Tired of going to a store to buy one item and leaving with 20? While I can’t help you reduce the size of your basket, here are four tricks to save money while shopping.
- Look into the store’s price match policy.
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Most major stores like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all have price matching policies. Price matching occurs when a store’s competitor or online price is cheaper than what the in-store price is listed as. If you’re buying an expensive electronic item, check the price for the same item at one of the store’s competitors. Chances are it will be cheaper at one of those locations. But due to price matching, there’s no reason to go out of your way to purchase the item from that other store. Simply show the lower price to a sales associate, ask for a price match, and they’ll honor the lower price. I saved $30 by price matching a tech item earlier this summer.
- Sign up for rewards programs.
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Though signing up for yet another email list sounds tiring, you can always create an email specifically for junk. Signing up for a store’s loyalty rewards program is worth it if you shop there often. Similar to the way you can earn points for Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts with each purchase, you can also do this for retail locations. Often, stores will send you extra coupons and even gift cards just for being enrolled in their rewards program. Signing up is free and sometimes will even include a 10 percent off coupon. You can get started saving now by searching for your favorite store’s rewards program.
- Check if there’s a student discount.
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Lots of national retail chains and restaurants offer college student discounts. Signing up varies by location, but it is often as simple as using your college email. These discounts may not seem like a lot individually, but they add up quickly!
- Check online for coupons.
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If I know I’m going to be purchasing a specific item, I usually search for discounts online. Websites like Retail Me Not or Coupons.com compile all of the latest deals from chains around the country. You can easily search for a brand or product to find the best offers.
I like shopping, so I’m always looking for more tricks to buy more while paying less. Although any single one of these may not seem like it saves a lot of money, together they add up and get you the hottest deals.