How To Save Money Day To Day (Spending Less)

Avoid impulse purchases with a few simple techniques

If you have trouble controlling your impulse spending, consider setting rules for yourself. Examples include:

• Set a limit on the number of times per week you go to the ATM.
• Figure out an amount to spend shopping before going to the stores, and bring only that amount (in cash) with you. (Leave the credit cards at home!)
• Give yourself an allowance every week, based on your budget. Don't spend more than your allowance on non-budgeted items.
• Never buy a "big-ticket" item without sleeping on it first.

If spending on credit cards gets out of control, see How To Keep From Overusing Your Credit Cards.

Make what you can

In a sense, you'll be "earning" the money you save. There are lots of free "how to" instructions on the internet.

Check online for the products you want

• Check websites which offer free stuff such as Freebie-Depot.com , MrFreeStuff.com and Shop4Freebies.com
• Type the name of the product (and model number if you have it) into your favorite search engine. This usually brings up different stores that carry the product, price and shipping expense.
• Check for coupons before ordering anything. For example, see: www.RetailMeNot.com
• Look at such general websites as:
  • www.Amazon.com
  • www.Dealnews.com
  • www.DODTracker.com
  • www.GottaDeal.com
  • www.Shopzilla.com .

Download shopping apps to your smart phone so you can compare prices while shopping. For instance, conside the following which are listed iIn alphabetical order:

• Amazon Price Check
• BuyVia (for tech purchases)
• Google Shopper
• PriceGrabber
• Red Laser (also allows you to clip coupons)
• Shop Savvy
• Smope

Note that the following apps also give you an idea about the likelihood that the product will change price in the future:  Decide and Shop Advisor

Sign up for daily deals

You can sign up for daily deals at such websites as:

• www.Google.com/offers
• www.Groupon.com
• www.LivingSocial.com (requires sign in)

Register for e-mail or Twitter alerts at your favorite stores to receive insider-only promotions.

Buy items from thrift/second hand shops

The clothes and other items these stores sell is oftentimes as good as new. Once the items are cleaned, they're no different than clothes you bought new that you're wearing for the second, third or umpteenth time. (If the shop is connected with a charity, you're also doing good…..) Before you think you don't want to live with other people's used stuff, isn't that what antiques are?

To find the best deals, look for a thrift shop or consignment shop in an upscale neighborhood.  Most shops have goods from local residents. 

• To locate a thrift shop, see: www.The ThriftShopper.com  (You can bid on items from Goodwill at www.ShopGoodwill.com )
• To locate a consignment shop (shops that sell used items without taking ownership of them), see: www.ConsignmentShops.com

Consider using coupons. They can save a lot of money.

To find coupons, see: Coupons. 

When you are ready to check out, check the app known as Honey (see joinHoney.com)

Comparison shop

Download  one or more apps which let you scan a bar code of an item and compare in-store and online prices at other retailers. For example, RedLaser and ShopSavvy/

Join AARP

AARP members can get discounts of up to 35% on more than 500 products if products are ordered at: www.aarp.org/marketplace

If your shopping is out of control, now is the time to do something about it

If it hurts your relationships or your finances, it may well be and you may be a shopaholic. Create a budget, and stick to it. Pay for purchases with cash or a check or a debit card. If the problem continues, get help from a professional or try Debtors Anonymous (a 12 step program like Alcoholics Anonymous.) For more information, seewww.debtorsanonymous.org  or tel. 781. 453.2743. For help with your debt, see How To Deal With A Financial Crunch.

Use the credit card that will provide maximum benefits

If you tell the following apps what credit cards you have (not the numbers, just the type of card), it will tell you which card to use to maximize cash back for a particular transaction:

• Glyph
• Wallaby

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