The following is a guest post from Whitney of Lazy Life With Littles:
No time to clip coupons? No problem!
I love coupons, but there are so many easy ways to save money nowadays without spending hours going through newspapers, only to find three or four coupons relevant to you and your family’s needs.
Below you’ll find a roundup of different ideas from my arsenal that you can use to save money on things like groceries, clothing, restaurants, and daily essentials.
1. Download the Coupons.com app
I’m sure you all have heard about this website before, but (if you didn’t already know) it now has an app! No printing necessary!
Just go here to download the app. Search for the stores you shop (like Walmart or Target) and link your loyalty card. Load some coupons to your card and just scan it at check out. Your coupons will be applied to your transaction. That simple!
2. Never underestimate the power of Dollar Tree
I go to the Dollar Tree about every week — sometimes more!
There are so many great deals you can score at Dollar Tree. They have a good selection of frozen fruit (great for smoothies), plain quick oats, and snacks for the kids (raisins, peanuts, pretzels). Sometimes if you’re lucky, they even have name brand items, such as Nature’s Own bread or Juicy Juice juice boxes.
Other good buys from Dollar Tree include: beauty and hygiene products (makeup, cotton balls, deodorant), craft supplies, party supplies, and medicine. Look around, though. Sometimes they have hidden gems throughout the store that you never even knew you needed. ?
3. Check out Groupon
Groupon is great for getaways, but I enjoy it mostly for the local deals. If your family likes to eat out often, check out Groupon for new restaurants to try at a discounted price.
There are also great deals on family fun like miniature golf, bowling, and museums. I’ve tried and enjoyed some new outings that I might not have otherwise done because I came across a good deal on Groupon (new restaurants, a winery tour, mystery dinner).
4. Shop Aldi
If you haven’t made the switch over to Aldi yet, I highly recommend you do so. Aldi has come a long way from what it used to be. I shop Aldi for most of my groceries each week, in addition to another store (usually Kroger) for the rest.
Aldi’s products are now made without the use of trans fats, added MSG, or synthetic colors. They also have a decent amount of organic options, and even some gluten free products! Their produce usually always has the best prices in my area in comparison to other grocery stores.
Aldi also has a line of baby products, and kitchen & bathroom essentials. I use the diapers for my little one and they seem to work just as well as the big name brands. Same goes for their garbage bags and toilet paper. And speaking of toilet paper, Aldi’s 4-pack of TP is only 0.59 cents!
Note: Since shoppers do bag their own groceries at Aldi, I suggest investing in durable, reusable bags.
5. Go to garage sales and thrift stores
I LOVE garage sales!
Garage sales are by far the lowest priced place to find clothes, especially baby clothes. You can find many pieces that look brand new, but for a fraction of the original price. I’ve seen baby clothes for 0.25¢ to 0.50¢ per item!
Even if you’re not in the market for clothing, you can find virtually anything else at garage sales: house decor, baby items, furniture, plates and dishes, knick knacks, shoes, etc. etc. etc. All at a very affordable price!
If it’s not garage sale weather, check out your local thrift store. The prices may not be as low as those found at garage sales, but they probably come close. Some thrift stores even have deals for the week (example: a specific colored tag is half off), so be aware of those, too.
6. Don’t forget Big Lots
This discount retail store is one that I love to frequent. They sell pretty much everything: furniture, toys, hygiene products, electronics. My favorite buys are the foods, though. They have a great selection of minimally processed, packaged products (great for on-the-go snacks for kids).
Examples of things I have personally bought from Big Lots include: Annie’s products, individual fruit and applesauce cups, protein and granola bars, Kashi cereal, almond milk, coconut water, jams, and dried fruit. They even discount items further if the sell by date is approaching. I recently bought a box of KIND breakfast bars for $1.25, and a few bags of granola for 0.25 cents each!
And there you have it — a few simple things that I do (and you can, too!) to save a little money on a day-to-day basics.
What are your tips to save on daily life?
Whitney is the lazy guru at Lazy Life With Littles. She is a wife, mother, blogger, and lover of simplicity. She believes in doing everything in life the easiest way possible.
I have joined a local swap group on Facebook. Most of my wardrobe has come there and it’s cheaper than a thrift store. Plus it’s money going into a neighbor’s pocket. I can swing by on my way home from work and pick up items. Plus, I can purge my house and sell items too.
Tisha,
That’s such a great idea! Thanks for commenting.
Homegoods, TJMaxx, and Marshall’s can have amazing deals on food, especially in their clearance section. My husband and I drink espresso every morning. We normally buy a 2.2 pound bag of espresso beans on Amazon for about $22 (it lasts us about 6 weeks). Recently, this bag of espresso beans has risen in price to $25-$30 a bag.
Last night I was shopping at Homegoods when I came across your bags of espresso beans (2.2 pounds each) on clearance marked down to $12 a bag! I had never tried this brand so I looked up reviews online. Not only did I find glowing reviews, but a normally $55 a bag price tag to go along with it! I purchased one bag and plan on going back for the rest this week if we enjoy the taste. This find will save me at least $52 over the course of a half year (based on what we normally spend) if we end up buying all four bags, it was a great find!
I also love buying olive oil at these stores, it’s high quality for a reasonable price! You can find some great food deals if you are willing to try a new brand!
Jen,
What a bargain! I go to T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s every now and then, but haven’t really looked at their food section. I’m definitely going to have to start ?
I just discovered Poshmark! I’d bought a pair of jeans at the thrift store and loved the fit. I went to Poshmark to look for another pair in a different color. I got a pair for $8.00! These jeans, new, are super expensive. I’m going to keep it in mind whenever I’m looking for something specific.
Hi, MommaL!
I’ve heard of Poshmark, but I’ve never used it… a pair of good jeans for $8?! I’m definitely going to have to check ’em out. Thanks for commenting!
I just started, and I made my first sale too.
They encourage buyers to make offers. Shipping is a standard fee, and they make selling easy. Much easier than ebay, in my opinion, and you can search for what you like.
I’d heard of it, but didn’t think much of it until I read about it on Trent Hamm’s Simple Dollar. I trust his suggestions.
Great tips! My mother-in-law recently found a HUGE bag of gluten-free flour at Big Lots for a fraction of what it normally costs at the grocery store.
Aimee,
Isn’t that amazing?! Love finding deals ?
I would love more details on using the coupons.com app at Walmart!
Hi, Abby!
All you have to do is click on the coupons in the app that you want to use at Walmart. You won’t actually use these coupons in store; rather, you buy the products first at Walmart and then you send a picture of your receipt through the app. You’ll then receive cash back.
I didn’t know coupons.com has an app, thanks! Does it need to use data when you use it in the store? Some stores have wifi but some don’t. Thanks for the info!
Annie,
To my knowledge, it unfortunately does require data.
Our area has several Facebook buy/sell/trade sites (like Craigslist but with more accountability/visibility), which are my favorite place to score great brands for womens’ clothing and shoes, and especially baby gear and clothing lots. For example, I recently picked up a nearly new organic Ergo baby carrier for just $40! I have saved literally hundreds of dollars on clothing for myself and my children over the past several years. I wish I had had access to these sites when I was pregnant with my first child–I would have saved tons of money on maternity clothes!
Hi, Rachel!
Wow, that’s awesome! I LOVE buying used, especially baby clothes and gear. Baby items are only used for a short period of time anyway. No need to spend an arm and leg ?
Rachel,
Wow, thats great! Buying used baby gear is always better than buying new, in my opinion. Baby items only get used for a short period of time anyway ?