I'd like to think that I'm a smart shopper. I look at the merchandise, find what I want or need, and try to get the best price. I shop around. I look through sales ads and sales racks. I also use coupons to save money. I figure, why pay more for the same item when I can get it for less? I can use the savings for something else. There's always a deal to be made, and great finds are sometimes worth the effort that goes into finding them. For example, when I bought my first ever new car, I found a better deal in a bigger city a 2 hours drive away! I saved $7,000 and I had more choices and better service. I also traded in my used car for $200 more than I was offered locally! It was probably one of the best buys of my life!
I particularly enjoy buying stuff in bulk if it saves me money. It's a lot less expensive to buy family size toothpaste and soap and other toiletries in greater volume compared to personal or regular size. Still, there are some drawbacks. I learned just because an item is less expensive in bulk size, doesn't mean it's a best buy, especially if it's an item I don't use that often. Take milk, for instance; it may be cheaper to buy a gallon compared to the quart size, but about half of the gallon spoils by the end of ten days.
Once, I got so lazy and behind schedule, that I ran out of clean socks. Rather, than do laundry for an hour and a half, I spent less than 15 minutes driving to the store and buying a new pack of socks on sale. Sure, I had clean socks to wear for the next few days, but the end result was just more laundry to do later on in the week. Ah, the single life of man ;)
Sometimes, I get so caught up in thinking that I'm saving so much money that I don't really think about if I really need that item. For example, I used to buy a lot of gift wrapping paper, without realizing that I all ready had some left over from the year before. I see sale and my brain focuses on getting a deal, and I have to make a conscious effort to think if I really need that item. Still, it's a learning experience, and it's not all bad. One Xmas season, I came across several deals on toilet tissue almost every week. I kept buying them at different stores because they were on sale. I didn't realize I had bought so much until I had to find a place to store them. All I know is, I didn't have to buy toilet paper for over a year and a half! And that's one item you don't want to run out of in your home!
YAY FIRSTIES
ReplyDeleteA lot of the supermarket chains got in trouble over here as their 3 for 2 offers meant they artificially hyped the price of an item for a couple of months , then offered it on a 3 for 2 deal , so you ended up paying what you should have paid in the first place , they also only offer two for one deals on unhealthy crap.
I love a good bargain , but need to get more organised with vouchers and stuff
How did that tosser Beast get here first?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, did you pick up a couple of Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel novels while you were shopping?
How did that tosser Beast get here first?
ReplyDeleteHOW RUDE !
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually take the time to clip out coupons, because by the time I go shopping, I usually forget to bring them along anyway. I do like to buy the generic store brands of stuff sometimes, rather than the brand names. Although if you go very, very cheap, especially with garbage bags, you realize soon enough why they were so cheap. They can't handle regular garbage volume.
ReplyDeleteBeast, that was kind of crooked of the stores to do that! I'm glad they got caught! One of the local supermarket chains here actually has coupons tacked right by the item on sale! Makes saving money so much easier.
ReplyDeleteMJ, I will not buy any Jackie Collins, much less Danielle Steel, books! I can read those for free at the local library or my friends' homes!
Beast, clearly, MJ is jealous of you.
Tara, you're so right about the generic garbage bags! I learned that the hard way! I usually just clip coupons for stuff that I need. The rest goes into the recycling bin if I can't find anyone who wants 'em!
the only thing I buy in bulk is toiletpaper. Like you said, that's one thing you don't want to run out of.
ReplyDeleteGood job on the car purchase.
I have many legs so buying socks is more difficult...
ReplyDeleteCP, thanks! That car was the most expensive thing I've ever bought! I buy shampoo and soap in family size, esp. if it's cheaper than the regular size version.
ReplyDeleteMutley, Welcome! I buy socks in bulk packages, esp. when they cost less than buying a single pair!
Too bad Hugo Boss doesn't sell socks in bulk at a reduced price
ReplyDeleteCP, the best one can hope for is a clearance sale on those! And since it's almost Xmas, you can bet they're about to put on some sales to make way for the Holiday merchandise!
ReplyDeleteLike novelty Holiday Hugo Boss socks?
ReplyDelete*gasp!*
CP, I mean, they're probably going to make room for the new winter line. And given the state of the economy, the retailers are going to be putting on huge sales to attract consumers.
ReplyDeleteI never buy food in bulk. Just like your point about the milk, I find it goes off or else I eat too much. I do love the vision though of your place packed with tp and wrapping paper!
ReplyDeleteI hardly EVER use coupons, they're too hard to keep track of.
ReplyDeleteHell, I bought those environmentally friendly reusable grocery bags but forget them at home half the time and have to use plastic bags anyway!
I'm weary of things that say "sale" on them because it seems almost everything nowadays IS on sale.
I usually buy bulk for stuff I know I can store for a long time and that my kids and I will use.
Otherwise, I'm out at the store, once a week, spending way too much...
Snooze, I buy groceries about once every two weeks, so the stuff I do buy in bulk are the items that have long shelf lives. As for the tp, well, I just found I had another pack of 20 rolls in one of the closets! It'll last me enough til Xmas season when tp goes on sale again :)
ReplyDeleteWW, I'm with ya on buying stuff that lasts for a while in the cupboards! The only coupons I look for are for the items that I use a lot. Then I clip 'em, put 'em in an envelope along with the shopping list of stuff that I need. Then I set the envelope on the coffee table with the car keys so I won't forget to take the coupons and list when I go to the store.
And I've had to learn the hard way that just because something is on sale doesn't mean I need it!
But the idea to have red novelty socks from Hugo Boss is fun although a little gauche
ReplyDeleteCP, that's so true. You never know what companies will do to attract customers for Xmas!
ReplyDelete