photo credit: ninjapoodles

What we spend at the supermarket often makes up a large portion of our weekly expenses. That means that finding a few ways to save money on our grocery bills is definitely useful. Financial Planning at About.com recently ran a post with handy tips and here’s a summary of the most useful information they gave:

Plan ahead by writing a shopping list and using a meal plan to do so. When you’re at the supermarket, don’t buy anything unless it’s on your list.

Eat before you shop - if you’re hungry you’re much more likely to make impulse purchases and spend more than you planned to.

Stock up on specials, but check to make sure they really are specials. Buying bulk can save you money, but sometimes supermarkets offer items at a special price which actually has a higher unit price than smaller packets. Do the math.

Consider buying store brands rather than the more expensive known brands - for many products, you won’t notice any difference.

Using different cuts of meat can save money.

Check out the different coupons you can use at a supermarket both in your local paper and online, and use them to save money too.

photo credit: Cia de Foto

A slowing economy can have a big effect on fun spending, like vacations or wardrobe upgrades. Thankfully, there are ways to save money on luxury items and one-time necessary purchases, helping you buy more with less. And if you find yourself in need of furnishing an empty room, follow MSNBC’s 10 Tips for Furniture Shopping on the Cheap:

• Use the Internet: Compare prices online, find out what you like, and know what you’re looking for, all before stepping foot in your first of many 20,000-square foot furniture stores.
• Consider used: Used furniture is a bargain, and you can find lots of items in fantastic condition. So before you decide to buy all new, check out what’s available in your local classifieds.
• Inspect things in person: It’s tempting to buy everything online, but a photo won’t tell you how soft a couch is, how sturdy a bed frame will be, or if upholstery will match your current color scheme.
• Visit area warehouses: Sam’s Club and BJ’s are great for big purchases, and often have great deals on living room sets and dining room tables, helping you save hundreds.
• Read the paper: Your weekend paper is probably full of circulars, many of which will highlight great furniture deals. Don’t be afraid to take flyers with you, and ask for price matching.

photo credit: ninjapoodles

If you knew that coupon cutting could earn you $20 per hour, would you sit down on Sunday afternoons to do it? Many Americans have made this adjustment to their weekend schedules, doing what they can to pinch pennies and save help their families out. It’s official: cutting coupons is in again. (more…)

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If you’re a little bit organized, a good planner and flexible, you can easily save $100 a week on your grocery shopping for a family of four. Laura Rowley’s tips focus on using (and organizing) coupons, following some key websites and doing a reasonable amount of planning ahead. Some of her most interesting tips include: (more…)

credit: Paul Keleher

If you’re a seasoned antiques bargain hunter or just looking to score beautiful furniture at a great deal, antique sales are one of the furniture market’s best kept secrets.

Estate sales can be held for any number of reasons, including death, downsizing, or moving, but they always mean great deals. Usually, a liquidation firm purchase the entire estate at a deep discount, and then sells it off piecemeal for more than they paid, but far less than market value of the individual good. (more…)

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When you’re trying to save money, it’s easy enough to stop going out to dinner or cut back on a vacation - but going to the supermarket is something that you can’t avoid. But here are some tips on keeping your supermarket bills lower:

• Go to the supermarket less. It’s an obvious tip, but we sometimes get caught up in rushing into the supermarket on the way home from work to grab something for dinner. Make a list, plan ahead, and try to get it down to a weekly shop - perhaps with a smaller trip mid-week for fresh fruit, vegetables and bread.
• Stick to your list. Don’t buy anything that’s not on your list, unless they’re staple items at a bargain price. Eating before you go to the supermarket also helps you stick to the list and avoid impulse buys because you’re stomach’s rumbling.
• Don’t be a brand snob - basic brands or supermarket own-brands are always cheaper but not always lower quality. Plenty of studies have shown that nobody can tell the difference. The packaging may not be so pretty, but it’s how it tastes that counts.
• Know the supermarket’s tricks. Remember that they are trying to make you buy more - that’s why they put all the candies and magazines near the checkout, so you’ll see them while you wait. They also put milk, bread and other staple items in far away spots so you’ll have to walk through the whole store. And sometimes the “specials” at the end of the aisles are not specials - check the prices to be sure you’re actually getting a bargain.

A lot of people think that they could never buy clothes online. Concerns about the fit, the real color or whether the style really suits them keep a lot of people heading to the mall when their wardrobe needs some work. But it’s worth investigating because purchasing clothing online can save you a lot of money - which means you can buy more clothes!

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