Ok, so I'm not exactly poor. But I also don't have a lot of money. And the past few years I have learned a lot of awesome tips and tricks that make my money go further and enable me to get by on less money than it normally would cost me. Here are some of my go-to tips.
DON'T GIVE IN TO THE IMPULSE BUYS
I'm such a sucker, especially when they place cool things near the checkout. Oh this gum looks good, I should get it! How about you don't, Steph, cause you already have 8 packs at home. Yeah, that's me. I used to buy anything that caught my eye. Now I'm known for walking around the store with things in my cart and putting them back once I think about it. If worse comes to worse (weird expression...) then I can go back and buy it another day. I like to think: Do I really need this? Will I use it? It is a good use of my money? It really makes me realize what is a waste of money.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR MONEY
I have now resorted to keeping track of EVERY penny I spend in a notebook. It really helps to see where my money is going so I can see if I'm using my money the way I want to be. Using cash also really helps. Seeing your money go is way harder than swiping a card. The psychological aspect makes a difference! I'm much less likely to hand over cash than I am to swipe my card.
BE AWARE
Look out for deals. Check money saving blogs and check sites like groupon, which offers discounts on popular items, or retailmenot, which offers discounts for online stores. Coupons.com often has very high value coupons you can print from home. You can easily score freebies just by "liking" a company of facebook. Sure you can get a cheap magazine subscription, but you can get them free. I have at least 10 subscriptions I didn't pay one cent for. Don't pay for things you don't need to! I have a stockpile of a hundred razors I paid NOTHING for with coupons. I will not have to buy a razor probably ever again at this rate
Hold out for free shipping, or score a membership with a company like shoprunner which offers free 2 day shipping from many online stores (for free of course, a membership is $79, but I scored 2 years for free). Sign up for free membership programs which reward you for buying things you already do (or oftentimes offer free codes) I was able to score enough disney movie reward points after 2 years just from the free points (I probably entered 2 codes from movies I had already in my collection) to get Toy Story 3 dvd/bluray combo pack shipped to me for FREE.
Be wary of websites offering free items for your time. The one reputable website I've had a great time with is Swagbucks. You answer daily polls, find codes hidden on social media, fill out surveys, and complete offers for points that are redeemable for gift cards. It took a lot of my time, but in 2-3 months, I earned $75 in wal-mart gift cards, which helped pay for christmas gifts!
SPLURGE
What? Isn't that the opposite of what I'm trying to preach? Well, yes, but I think it's important to buy yourself something you really want once in awhile so you don't feel like you're constantly going without. And I rarely, ever, ever, EVER pay full price for anything. You can always find a good deal. Like the Clarisonic Mia 2 I had been eyeing ($150), which I was able to score for $69. A little waiting is worth a good deal!
STOCK UP
When something you regularly use goes on sale or you have a coupon, stock up. That way you can control your price point. For instance, say your favorite hairspray is $3 a bottle. If you run out, you're forced to spend $3 for a new bottle. However, if you catch a sale say 2/$5 and also have a coupon for $1/2, you can stock up and get each bottle for $1.50. (It all adds up!) I have a stockpile of items I frequently use and that way I'm able to pay less than retail price at any given time.
Also, stock up on clearance items after the holidays. After Christmas, Wal-Mart had their holiday items marked 75% off! I got a great deal on some kits and also some candles that weren't even holiday colors. It's a great time to stock up on decorations, too. After Halloween, I often score super cheap decorations I can use the next year. My collection has grown this way with very little money invested. I also love getting valentine's gifts the day after. 50% off the stuffed animals and candy. YES! I don't have a boyfriend or husband, so the people I buy for (my sisters) don't mind if their presents are a day late.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY DEALS
Yes, it's great to get deals, but if you're spending money on something you normally wouldn't buy, you're still wasting money. That's the problem I have with walgreens. They offer "free" items often, as you pay and get that amount back in a register reward or essentially store credit you must use within the next week or something like that. It's nice to get an item for free, but if you don't need anything from walgreens, you're just using the credit to buy something you don't need. So it's really not a good deal. It's still your money.
BE CRAFTY
Make the best use of your products! Clean out old candles (really easy! freeze the candle so the excess wax just pops out and clean out with nail polish remover) to use as makeup brush holders or decorations. Use products for more than what they're designed for. One of my fave tips is using conditioner to shave. It's more affordable than shaving gel/cream (you can get a bottle for under a dollar AND you only need a tiny bit). PLUS it makes your legs super soft. All those magazines I get for free? I use them to make crafts with my sisters. And it's really fun! And free!!
DON'T BE BRAND LOYAL
Yeah, some products we use because we have found they work the best for us, and that's fine. I'm particular to my brand of deodorant. I'm wary of trying any other kind, so I stick to what works. (Better safe than smelly...and also my mom usually gets me 2 packs of deodorant for every holiday so I'm usually set! Practical isn't always fun, but if it saves you money, it's welcomed in my book!!) But also be open to trying new things. I recently got a great deal on Olay makeup remover wipes (1.68 for a 30 pack! Online coupons exist too people!!) They definitely aren't my favorite, but I will use them as opposed to going out and buying my favorite $6 ones from the store. Generic sometimes isn't always better, but a lot of the time it's the same. And certain things it really doesn't matter for. Like nail polish remover. I change my nail polish so often, the generic kind at wal-mart is just as good (as had the SAME ingredients as the name brand)
DON'T BE TRICKED BY DOLLAR STORES
You can get some great deals at dollar stores. My favorite is when they have name brand items!! Items like anti-dandruff shampoo have the same active ingredients as $6 head and shoulders--I even checked. Gift bags and cards (often 2/$1 and they have many options!) are also good buys. But there are some things there not worth the dollar you spend on them. Don't buy something because "it's only a dollar". If it seems low quality (a lot of the children's toys for instance) or you don't really need it, a dollar wasted is still a dollar gone. A lot of their generic pens and markers and not good quality and you can pay the same price for higher quality, name brand products if you wait for a sale or use a coupon.
Hope some of these help you. They sure have changed my spending ways! I can never imagine going back. I'll leave you with this, because I am NOT cheap. Cheap and frugal are two completely different things.
I don't mind spending money, but I don't like wasting money!
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