Alpha Consumer Challenge: Best Saving Tip

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With school fast approaching depending on the nubmer of children you need to dress it will ultimately cost and arm and a leg. I sho thrifty wehn possible. I visit the local goodwill and thrift stores once a week throughtout the summer looking for great brands, in great shape, at awesome prices. I buy Lucky jeans, regularly $50-80 for arounf $10. I buy Levi's for less than that. If you take one day a week and pend the time really looking you will find a lot of items that look brand new and even some that have the vintage look that is back for so much less.
Another thing to do is call around to your local thrift shops and ask about special days. Some even have calendars available that list the daily specials. The best one yet...my local thrift shop does an $8 bag day every other Saturday. For $8 I can stuff a bag full of jeans and other clothes. Last week I bought 9 pairs of jeans, 6 pair of shorts, and a shirt for $16 bucks.
I get compliments every day on the things I wear and when I tell them I bought it from the goodwill store or thrift store they are in shock and say they want to go shopping with me some time. Every penny helps me out with a fimily of four to dress and feed.

Misti of TX 2:00PM July 03, 2009

Where my family and I live we can not use double coupons so what we do is once a year when we go to California to see family for thanksgiving we get all of our double coupons that we have been collecting over the year for things like Diapers and wipes (we have 2 boys 2 and under)we also have our coupons for canned goods, pasta's,condiments etc. that we go through so quickly and coupon's for juices art supply's ect. Then we look at the the deals that are going on on different days and they will be on sale leaving us to use our double coupon's on top of their lowered prices or the extra coupons that they have hanging next to the store's items. So say I saw an in store coupon for buy 1 get 1 half off any Dols products so I can take several of those coupons and add them to 8 of save .50 cents on any Dole item and say I have 7 or 8 of those when I could combine all of the and just might walk out of there getting all my Dols products free or almost free and that that is how our family saves money on groceries. It is a huge help especially with diapers. Through out the years I get diaper and wipe coupons in the mail, in the newspaper or online and it works great to be able to combined them all and get a lot of diapers for either free or for less than what I could get them for here. But if you don't live where you can use double coupons then try to save the coupons until the store has a really good sale. Sometimes you can get things for free if you plan when to use your coupon just right. I hope this helps anyone who is trying to find a way to use double coups.

Ashley Contreras of TX 4:36AM May 25, 2009

In a big parking lot , while others drive around to look for a space closest to the entrance , I save time and money by parking in the first space I see, as close to the EXIT but not necessarily. I can walk the extra 100 feet to the store entrance and burn 10 calories . I save time because ..c'mon whose car drives faster than my walk in a parking lot ? It saves me gas and car wear-tear because it in the mall parking lots that the car gives the worst mpg , and we use the brakes the most . And is good for the environment.

Prakash of CA 12:28PM May 23, 2009

Stay out of all stores even computer stores unlil you really need something. Do your grocery shopping only once a month ( you will need a freezer). If you need one or two things from a store, ask someone to pick them up for you. Kids are great for things like Milk.

Patricia Nelson of IL 12:12PM May 23, 2009

When I want to buy a non-essential item like a new blouse, I figure how long I would have to work at minimum wage to pay for the item. "Would I mop this store's floors for 6 hours to buy that $43 dollar blouse?" I talk myself out of a lot of things this way.
For essential items I create a list and search online for sales or coupons. I also visit the local library which has had a coupon exchange box for years. Anyone can add or take coupons from it and users maintain and sort the coupons. Even people who don't use coupons bring them in for those who do. If your library doesn't have a coupon exchange ask about starting one.

Susan Chappell of TX 12:06PM May 23, 2009

I use ebates.com for all my online purchases. They have over 1,000 stores and I've gotten back over $400. It's only a little bit at a time, but like coupons, it really adds up.

Jackie Lightfoot of NY 10:53AM December 01, 2008

My favorite tip by far at the moment is The Drugstore Game! I go to CVS a couple of times a week, armed with coupons, store circulars and a plan. The Drugstore Game isn't for everyone, but if you like coupons and crunching numbers, this can save you hundreds (maybe thousands!). Not only am I getting things I want and need for dirt cheap (and often free), I'm staying out of stores like Target, where temptation lurked in every aisle (and especially the clearance endcaps!). Best of all, I'm really having fun - when I'm stressed out, the best distraction is calculating a money-making scenario!

Cathy @ ChiefFamilyOfficer.com of CA 11:45PM June 08, 2008

I think the subject line pretty much sums it up. While some people get the "perk" of outdoor parking, others like myself live in a parking strapped apartment complex where the only reserved parking is within the confines of a covered parking garage. To save money on unnecessary car washes, I purposely run random errands during rain storms to give my car a good splashing in the open rain. The heavier and the more powerful the thunderstorm, the more thorough the cleaning. The water is free and I am conserving natural resources! Savings is about $15 per wash. It may not be much individually, but aggregately, the savings can add up over time.
http://www.moneybluebook.com/i-purposely-drive-in-heavy-rain-to-get-a-free-car-wash/

Raymond @ Money Blue Book of MD 6:27AM June 07, 2008

We enjoy the standards - using coupons, buying items only when on sale, cutting our own hair, etc. My two favorite money-saving tips are...............
Growing our own produce. We live in Central Arkansas, and love, love, love the long growing season. We grow patio potatoes as a major garden space saver, pole beans and climbing spinach (Malabar), plus all our squash and melons are also trellised to save space and effort (less weeding!) We tried a winter garden last year, with great success. We have figs, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines and persimmons. We have just about every veggie you can imagine, and enjoy roses and bulb flowers as well. We can, freeze and SHARE!
My other favorite money-saving tip is in the dog grooming department. We have a poodle and two bichons. I groom them myself, and have the peace of mind that they will not be exposed to any harmful diseases. We also save money and their health by not having our wonderful vet give them every shot. They don't need the shot for kennel cough, as they are never around other dogs - not at the pet stores, at the park, or otherwise. Some shots will last up to three years (ask your vet), and that is a big money-saver, too. Don't skimp on the heart-worm pills, though, or the other necessary shots (rabies, etc.). We also don't skimp in the dog and cat food department either............we only buy meat-based foods, not corn-based with meat by-products, which will save us vet bills now and in the future, as they will all be healthier and happier. Blessings!

Jaqui Smith of AR 5:33AM June 07, 2008

We cut our own hair in our family. There are 4 of us. Do the math!
We save on gas as we do not have to drive to some salon, we save on time and we save on more money because we do not get tempted to buy all that stuff on display or see all the media ads while looking through a magazine while we wait. I also believe I am healthier which saves on medical stuff because I am not in their breathing all those chemicals.
Does our hair look great?...DOES IT MATTER? I mean really. So your hair looks good, but you have credit card debt. I think my life is much less stressful without debt and able to save more for retirement. BUT, since I asked...yes, our hair looks great, just not fabulous. But, we care more about each other, than each other's hairdo.
Dan

Dan of NM 7:03PM June 06, 2008