What makes you a good shopper? (CostCo, price, discounts, shops)
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It seems we all have our own way of trying to stretch that almighty $$ today. Some go from grocery store to grocery store, shopping for the best deals, others depend on coupons and still some feel they do as well, by saving gas and only shopping one place. This is also true when shopping for other products: is it cheaper to shop on line or at the near by mall or maybe the consignment shops or Craigs list? How do you shop?
I do most of my shopping split between our local independent grocery store: Sam's and Aldi,s but only use Aldi's if we are in the general area, as it isn't worth the gas other wise. I do use coupons, if they can be doubled. It is harder to find good ones anymore. As for other products, I depend on catalogs and Amazon for a lot of our merchandise, but I do use local malls from time to time. A lot has to do with shipping costs versus product cost and gas consumption.
I think what has contributed the most to my being a "good shopper", is the realization that I don't need nearly as much as I used to think I did. I rarely buy on impulse.
For things that we have to have, such as food, I know quality is more important to me than quantity, so I read the flyers, and plan my meals to get the best deals on what I want to eat. I don't store hop, I stick to Kroger and Costco, and use coupons for things I would buy anyway.
I never go to malls. I buy all clothes online, as soon as I have a discount code that is. I've put things into my online shopping cart, and left them there. Frequently, but not always, I'll get an email from the vendor with a special offer. It's all a game, and I've gotten pretty good at playing it.
I have reprogramed myself to shop the supermarkets by unit pricing instead of product shelf pricing. This way I never get fooled by product size changes, fake sales prices, BOGOF, Super-sided with matching price increases, or any of the dozen of ways consumers are conned into paying more for less all the while thinking they are getting so smoking deal.
Oh, I don't know if I am a good shopper, but I am surely a savvy shopper
I know the prices and sizes of the products I most frequently buy, and I take my time shopping. Seldom being compulsive.
Oh, I don't know if I am a good shopper, but I am surely a savvy shopper
I know the prices and sizes of the products I most frequently buy, and I take my time shopping. Seldom being compulsive.
Savvy shopper here too. Knowledge of products and prices is the best thing to know, then use coupons if possible for grocery shopping along with their sales. Stock up on necessary bargain items. Hard goods you negotiate discounts. Common sense helps too, not getting talked into or buying things on a whim.
On some items garage and estate sales are great for super bargains. plus they're fun too.
Savvy shopper here too. Knowledge of products and prices is the best thing to know, then use coupons if possible for grocery shopping along with their sales. Stock up on necessary bargain items. Hard goods you negotiate discounts. Common sense helps too, not getting talked into or buying things on a whim.
On some items garage and estate sales are great for super bargains. plus they're fun too.
When I think of bargain shopping or savvy shopping I never think of garage sales and I should. I do hit them once in awhile, they are fun and yes, I have picked up some good buys at them from time to time. I got my canning pots and some jars at garage sales for almost nothing, I got my daughter a wonderful TV tray set at one about 6 months ago. If was just what she had been looking for, almost new condition and about 20% of what she would have paid new.
I do think we are seeing the end to the big indoor mall shopping. I have been predicting this for about 5 years, the same with the large chain grocery stores. We all seem to do more on line shopping, big box stores and specialty store shopping.
I don't care for shopping so I don't linger to be tempted by "sales."
I don't shop for recreation; I know what I want and go get it. Often I'll look first on the computer to make sure its locally in stock.
I don't grocery shop on an empty stomach.
When a clerk wants to explain a new offer or something to sign up for I tell them politely I'm not interested. Generally those "deals" have been more to their advantage than mine.
Before I go I make out a list of where I'm going, in what order and the same for the items I'm going to buy in the store. That way, if they haven't changed everything around, I can zip straight through without going in aisles where I don't need anything.
If it's a large purchase I comparison shop by computer. And I also do quite a bit of personal shopping by computer because if I don't leave the house I'm less apt to buy more than I want.
All of my thriftiness is balanced out by my retired husband who likes to shop and goes every day. Argh.
Ability to do basic math calculations in your head.
Ability to ignore marketing and advertising.
Ability to remove all emotion from your shopping.
Those are a good top three to start with for now.
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