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Power Shopping
By Daphne | April 23, 2008
Prices on staples are steadily increasing. Explore other options when seeking the best deals. Look online for coupons and also look to see if certain places like Amazon offer some staples that you need for a better price or free shipping. Even home delivery services seeking new customers offering coupons off your first order could really help save money.
Brand surf. Basic staples like toilet paper and soap are necessities. When you stock up on toilet paper, it is pretty much a given that it will be used within a reasonable amount if time - even if you decide to purchase a case. Check around - see if the price of the “sale” on toilet paper is really a bargain. Try a different brand if your favorite brand isn’t on sale. You may save a bit because toilet paper and soap are things that you can’t do without.
Another place to try is ShopFoodEx.com which deals strictly in non-perishable items that are shipped to your door. When you spend over $50, you save $3.99 automatically on shipping. It sounds great but keep in mind when you are shopping online for items you may not pay tax but you might have to pay shipping. Will the cost of shipping be less than the tax you pay? Plus, if you are not spending the minimum amount which there is no minimum at a local grocery store will the shipping cost be worth it?
Local drug and discount stores have sales at select times. If you pay attention, it is possible to figure out when the next items you need will be on sale. You may have to sign up for a coupon or a shoppers card, but in the long run it is definitely worth it. Combine store coupons with manufacturers coupons and you can make your wallet’s contents be more powerful.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that all store brands are bad and only name brands will do. Some store brands perform just as well as, if not better than, name brands depending on the purpose. No matter what, there are just some things that you can’t (or would rather) do without and you need to decide what you can do without and plan around that. If you have food allergies and the generic or store brand of the same item has a filler or flavoring in it that disagrees with you, don’t risk your health to save money. You will pay in the long run. Less expensive doesn’t mean lower quality.
Topics: April 2008 |