We’re now to day two of spring, so it’s officially time to start thinking about revamping wardrobe for warm weather. With all the new trends bombarding magazines and blogs, it can be hard to pin down exactly what… Read More >
Frugal Tips: How to Cut Printing Costs
We’re probably all aware of the expensive cost of ink, and some estimates putting it as more expensive per millilitre than liquid gold. So, saving on its cost is certainly not something that should be taken lightly. In… Read More >
Beauty on a Budget – Recipes for Homemade Beauty Products
Trying new beauty products is always fun, but it can be an expensive experiment if you don’t like the results. These affordable recipes for homemade beauty products are certainly worth a try – just click on the link… Read More >
Festive and Frugal Gift Idea – Free Printables
If I had to choose my favorite festive and frugal gift idea, it would have to be free printables! “What are free printables,” you ask? It’s like having your own personal graphic artist, and in 4 easy steps… Read More >
Secrets of a Savvy Shopper – 6 Ways to Save Money on Christmas Shopping
The countdown to Christmas is on!
Let the shopping begin!
This year, you will save money on Christmas shopping when you use my 6 savvy shopping secrets!
You’ll learn how to buy a dress at J.C. Penny that is normally $60 for only $27.20, and that’s not just because it’s on sale! Read on and learn the secrets of a savvy shopper!
Plan Ahead, Make Lists
- Planning ahead gives you TIME, and time is required to shop for bargains!
- I love lists because they are one of the best tools for planning ahead and saving money.
- Lists will keep you organized – don’t you hate spending a day of shopping, coming home & realizing you forgot something? Lists will prevent that!
- Lists will help you feel in control especially when you check them off!
- Important lists: gift list, Christmas card list and meal/party planning lists.
- Be prepared, don’t shop without a list!
Preview the Black Friday 2011 Ads
- You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving Day to look at the Black Friday ads…catch a sneak peek by visiting TheBlackFriday.com. Some ads are already posted!
- Read the fine print! If it says quantities are limited…don’t get your heart set on that deal unless you plan to be one of the first in line.
- Prioritize! You can’t be at all the stores at once, so go for the big ticket items first to maximize your savings OR get your husband to turn off the football game and run few errands!
- Use the internet to compare prices before you hit the stores. Sites like PriceGrabber.com allow you to search by product, compare prices and read reviews.
- Don’t forget your list! It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy & make impulse purchases.
Buy Discounted Gift Cards
- Do you know that you can buy discounted gift cards to hundreds of stores & restaurants? Even better, nobody will know that you didn’t pay full price!
- Here’s how – go to:
Click on “buy a gift card”, browse the available stores and restaurants and buy cards for any stores you’ll be shopping during the Christmas season. - Right now you can get a JC Penny gift card for 15% off! I suggest using it when JC Penny is having a big sale and combine it with a coupon from their newspaper ad. Yes, this is how you can buy that $60 dress for only $27.20.
- Discounted gift card inventory changes daily, so check regularly!
- If a gift card you want is sold out, you can set up an alert, and you’ll receive an email when that gift card is available.
- If you shop online, ecodes are available for some discounted gift cards. Once you purchase these, they are immediately available for use.
- Here’s the catch…discounted gift cards take about 1 week to arrive, so order now & be ready to shop Black Friday!
Are You an Online Shopper? Learn how to earn Cash Back
- Sign up for Ebates.com (it’s free) and you’ll earn cash back on your online purchases plus you’ll discover money saving coupon codes.
- Here’s how it works…
- Let’s say I want to make a photo calendar for Christmas.
- Go to ebates.com and on the left side of the page, click on “electronics and photos” to see a list of stores, and how much cash back you’ll earn.
- I discover that Snapfish is offering 20% cash back and a coupon code for free shipping.
- Click shop now & you’ll be taken to the Snapfish site.
- Every 3 months, ebates will send you a BIG FAT CHECK!
- Whenever you’re shopping online, get in the habit of making ebates your first stop! They work with over 1200 stores, so they’ll likely have just what you need!
Learn The Outlet Mall Lingo
- Don’t assume everything’s cheaper just because it came from an outlet mall! Stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ross & Homegoods frequently offer better deals.
- Do your homework first – you know the drill: make a list and compare prices online before you hit the outlet mall.
- Learn the lingo that you might see on the tags…
- MFO stands for Made for Outlet which means it won’t be the same quality as their regular store.
- Irregular – means slightly imperfect, so inspect carefully! Irregular items are usually a really good deal if you can live with the imperfections.
- Refurbished – these items have been inspected, tested and restored to their original condition. Refurbished items are common in electronics stores, and the prices are great! Just make sure to ask if it comes with the same warranty as a new item (most do!).
Take Advantage of Daily Deals
If you’re not already paying attention to daily deal sites like Groupon and Eversave, today is a great day to start! Groupon has recently started offering nationwide daily deals on great gifts like a personalized children’s book for half price! Check out the Groupon Gift Store today and everyday during the shopping season!
Now you know the secrets of a savvy shopper, so go forth and save money!
READY, SET, SHOP!
~~~~~~~
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Scarves – The Most Versatile and Affordable Accessory
The onset of November brings two contradicting emotions for me. The first is dismay that there are about 5 months of cold weather in front of me. The second is glee that scarf season is here! To prepare… Read More >
FatWallet Black Friday App Helps Consumers Shop
Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days in the year. This day occurs the day after Thanksgiving when retailers are poised to make their highest profits in the year to mark the holiday season. In today’s… Read More >
Living in Luxury on a Shoestring Budget
Living in luxury is a costly way of life, especially in this current financial climate, so how do we do it and retain a bank balance in the black? The key is bargain hunting. You need to be… Read More >
5 Fall Fashion Essentials
Fall is almost here, which means it’s time to put away your summer clothes and get out your fall wardrobe. But what if your fall wardrobe is a little out-of-date? There are a few fall fashion essentials you… Read More >
If Money Were No Object, Would You Still Be a Savvy Shopper?
Interesting question with an interesting answer. According to a recent survey by RetailMeNot and All You Magazine…the answer is: YES! 4 out of 5 people said they would continue to use money-saving shopping tactics even if money were… Read More >
How I Saved Money on Christmas Shopping
Wondering how to save money on Christmas shopping? Consider this The Budget Diet Girl’s Christmas shopping “Report Card”. How I Saved Money on Christmas Shopping Gifts – It’s easy to save money on gifts when you don’t give… Read More >
How to Negotiate the Best Price on a New Car
While the prospect of buying a new car can certainly be exciting, trying to negotiate the best price can also be daunting. Using a few smart tips and techniques can help you to negotiate the best price on… Read More >
Kitchen Makeover on a Budget – Money Saving Tips
A kitchen makeover is an exciting project because, in most homes, the kitchen serves as a hub for the entire family. For families with budget restraints, remodeling a kitchen is often a huge financial investment, and it is… Read More >
College Student? Take Advantage of the Best Student Discounts!
My oldest son is headed for college in a few short weeks, and I’d like to share some of the best student discounts that we’ve taken advantage of! Car Insurance – If your child is not taking a… Read More >
How I Saved Money This Month
The Budget Diet girl’s report card for April: I saved money by… Warmer weather meant clothes shopping for my 13 year old daughter who is… Read More >
Maximize Your Laptop Battery Life
In this crazy old, mobile world of ours, many folks have laptops. One of the biggest frustrations with owning a laptop, or any high-use electronic device, is battery life. Many of us know that although you can find… Read More >
How to Use Groupon For Shopping and Gifts
Ever since the invention of co-ops and wholesale purchasing, consumers have been using the power of group buying to get great discounts on products they use everyday. Now that we’ve entered the internet age, finding ways for consumers… Read More >
Get Well Gift Ideas
Tis the season for sniffles and flu and aches and pains! Cheer up a friend of family member with one of The Budget Diet girl’s 10 favorite and frugal get well gifts… Magazines… Read More >
Cheap and Cheerful Graduation Gifts
Is this one of those years that you have lots of graduation gifts to buy? Your niece, your neighbor, your son, his friends…the list is growing! Are graduation announcements arriving in your mailbox daily? Is your wallet… Read More >
Eliminate Your Dry Cleaning Bill
Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net I’ve officially eliminated the dry cleaner from my “to-do” list, and I’m not missing the dry cleaning bill! A few years ago, my husband splurged on the Travelers Collection dress shirts from Jos…. Read More >