Want to know my #1 shopping secret? This single tip can save you thousands of dollars each year. It can keep your budget from crumbling into a million little sad pieces right in front of you. It’s not an ancient enchantment nor will you find it in many books. It might seem commonplace knowledge to some but could be revolutionary to others. Lean in very close and I’ll whisper it in your ear. If you want to save money and stay on budget, as much as you possibly can, stay out of the grocery store.
Whew, there it is, right out there in the open. Now you are my equal in all money saving ways. I know it sounds completely ridiculous, but most of us should not be in the store on a daily basis. Some of us should avoid going to the retail establishments on a weekly basis. The aisles of your favorite market or superstore are fraught with budget busting danger at every turn. Raise your hand if you’ve ever run in to grab “just one thing” and came out with $200 worth of “you don’t even know what was in the cart”? The temptations are too difficult to risk and often we end up purchasing things we never meant to buy.
Now, this becomes a wee bit difficult because we all require certain items typically found at the store. I’m certainly not asking you to go without food, toilet paper, soap, and deodorant. Please, oh please, regularly wear deodorant. What I am asking you to do is to rethink the how and when of your purchases. Believe it or not, you may be able to buy them from the comforts of your home. You might even be able to shop in your pajamas (although I hear most stores are cool with that these days).
More and more, I’ve turned to Amazon to purchase consumable items like toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, toothpaste, and more. Most times, I can come in under retail price and even if I’m a penny or two over, I still save money in the long run because those items arrive at my door helping me avoid “just one thing” trips to the store. However, there is a strategy to maximize your time and dollars when it comes to Amazon.
Begin by looking at the coupons.
Did you know that Amazon regularly features a large assortment of coupons good for everything from household goods to cleaners to clothes and even electronics? Head straight to Amazon’s Coupons to see all of the current offers. I like to search through the “Most Popular” coupons because typically deal finding folks have already boosted the best ones to the top of the heap.
Use the Subscribe & Save Option.
One of Amazon’s most popular free programs, Subscribe & Save gives you a discount of 15% off the price when you purchase five qualifying items. Typically, you’ll be purchasing bulk or multi-pack items. These items are shipped together, once a month on a designated day. Many times, you can pair a coupon with a Subscribe & Save item to maximize your savings.
Once your item(s) ship, be sure to cancel the subscription. Otherwise, they will ship automatically the next month and prices nor coupons are static. You could end up accidentally ordering something you don’t need.
Check out Amazon Mom.
Are you a parent of grandparent who frequently needs baby supplies? You might qualify for a three month trial of the Amazon Mom program. Amazon Mom provides all of the great benefits of Amazon Prime – free two day shipping, Prime Music and Prime Instant Video, and member exclusive coupons. Plus, you receive a 20% discount on all diaper subscriptions often rendering your favorite brands less than sale prices at the store. If you don’t qualify for Amazon Mom’s free trial, the subscription is $99/year. So you’ll need to weigh whether or not the benefits will equal the savings.
Let me lend a few words of warning before you head off to click away. Some of us find internet shopping an even greater temptation than shopping at a brick and mortar store. Know your limits, set a budget, and stick to it. A good rule of thumb is letting items sit in your cart for twenty-four hours before making a decision on whether or not to purchase it. Shopping Amazon for household items has been a successful way for our family to save money at the store – because we don’t go to the store. Here’s to hoping it might be beneficial for you too.
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
[…] week in The #1 Way to Save Money at the Store, I shared some of my strategies from staying out of the store and building a stockpile through […]