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Extreme Savings without Coupons
Chances are you have seen the show “Extreme Couponing” or at least heard of it. But a lot of people do not have the amount of time these people have to get their grocery bills down to 0 or a few dollars. But thankfully, there are other things that you can do to save money without needing a tonne of coupons!
Watch Sales
One of the best methods of saving money is to watch the sales that are going on at the local stores. This applies to more than just the grocery store although that may be where you spend the most money. If you watch the flyers for a while, you will get an idea as to what products are worth when they come on sale and how often they come on sale. For instance, 650 ml tubs of yogurt are regular price $3.50 to $4.00 here, but they come on sale for $2.50 quite often or sometimes 2 dollars. Due to this, I refuse to pay more than $2.50. Another example is toilet paper; it seems to come on sale every few weeks.
Clearance
When you go to the store, see if they have a clearance area. You can find great deals there! They typically are items that will expire in the next few days. At the grocery store, there is an area with marked down meat. It is typically 30% or more off, and I can either cook it in the next day or two or I can freeze it for later. Drug stores also tend to have clearance areas. These may be tucked away in the back somewhere but they can be a great source of savings.
Buy Used
Depending on what you are looking to purchase, it is a good idea to buy it used. I have gotten back into crafting in the last few years and when I get going, I can use quite a bit of yarn. But I don’t go to the store and spend $6 a ball – I look on the local classifieds, garage sales or even at the thrift shops to get these items for cheaper.
Classifieds
Check the local classifieds. You can find a lot of great things for cheap or at least for a lot less than buying it brand new. And depending on what you are buying, you can find something that has not even been used! Quite often you can find items that still have the original tags on them.
Coupons
Of course, coupons help to save you money. Make sure that you use them when the product is on sale as that will help you save even more. I have some coupons for yogurt, so I will wait until it is on for $2.50 and use the coupon with that price. Then my yogurt will cost me even less! Why use it on the regular price to bring it down to $2.50? In Canada, our stores don’t double coupons so there is a limit to my savings, but every little bit helps.
If you a person who refuses to try other brands, then you may have a harder time with these methods. But if you are flexible, you can save a lot of money just watching the prices at the store.