When it comes to trying to maximize your shopping dollars, there are always things working against you. But there are some things you can do to fight off these 'deal breakers'. These are my top 5...
1.) Brand loyalty. Brand loyalty can be a huge barrier to big savings. If brand A dish soap is $2.99 but that's the only brand you'll use, then $2.99 is what you'll have to pay. But if you are willing to try brand B dish soap that is on sale for $2.50 but also has a 50¢ coupon, you are $1 richer than had you bought brand A. If you repeat this throughout the grocery store...choosing products based on sales price and coupons rather than simply on the name brand, your savings can be considerable!
2.) Store loyalty. Sometimes shopping...especially grocery shopping...becomes part of our routine so much that we always shop the same store on the same day of the week at the same time of day with the same route through the aisles. Unfortunately, this kind of shopping isn't likely to yield us our greatest savings. Take advantage of the Sunday ads to compare prices between stores in your area. You will likely discover that going to multiple stores can mean considerable savings for your family. Now I know the arguments...I don't have time to go to all those different stores...the cost of gas will cancel out my savings...it's too much trouble planning out more than one shopping trip. I guess as far as the time involved goes, you'll have to decide for yourself. But isn't it worth a little time to make the most of the hard earned money coming into your household? And the truth is, in most places, stores tend to be in clusters. For instance, in the town where I shop, there is a Meijer, Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Target and more all with about 2 to 3 minutes of each other. That's hardly going to bust my fuel budget and isn't likely to turn my schedule upside down either.
3.) Not having your coupon with you. There's nothing more frustrating than standing at a checkout, paying full price for something you know you have a coupon for at home. Staying on top of your coupon clipping and filing is a must for successful savings. And having your coupons with you at all times is just as important. Now I'm not saying you have to lug your coupon binder everywhere you go, but I am saying that it's a good idea to have it in your car anytime you're going out. Keeping your grocery, retail store, restaurant and service coupons at hand will allow you to enjoy an unplanned stop rather than agonize over lost savings.
4.) Not stockpiling. If you run out of toilet paper, you can't wait around for it to go on sale before you buy it. But had you been buying it when it was at it's rock bottom price...on sale with a coupon...you would have a supply on hand that would save you from having to pay more just because it's a 'must have'. A stockpile doesn't have to be the size of a small convenience store to be effective. It just needs to be enough to keep you from running out of the things your family uses regularly. Things like toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry and dish soap, shampoo, etc. are staples every stockpile should have. And these are things that go on sale and have coupons frequently so you can almost always score great deals on products like these. Buy when the price is right...not when the need is immediate.
5.) Not planning ahead. This goes along with the last point, but it's something that gets us all from time to time. Wanting what we want when we want it can certainly be budget busting. Almost everything has a prime time for purchasing. Big ticket items like refrigerators and furniture are more likely to have their best deals around tax time or major holidays. New cars are at their best price typically in September when the next year's model is coming out. Air conditioners and gas grills are cheapest in the winter..when the demand is low. Timing and patience are just as important at the grocery store as they are on the car lot. Matching your coupons to the current store ads is the best way to make the most of your shopping dollars. Planning your menu around the sale will save you money while planning your shopping list around your menu probably won't. Of course, this is another reason having a modest stockpile is a huge plus. If you already have things on hand (that you're purchased at a great price), you will have more flexibility with both your menu and your budget.
You can save money on almost everything you buy. If you want to win at the savings game, you just have to learn how to play!
