, provide good finds for less money than retail stores. Thrift stores sell clothing, furniture and a plethora of household items that are used but still in good, useable condition and for much less than when the same items are purchased new. Wealthier neighborhoods tend to have higher quality selections but most consignment shops will not sell inventory that is in very poor condition.

Curb Consumption

Clipping coupons and sticking to a shopping list are great ideas for frugal shoppers who know how to spend (and save) money, but thrifty habits can help out at home as well. Consider how you and your family consume the items you purchase. If you find yourself throwing away massive amounts of food either from dinner plates, moldy leftovers or freezer-burned food then you are throwing away a portion your food budget.

Be aware of your consumption and follow these tips to get the most out of your shopping trip:

• Serve smaller food and drink portions with the option of getting seconds if it’s not enough. This way less food will end up in the trash.
• Plan meals a few days in advance to incorporate leftovers into other dishes— what’s leftover from a whole roasted chicken can be chicken sandwiches the next day; you can add leftover meatloaf to tomato sauce for a hearty pasta dish, and throw in the rest of last night’s vegetables if there are not enough to serve as a side.
• Write on the backside of your shopping list food you already have—not only will you avoid redundancies but you can plan around your existing food and avoid forgetting about it and throwing it out the following week.

Whether you’re buying regular weekly groceries, big ticket appliances or a new fall wardrobe, reevaluating old habits can add dollars to your shopping budget. It may take a little extra time and effort to shop around and to conserve what we consume, but the extra spending money adds up and makes it more than worth it.