Ways to Save Money

This is the last installation of my 10 Ways to Save in 2012. I really hope you enjoyed the whole series and it gave you ideas on more ways you can save in 2012 and beyond!!

My last tip is a very practical one..

Tip #10: Save More Money in 2012 By Buying Used

I am not saying to by everything used. I will admit that it is nice to have a warranty on some items..but overall you can buy a lot used and save a ton of money. In general you can expect to pay 50-90% less for a used item than a new one and that can add up to a huge savings… and make items attainable earlier for you (since you do not need to save as long for them). Another great advantage to buying used is most times you pay no tax- so that in itself will save you 5-9%.

I have noticed that there is a bit of a pecking order in the places you can buy used. As you go down the following list you will probably pay less for items.

Consignment Shops- these are probably the most expensive of all the places you will buy used. But there is a possibility that the quality might be better. Many consignment shops only accept items in near new condition and brand names are preferred. Most consignment shops sell either furniture or clothing, but some sell other items, too.

Ebay- You can pick up great deals through Ebay but it is possible to get caught up in bidding and pay more than you want to. You also have to remember to factor in shipping. But bargains are to be had there if you want to look.

Craigslist- I love Craigslist. Most of our transactions either selling or buying have been so easy, only one time when we bought a dishwasher (which I am still grateful for) did we deal with someone who was..let me say.. a little less than sane kind. You can get some real steals if you just are willing to wait for them.

Thrift Stores- Thrift stores are getting more expensive in my opinion, but you still can get some bargains if you know what you want.

Yard Sales- Yard sales are kind of the bottom of the barrel for prices (most of the time). I often find it funny when I hear myself saying something like- “Oh I would not pay more than $.25 for …”.  It’s funny how in the store you might pay $20 for it,  but go to a yard sale and it is suddenly worth $.25. It cracks me up. So that said you can pick up some amazing deals at yard sales. Yes, you have to get up at the crack of dawn and you have to pull up and watch the car pulling out in front of you loaded to the gills with the perfect (fill in the blank) that you missed. But they are still awesome and I have come home with loads of clothes for my girls spending no more that a few dollars.

One of my recommendations for buying used is to make a wish list that you keep in your purse or wallet. This way you remember what you are looking for.

My favorite find is my Salad Shooter.  I got from a yard sale for $1 and I have had that thing for probably close to 13 years.  We also got an amazing piece of antique furniture for our TV off Craigslist that really was a bargain.  We paid $200 for it and I couldn’t even get something new for less than $300-400 (and I didn’t even like as much).

What steals have you gotten used?

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I have mentioned that I am a huge fan of online shopping for saving time and money.  This last Christmas I did 80-90% of my shopping online, and it was great.  I really hate the crowds during Christmas. I think it takes a lot of the joy of picking gifts for family and friends.  I use online shopping for groceries, toiletries,  electronics-  pretty much everything (except jeans- you have to try on jeans, ladies!!) and overall I have been pleased most of the time.  I have received a few damaged items- but the companies happily took them back and refunded my money or sent a new one.

Tip #9- Save More Money (and time) in 2012 by Shopping Online.

A couple of months ago I found my dream winter coat- seriously people, I have been looking for this coat for 3-4 years and could never find it.  I am petite so a lot of winter coats just overwhelm me.  The are either too long, too bulky, perfect (but hot pink)… you understand.  I could never find it and every year I would just go back to wearing the ugly one I had.  So a couple of months ago I walked into Old Navy and there is my coat.. perfect.. charcoal color, wool, single button and even a super cute ruffle in the front that I loved.. but it was $90.  I didn’t have $90.  So waited for it to come on sale, and the sale came.  Old Navy was doing a 1 day sale where you got 50% off 1 winter outerwear item with a coupon. I was so excited and was ready to go down 1st thing in the morning.  Then I started thinking- a few weeks ago there was only 1-2 coats in my size. I am going to drive down there, coupon in hand, and my perfect coat is not going to be there.  I looked at the coupon and and realized I could use it online!!  And the coat was in stock!! I was going to have to pay shipping, but adding a $5 kitty t-shirt for my daughter for her birthday fixed that. Plus I shopped through Shop at Home and got a couple of dollars back on my purchase – so the shirt ended up almost free.

So I got it!! I have the perfect coat, and I love it.  And the other best part is that I didn’t have to go to the store, and I got in on sale anyway.  It saved time (and they probably didn’t have it in stock anyway)- so it saved me money.

Another place I love to do my online shopping is Amazon- they have everything (almost) and I can pick up a lot of my alternative baking items (gluten-, dairy- and corn-free) for less or the same as I get them at my health food store- except I don’t have to drive to get them, so in the end it saves me money.

Ebates and Shop at Home are great, too.  Basically they have almost every store that offers online shopping.  And if you go through them you can get 2-30% back on your purchase.  They have specials, too where they might double the cash back on a certain store and you can get some really great deals.  You can even shop at Ebay through them and get 3% of your purchase back.

I also have mentioned Meijer.com for online grocery shopping.  I was really surprised at the prices they were offering (especially in the sales).  Filling your pantries by shopping at Meijer.com is a very viable option for saving time and money.

Where are some places you shop online- either for convenience or to save money (or both)?

Check out our other tips on how to Save $$$ in 2012

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Do you know what the “Drugstore Game” is?  If you don’t- let me pique your interest.  Basically it is a way you can get all (or most) your toiletries and more for free.

Tip #8- Save more money in 2012 by playing the “Drugstore Game”

CVS (Extra Care Bucks), Walgreens (Register Rewards) and Rite Aid (+UP Reward Program) all have programs set up the give you “money” back when you buy certain products each week.  This “money” is in the form of a resister coupon that can be used to purchase most anything (there are a few exceptions) at the store you got it from.

The “game” part of this involves using these resister coupons along with internet and traditional paper coupons to buy more products that give you more register coupons.

It is all a bit confusing until you start doing it and I am not going to go in more depth of how to do it because there are so many sites with good tutorials that I am going to point you to those.

Tutorials for playing the “Drugstore Game”:
::CVS
::Rite Aid
::Walgreens

I will be honest- playing the “Drugstore Game” is fun and can be a bit addicting, but it is also time consuming.  So as with all money saving strategies you have to weigh if it is worth it to you.  I did it for around a year before the girls came (almost 3 years ago)- but once they came I found it to be too stressful and time consuming so I gave it up.

Just recently I received and few Extra Care Bucks from CVS so I am thinking of doing it again- but I could also just end up spending them on something I need, I’m not sure yet. I may at least go a few weeks and get some freebies- just for old times sake.

Do you play the “Drugstore Game”?  Is it always fun for you or can it be stressful?  How much money do you think it save you?  How much time does it take?

Check out our other tips on how to Save $$$ in 2012

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You may or may not think that this tip is a little silly- But I really think you could have some fun and save a bit on gifts and special treats for yourself by:

Tip #7 Save more money in 2012 by entering blog giveaways.

I have won a few blog giveaways myself and it is always fun getting your prize.  It rarely is anything big but I still enjoy getting a free giftcard, book or spa basket.  The thing I like about entering blog giveaways is that your chance of winning is really pretty good- even on the large blogs that my get several 1000 entries (and even better when there are just 100 or so).

My recommendation in doing this is to only enter the ones that have prizes you really want to win- either to give as a gift or for yourself.  I say this because you could spend a lot of time entering them and if you want to do that it’s great but if not, spend your time wisely.

Every Wednesday FFD has a link to Blog Giveaways that you can scan for anything you would like to win and one of the biggest lists is at MoneySavingMom- pretty much if a blog is giving away something you will probably find it listed there.

If you have been thinking about upping your entries on blog giveaways this year I encourage it- 1. It supports more blogs (and mostly moms) 2.  It’s fun and 3. You might win some cool stuff!!

What have you won on blog giveaways?

Check out our other tips on how to Save $$$ in 2012

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