Here is a really fun post filled with a bunch of thrifty tips and saving money ideas. If you remember on Fun Fabulous Friday giveaway from last week – you shared your thrifty tips! We were so impressed by your thrifty tips, that we decided to put them all into a fun post for EVERYONE to see. Thank you to all of our incredible readers who contributed to this post!
Grocery Shopping/Food Tips:
Brianne: There are so many! I love my coupons of course 😉 I also love doubling my coupons up when possible. I use to hate dealing with rebates, but they really can pay off. I also have learned to stock up on certain things when there is a really good price or deal on them. I could go on and on…
Jenny: VERY IMPORTANT THRIFTY TIP: save your coupons until they expire and then forward them on to the http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=409619545284&ref=search#!/group.php?gid=409619545284 . This is important because: 1- YOU JUST NEVER KNOW…If I would have saved my coupons from last week that I knew I would never use, I could have made $20 in rebates from just 2 of the coupons as well as $5 in coupons for my next purchase and my out of pocket would have been 0. 2-If someone else can benefit from something we aren’t using, we are doing a good deed and helping others. Lend a helping hand!
Mary J: Basically, the drugstore bargains run in cycles. Don’t feel like you have to stockpile on every sale.
KellyH: My thrifty tip this time of year is marked down fruit at the store. My local grocery store (not a chain) will mark down peaches (my focus this week) in banana bags for like 1.69. Now, they are bruised some, but in the past, I have been able to cut up LOTS of good fruit from these bags. Especially if making a cobbler or something. LOTS cheaper than 1.29 lb. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to snag one yet this year!
CrystalGB: My tip is to create grocery list from sale ads and use coupons to make your purchase cheaper.
Kristalyn F.: We like to buy fruit (especially berries) when it is really cheap, then freeze it so we can enjoy it even when it’s really expensive in the stores
Tina: Resuable bags get you .05 off per bag at some grocery stores!
Lauren: My thrifty tip is to make a list and stick to it!
Vtfiti: Don’t waste food. Be creative & use your leftovers to make an entirely different dish another night. Saves lots.
Wendy Fairchok: Absolutely carry your coupon box with you at all times when entereing a store. you never know what is going to be on clearence!!!!
Annalisa: My number one thrifty tip is to not buy everything just because it is on sale and you have a coupon! When I first started couponing, that was the hardest part for me. 🙂
Alena W.: My thrifty tip is: u-pick fruit! I search out the places with the best value, and also just ask around. You might be surprised how many people have fruit trees and just let the fruit go to waste on them. Sometimes they’ll let you just have the fruit. Then I freeze or dry some of them for use during non fruit seasons.
Diana Nunes: I buy in bulk and repackage and freeze as much as I can
Ashley L.: Shopping at drugstores has saved me a ton. I can’t believe that we used to pay for toothpaste, laundry detergent, etc.!
Kim: My favorite thrifty tip is buying kids clothes at garages sales and thrift stores. They grow out of or destroy clothing too fast, especially from birth through early elementary. Let other people pay full price, and find their good used stuff at a good price!
Brandy: My tip… be generous with your “winnings” or “earnings” that couponing can bring. Often I end up with 20 really cheap boxes of cereal. So… donate them.
Pixie: Always price check and compare prices with other stores, just because it’s on sale at one store doesn’t mean it isn’t cheaper at the normal price at another…..found this out a LOT price matching at wal-mart
Sarah: My thrifty tip is to grow your own fruits and veggies. Freeze any extra while it is in season and eat it year round.
April: When you go to a store, ask if they have coupons out or try to negotiate a better price. Also, if they don’t have a coupon, take a competitor coupon with you and ask if they will take it. If you never ask, the answer is always no.
Linden: Coupons, comparison shopping, buying in bulk when it is cheaper, trading bulk purchases with friends who buy other bulk items and trade with me.
Michele J.: My number one thrifty tip is to shop in bulk at Costco and take advantage of thier membership coupon books!
General Tips:
Debbie P.: My tip is to shop often at garage sales and thrift stores. We buy the majority of our kids’ clothes, furniture, etc. used, and we save so much money.
Faye: Shave your legs with cheap hair conditioner, like Suave, instead of buying those special shaving gels and creams. This saves a lot of money and your legs look great and not dry at all!
Dee: The thriftiest tip is to borrow movies and dvds from the local library! Saves a lot in the entertainment department 🙂
Bunny: I always love eating at home before going out. Buying food out in the malls are always expensive!
Lisa G: I limit myself to only buying things i need..I also have more taxes taken out of payroll and splurge once a year on big ticket items when they are on sale.
Rebecca Z.: We add just a little bit of water to the bottom of the soap dispenser when it’s almost out, then shake it up to get that laaast little bit. 😉
Krista: I am trying to train my hubby to stop being so brand loyal so that we can take better advantage of sales on things like toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, razors. he is such a creature of habit, but that can be an expensive habit! I am using free samples to show him that using a new soap will not upset the balance of the universe!
MaryBeth: Thrifty tip: open the windows at night and then close the house up in the morning. Is keeping me from using the a/c in the 95-100 degree Idaho heat!
Mami2jcn: My thrify tip is to buy clothing off-season.
STEPHANIE: For Vacations we buy city passes, take along entertainment books and book our hotels with reward points, saves us a ton of money
Anna: Use a brita system. No more expensive plastic bottles here.
Tammy: The number one thrifty tip that I would love to share is: I found LAST NIGHT no less.. That there was a Target coupon (Store coupon) and a Manufacture coupon. The Target coupon was for 3.50 off any pack of huggies diapers and 1 pack 164 count wipes(guessing on the size dont have the coupon infrount of me). The manufact. Coupon was 2.50 off any pack of huggies diapers. So I got the 8.99 pack of lil snugglers and huggie wipes 215 ct for 5.99. I won a gift card from work for 10.00 dollars and walked out of target using BOTH coupons for 9 dollars and change It was the jumbo pack of lil snugglers .. I think that was my deal of the week. 🙂
Joanna D: Use facebook to let people know you are looking for new shoes or a dress for a wedding/big event instead of going shopping and spending money. Most of the time out all your friend someone has an option or then knows about a deal at a store to send you to.
Camilla: My thrifty tip is to USE the $10 Kohl’s giftcards they send in the mail every 2 months or so. They always have sales going on in kids clothing, and paying $2 for three new shirts or shorts for my boy is a great deal!!!!
Kristy B: Shopping at CVS and using their ECB’s along with coupons, it’s like they are giving you money to shop there.
Ginny: My tip is to tell anyone who will listen about wanting newspaper inserts. Its amazing how many people are willing to give you theirs at no charge. Also, as a newbie I’d would say be patient and nice to yourself while you are learning the ropes. And be nice to others particularly the store clerks.
Jessica: This doesn’t have to do with coupons, but it has to do with saving money. It gets really hot here in the south during the day, so I make sure we keep the blinds closed to try to keep it cooler in the house (and hopefully lower the air conditioning cost!).
Amanda Davis: Organization is so important! whether it’s your coupons, sale ads, shopping list, all the way down to how you stock your cabinets and fridge. You need to know what it is and where it is.
Leslie: My #1 thrift tip is: BE PATIENT! No one gets a good deal by being impatient, so I always tell people that the right deal will come around at the right time. You just might have to wait for it. :o)
Di: Thrift tip is check out mom2mom sales. Gotten beautiful baby clothes for very little. Don’t feel as bad when my daughter ruins it first time out.
Desiree H.: One of my favorite thrifty tips is: don’t buy cleaning products. I almost exclusively clean with vinegar, baking soda, club soda, and various homemade concoctions (including laundry detergent). These things are super cheap, clean great, and no toxic chemicals for you to breathe or to worry about the baby getting into.
Andi: Buy a used car. Nothing depreciates in value faster than a new one.
Andi: Raise your kids so they don’t pay attention to the “it” toys of the year. Remember Tickle Me Elmo?
Abcegc: My tip is don’t just go and buy something because you have a coupon for it. Really think about whether you need it or not.
Shannon: I like to split meals at restaurants
Jessie C.: Always price check with items, sometimes or most of times, they don’t mark right or have the correct price tags on.
Gas Tips:
Emily M.: I try to get all my errands in the same area finished at one time, instead of driving back and forth! Hope I’m saving gas $!
Michele R: My number one tip is planning . We make a list of what we need, organize our coupons, look at all the sales and then make our trip convienent w/ other errands. This way we are also saving on gas.
Wow – what awesome information! Please feel free to leave comments with your thrifty tips. It is wonderful to help each other out to become even more thrifty together!
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