Getting the best deals

Being able to get a good deal should be easy right? The retailer puts an item on sale and advertises it in its weekly circulars. The consumers are like "wow a sale"! Sometimes it's just not that easy. Retailers sometimes markup a sales item, only to mark it down to a sale price that is no different than normal. This is why it is important to know your prices. Here are some simple ways to spot a true deal.

B1G1 - Buy one get one free sales can be great deals, but you have to watch. This is one of the biggest areas that I have noticed that retailers mark up to mark down. This is when you want to know your prices. A B1G1 is you are paying X for the two items. So divide the cost by the number of products and compare to regular price! There are some factors that will help the deal swing in your favor. With a B1G1 sale you can also use 2 manufacturer coupons and 2 store coupons (if your store allows that), to help bring the price down.

Loss Leaders - Every week stores have an item or items that they mark down so much it results in a loss for the store financially. Before you go feeling sorry for them, they do this in hopes that you will also pick up other more profitable things while you are there. Hitting the stores in your area for the loss leader items (that you will use) is a must in bargain shopping. To help fight temptation I go into a store with my list and coupons for the trip ready to go. I know what I am going to get and approximately how much it will cost. Even more important I stick to that list.  ***NEVER SHOP HUNGRY***, you will want to buy all kinds of things that you did not budget for.

Shop Around - The biggest way people waste (IMO) money is because they want to get everything in one spot. Is it convenient, sure but how much are you spending on that convenience. I know people who grocery shop at Walmart. Why because they can get their oil changed and tires rotated while buying groceries and kids clothes all under one roof. This person assumes that Walmart has the lower prices, well because they are walmart. That is their claim to fame. It's just not true all the time. I don't shop at walmart, but the last few times I was there their prices were on par with all the other local retailers on many of their items. So being willing to shop around will save you a ton by assuring you that you will always get a good price.

Clearance is your friend, plan in advance. If I am shopping a clearance rack I usually buy things a couple sizes too big for my son (14 and GROWING) just to ensure the things will fit a year later when they are in season again. This is a bit of a craps game, because we really can't say how much someone will grow in a year (unless your old like me and stopped a long time ago). However, you know your kids and how they have been growing so to me it is worth the gamble.

Be willing to shop online. When ever I am about to make a purchase on line, I will do a search to see if there are any online coupon codes that I can use. I also go through mypoints, ebates or shop at home to get even more bang for my buck in the form of cash back or points towards giftcards (whichever I deem the better deal). In shopping online, shipping is the purple elephant in the room. Sometimes stores will offer free shipping any order (rare) or free shipping when you spend x. Other stores like Amazon have programs you can join (or get free trials) and get free two day shipping. Type in Amazon mom at the homepage of Amazon and sign up, its free.

Don't wait - When a deal is HOT, it is safe to assume it will not last. Getting in and getting the deal sooner rather then later will go along way to ensuring that you are able to get in on it. If you do arrive too late, you should always remember to get a raincheck (I never remember, lol but I need to start). Rainchecks will allow you to get the sale price on an item at a later date when there is some stock.
What are your ticks in getting bargains.

Shop the catalina sales for the things you want. Here in Chicagoland we have Jewel and Dominicks (Safeway). They offer a number of catalina deals throughout the year, Some are you have to buy $XX amount in certain products and you will receive a coupon for $x off your next order. Other times you have to buy a certain number of an item to receive the $X off your next order coupon.

Coupons. No matter if you get them online, from Sunday inserts or from writing the manufacturer, using these little papers will save you a ton in the end. These are like cash and will bring your out of pocket cost down quick. Also here we can use Register Rewards or Jingle Cash at Jewel to help bring down our out of pocket costs, they are considered manufacturer coupons.



What are your tips to getting the best deal?