Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
I realize I’m again telling you to shop in order to save, and I also realize how backwards that sounds. But think about it this way. You pile into your car, use gas and time, head to whatever store sells what you’re looking for and begin your shopping. If you’re anything like me, you end up at more than one store looking for your desired item {sometimes I end up all over town!} and then I always spend more than I intended because there are so many “great deals” staring at me from the shelves. I can’t walk away. So I overspend, waste time and gas and sometimes don’t even end up purchasing the very thing I left the house searching for.
The secret is – don’t leave the house! Online shopping is alive and well and will save you big time if you know how to shop. You don’t have to leave the house so you can shop in your underwear, and your item will ship right to your front door. That’s my kind of shopping!
Discounts: This just takes a quick internet search so you can comparison shop. Chances are, you’ll find some online retailer offering what you’re looking for at a discount. If you can’t seem to find a coupon for an online store you like, here’s a great trick. Load up your virtual cart, but before you click “buy,” look for a “chat” or “live help” button. Click it and tell the customer service rep that you have a full shopping cart but you are comparison shopping. You’d like to purchase the goods from their company but you were hoping they could offer some sort of discount. Might not work every time, but I’ve had some good success with it.
Coupons: The internet is littered with online coupons. If you are looking to buy a new Jan-sport Backpack, just type “Jan-sport coupons” in the search field and you’ll see every online coupon offered. Retail Me Not is a good resource to search one site for all sorts of online coupon codes. I’ve found online coupons are much better than brick and mortar coupons, which makes sens since the overhead involved in online stores is MUCH less!
Cash Back: Shop through sites like Ebates so you can receive cash back on your purchased. There are also Frequent Flyer Programs or credit card companies that pay you a percentage of your purchase to shop online.
Cyber Monday: All the big-time savings of Black Friday while avoiding the mobs and tramplings and insanity, and shopping at home while stuffing my face with leftover turkey surrounded by family and pumpkin pie? Yes, please!! The Monday after Thanksgiving offers some awesome deals. You might have to be glued to your computer for a hour or two, but it’s so worth it when hundreds of dollars of savings are at stake! Check out these 10 Tips to Help You Save on Cyber Monday.
Holiday Sales Online: Do you head out to shop the Memorial Day or President’s Day or Labor Day sales? Avoid the crowds and enjoy those deep discounts by shopping all the holiday sales online. Many stores will offer even better discounts if you shop online.
Amazon Prime: If we’re being honest, I shop Amazon about 95% of the time when I’m shopping online. I just can’t resist getting my purchase in 2 days without paying a dime for shipping. It’s a pretty sweet deal! Here are 10 Secrets to Saving Big on Amazon.
Do you shop online? Do you have any helpful shopping tips?
How Much Can You Save: 15% or more. I would say the average discount or saving is about 15% when I’m shopping online. But when I factor in the free shipping and the time and gas saved, it’s hundred of dollars every year.
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clip a Coupon {Week 13 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Start Your Garden From Seed {Week 14 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Learn to Cut Hair {Week 15 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Become a 1 Car Family {Week 16 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Phone Call {Week 17 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Shop Christmas in July {Week 18 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Grow a Garden {Week 19 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Just Say No {Week 20 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Go Generic {Week 21 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Budget {Week 22 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Use the Library {Week 23 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Kick the Soda Habit {Week 24 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Improve Your Credit Score {Week 25 of 52}
Heather says
I live outside a major metro area. It is an hour for me to drive in and then however long it would take to shop. I just use my Amazon Prime account, Azure Standard and Zaycon Foods. We eat as much local food as possible and have a farmer with a market garden close to our farm. We get local honey and most of our veggies (in warm enough months) from him. I started a garden with 4 tomato plants, 1 zucchini, 1 yellow squash and some herbs. We raise cattle, so we buy a little Zaycon for change of pace. My family has gotten used to asking ahead for things they need and keep the 2 day shipping in mind. The older I get, the more I want to have time for experiences, not chasing down something that will be forgotten in a week.
Rebecca says
Has anyone tried the Grove Co subscription service?? It looks like they offer a good range of natural and organic choices.
Maria says
This is my trick. If I know I’m going to buy something like from Amazon, I buy a discounted gift card from a place like mygiftcardsplus using a credit card that gives me 5% back at the end of the month for everything I buy. I use a coupon if available, use the discounted gift card and then get the 5% back with free shipping. I do this a lot. I figure if I’m going to buy the thing anyway, why not take the extra step to purchase the gift card?
For example, we had pizza last night for dinner. They had a promo order a large pizza get a drink and a side for free. Before ordering, I purchased a $25 gift card for $23.90, Used the 5% back credit card to pay for it. and ordered using the promo code from their app to get the free drink and side. Will get $1.25 back for the purchase from the credit card company at the end of the month. Got points towards another free pizza with the rewards program from the pizza place. Got something I was going to buy anyway for $2.35 less just by doing one extra step–getting the gift card.
You can do this anywhere anytime, just got to plan ahead. Mavis, you go to Costco and Whole Foods–maybe they have those gift cards as well.
Savanna says
I do this all the time and my family outer thinks its weird! Something about not being able to touch it before they buy. My husband just laughs when kids are excited to get a box only to open it up to find diapers! I find I stay on budget better and we tend to have more quality food and items and I stay away from unnecessary that is bought because “it was just too good to pass up”. Plus I enjoy doing price comparison in the morning before kids are up much more than taking five kids to town.
mable says
I worry about the hidden cost to our communities, and to ourselves, in buying on line all the time. Small businesses are what keep communities alive, main streets vibrant, and give back to their communities by things like sponsoring the local baseball team. And after reading how ruthless places like Amazon and Walmart are about dealing with small suppliers and how taxpayers subsidize places like Walmart by paying for the food stamps their employees qualify for because of low wages, I start feeling queasy about supporting the stockholders that put profits above everything. Amazon’s working conditions are brutal, too. All of which is to say I have very mixed feelings about saving money in ways that help destroy our communities. I think it has hidden costs that get lost in the thrill of a good deal. I am not immune, I have bought from Amazon (although I draw the line at Walmart, I will not step into their stores) but I don’t know how to reconcile feeling like money is not everything when it comes to maintaining our communities.
lynne says
Well Said. I agree wholeheartedly. Especially with the WalMart comment. Refuse to shop there. I’d much rather pay a little more, and support the small businesses in our neighborhood. And, in checking prices, Amazon isn’t always the cheapest. Just found that out with the dog food :-). Petco is a chain, but at least i’m supporting local employees, and the dogfood was quite a bit cheaper! #shoplocal.
LynneinMN
anne says
Well said mable and lynn, mom and pop businesses are the one who buy girl scout cookies and sponsor little league teams, not amazon,