Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Practically Anything

One of my pet peeves in life, is paying full retail price for stuff. I’m a big believer in buying quality items versus purchasing cheap things, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get a good deal. There’s a difference between buying value, and only focusing on instant savings.

Almost everything I own has been carefully planned and thought about beforehand, to make sure I get the best deal and the best value. Below are the tactics I use to save money on practically anything.

1. Online Deals and Discounts

I do a lot of comparison shopping online to rack up extra savings. You probably enjoy shopping online for that reason too. A few of my favorite online discount resources are Coupon Chief and BeFrugal which offers some pretty sweet savings at my favorite stores.

To get the most savings, be sure you sign up for BeFrugal’s free Cash Back and activate your account before you click to use the coupon offers. This way, you’ll earn Cash Back and score your $10 bonus.

2. Negotiating

To me, everything is up for negotiation and it doesn’t always have to be about money. Of course monetary value is important but it’s not the only factor.

Sometimes you can negotiate for things that enhance your work experience, free up your time or offer a better lifestyle. Our time can be just as important (if not more) than money.

3. Bartering

The basics of bartering is when you trade goods/services for other goods/services, without exchanging money. I like to barter for lots of things like, offering to babysit for free food (or sweets) and doing bookkeeping for clean laundry.

Even if you own a small business you can use bartering as currency instead of actual money.

 4. Repurpose and Reuse

I’m not overly obsessed with going green, but I like to do my part when it comes to reusing and repurposing items. There’s no reason to waste perfectly useful stuff.

I like to use boxes as make-shift shelves, for my bathroom and kitchen cabinets. I reuse old clothes as cleaning cloths, and old calendars as framed art. Almost anything can be repurposed.

5. Get it For Free

Before I even think about buying new furniture, books, household items or even pets, I check to see if I can get it for free.

With sites like Craigslist, eBay Classifieds and FreeCycle there’s pretty much no end to what people are willing to give away. Also, check with your family and friends to see if they have any items they are getting rid of.

 6. Be a Bargain Hunter

I love thrift stores and consignment shops! I even had a small side business making over $1,000 a month “flipping” thrift store and yard sale finds on eBay.

You can find some amazing deals on clothes, home decor and even art, at no where near retail price. Many items will be barely used or even brand new with tags.

 7. Avoid Credit Card Interest

Credit cards are tricky but they can be useful financial tools if used properly. Being a reformed credit card-aholic, I rarely use credit cards for everyday purchases.

But if you choose to use plastic, for the rewards or points, be sure to pay the balance off every month to avoid costly interest fees.

 8. Don’t Impulse Buy

Impulse buys are dangerous, and after our shopping binge, we didn’t even really want all that stuff to begin with. Curb your impulse spending by impulse saving instead.

Reward yourself for not giving into impulse buys, with a program like ImpulseSave. I was able to save an extra $535 in 3 months using ImpulseSave, to put towards paying down debt.

 9. Time Your Purchase

If you wait to purchase something until you absolutely need it, you’ll likely pay the full sticker price. Instead, do a little planning, and be on the lookout for deals ahead of time.

For example, I’m planning to move to a new apartment within the next few months. So, I’m keeping my eyes open right now, for some good deals and sales.

 10. Trade-In or Resell

If it’s an electronic, book or even a DVD, it can probably be traded-in for extra cash. Places like GameStop and Best Buy offer money in exchange for items, like smartphones or video games.

I live by the “in and out” rule. Nothing new comes in, until something old goes out. Sometimes I resell stuff online or I trade it in for credit towards a new purchase. This helps save money and keeps my house organized at the same time.

What are your tips for saving money?

Photo Credit: laurariumartín