By staying focused on saving money with every purchase you make, you can train yourself to gradually reduce spending and become more aware of your budget.
Buying Used, Refurbished, or Older Models
Most people enjoy the sparkle of a new game, but buying used items will always save you a significant discount. Purchasing an open-box television or a refurbished computer can cost you hundreds of dollars less than new, and many of these refurbished or open-box items are nearly brand new, complete with the user manual and manufacturer’s warranty.
When you want to buy a new pair of running shoes, consider that last year’s model might be cheaper by $20 to $40. Buying something old (whether it’s used or from a previous season) will always help your budget, and this is especially true in the realm of seasonal consumer goods.
Check for Deals and Use Coupons
A common solution to save money on essential purchases is to use coupons. Collecting coupons can be a time-consuming commitment, and most people are not looking forward to scouring the Sunday paper (or the internet) for discounts every week, but the small contributions that each coupon offers will add up over time.
Laura Wills, a senior writer at CouponProject, says, “Before you clip a single coupon, you first need to understand the basics of in-store sales cycles. Why? Because most of the time, you’ll save a lot simply by purchasing items when they’re on sale! Coupons are just icing on the cake in most cases.”
Experienced couponers also expedite their search for discounts by inviting brands to send deals directly to their email inbox.
Note: Create an email account (or a smart folder within your main account) specifically for “spam” mail. Subscribe to newsletters from your favorite stores and let their offers go directly to that folder or account.
The trick is to only check these messages when you need to make a purchase. If you don’t feel like subscribing to newsletters, there are other ways to get coupons. Search Google for coupon codes before shopping online. Check websites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Honey, and other discount sites to see if there are any discounts on anything you need. Use convenient coupon apps for your smartphone.
Compare Prices and Use Price Matching
One of the best price tracking apps you can use when shopping regularly on Amazon is Camelcamelcamel. This handy tool links to your Amazon account to track the price of anything on your wish list and sends you an email alert when the item’s price falls within your desired range.
There are many similar extensions and apps you can use to view a price history for an item, find out where it’s being sold, and compare prices. This is especially helpful when shopping at stores that offer price matching guarantees. Do you see something you want to buy from Amazon but don’t want to wait for it to ship? Use these apps to provide proof that the item you want is cheaper online, and many retailers will match the price for you.
Buy Discounted Gift Cards
Websites like Giftcards.com or Giftdeals.com sell gift cards at reduced prices. People sell unused gift cards to these sites, and the sites resell the gift cards at a discount.
You might find a $100 Target gift card for $90 or $85 through one of these outlets, and gift cards can be sold for up to 35% less than their face value. If you strategically purchase discounted cards for the stores you typically shop at, it’s a great way to reduce your budget.
Note:
Daily deal sites and wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club also offer deals on gift cards, in addition to intensive monthly coupon books for their massive inventory of items.
Take Advantage of Cash Back Opportunities
It’s a great feeling when reward points with your credit card company or membership store turn into an extra deposit in your bank account, and there are smart ways to earn cash back on big purchases. Both Amazon and Costco offer cash back on all purchases when shopping with their credit card.
Shopping portals like Rakuten (formerly Ebates) provide an easy option. Once you create an account, you shop online through partner links. In return, you earn a certain percentage of cash back with every purchase. Once you reach the minimum threshold, you’ll be able to redeem your rewards for cash.
Another option is to use a site like Swagbucks to earn points towards gift cards. Again, once you create an account, you’ll earn points by completing certain activities (like filling out a survey or searching the web). You can then redeem those points for a gift card to a retailer of your choice.
Grow Your Savings
When you’re trying to set money aside for travel or retirement, every penny counts. It will take some time to incorporate money-saving tips into your routine, but with some effort upfront, you can build saving habits that are positive and lifelong for a healthier budget and a larger savings account.
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/ways-to-save-money-on-any-purchase-4048202
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