There's more to saving money than buying less or resorting to zany tricks like potty training your cat so it doesn't have to use an expensive litter box or making your own laundry soap (though we do admit that both are pretty darn clever).
In actuality, you can probably save hundreds of dollars every year by spending smarter, i.e. knowing when to buy certain items and being familiar with technology that can help you maximize savings.
Here are seven tips to help you become a smarter spender, not the family cheapskate.
1. Get your groceries on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to save at the supermarket
supermarket
Why are those three days shoppers' sweet spot?
On Wednesdays, many grocers begin store sales that last for a week. On Sundays, big supermarkets often release coupon pamphlets.
By shopping on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, consumers are able to take advantage of both promotions.
"The time window to capitalize on both the sale and the coupon is best after you get the coupons on Sunday and before the next sale cycle begins on Wednesday,"
"The time window to capitalize on both the sale and the coupon is best after you get the coupons on Sunday and before the next sale cycle begins on Wednesday," says Greg Karp, author of Living Rich by Spending Smart.
If you buy a store's specials, buy enough to last you for three months, Karp recommends. Sales typically run in 12-week cycles, so those same items will likely be discounted again roughly three months from the day you purchase them on.
2. You should let it linger
It's not just a cheesy Cranberries reference. If you're in no rush to buy an item online, let it sit in your online shopping cart for a few days. Some retailers will start sending you coupons for your stagnant item. Others will notify you when its price drops.
It's not the most foolproof method of saving money (most retailers won't offer you coupons, and many will empty your cart if it idles for too long), but it can't hurt if you can wait a few weeks to buy that Cranberries boxset.
3. Use your smartphone to shop competitively
Today, your smartphone is your best shopping ally. While you're shopping, you should use it to find an item's price both online and offline, and if other retailers might be selling it in bulk.
According to a Shopatron survey, 86% of retailers say customers use mobile phones while shopping in stores.
Here are a few smartphone apps that'll help you compare prices and find the best deals.
Red Laser: Forget about manually entering in long barcodes to price shop. Red Laser scans barcodes and shows you comparable prices, offline and online. If you like an online price you see, Red Laser will redirect you to that company's website. If the best deal is in a store near you, Red Laser provides directions from your locations.
BuyVia: In the market for gadgets? The BuyVia app will provide reviews from tech sites to go along with the best prices locally and nationally. If you're sitting on an item and waiting for its price to drop, BuyVia can send you alerts so you don't miss any flash sales.
4. If there's a sale, buy in bulk
When shopping for products that you buy more than once or twice a year, like toothbrushes or rice, try to buy as much as you can, especially if there's a sale.
"You should buy what’s on sale and stockpile it," Karp says. "Think about that for a minute. You buy the exact same products and brands; you just buy them at ideal times."
By identifying a sale item and purchasing it in bulk, you'll save yourself times, gas and money.
"You can cut spending painlessly without depriving yourself," Karp says.
5. Mark May off on your calendar — it's a great month to buy
From food to toiletries and appliances, May is a savvy shopper's ideal month, says Mark Di Vincenzo, author of Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon.
Here are items Di Vincenzo recommends purchasing in May:
Refrigerators: Retailers usually get their new model refrigerators in the summer, Di Vincenzo says. To make room for the new stock, they slash prices on older models in May and June.
Deodorant: May is a great month to save your wallet and your pits. To prepare for warmer months, stores frequently discount deodorant and offer buy-one-get-one-free discounts. If you can combine the promotions, perhaps even with another dollar-off coupon, you (and your pits) are golden. Remember to stock up during the sale.
Condiments and picnic items: In the summer, supermarkets lure shoppers in by offering steep discounts on items they know they're likely looking for in the warmer months, such as ketchup, mustard, paper plates and plastic utensils. Those discounts are just to get you in the door; retailers hope you'll buy much more than plates once you're inside.
During May, Di Vincenzo recommends stocking up on your picnic items for the summer and condiments for the rest of the year; unopened sauces and salad dressings will stay fresh on your shelf for a year, and you'll be getting them at a reduced price.
Mattresses and box springs: As they do with refrigerators, retailers chop bedding prices in May to prepare for newer summer models. Because profit margins are so high for mattress sellers, shoppers should feel comfortable bargaining the price down, Di Vincenzo says.
6. Download Coupons at Checkout to get instant savings when you check out online
Sick of spending time looking for coupon codes that don't end up working?
Coupons at Checkout, a Google Chrome browser extension that takes less than one minute to set up and learn, automatically gathers coupon codes for the item you're about to buy and puts them into a dropdown menu in your purchase window.
The extension rates codes on confidence, so you're able to see which deal is the most likely to be current.
Hot coupons: Ebay redemption code for fathers day, Amazon promo code, Telefora coupon code june 2015
7. Email alerts could land you a bargain on airfare
While clearing your cache and cookies isn't guaranteed to score you cheaper plane tickets, email alerts are the best way to make sure you catch a good deal on a plane ticket before it's gone.
Here are two two email alert systems that'll help you snag the flash deals on airline tickets.
Yapta: Don't stop paying attention to the price of your flight once you've purchased your ticket. Yapta can help you re-book it for a lower price. The app will send you a notification when the fare falls more than the cost of the airline's change fee. At that point, you re-ticket and pocket the savings.
Airfarewatchdog: If you're booking your flight well in advance of your departure date, sign up for Airfarewatchdog's price alerts. Users can receive alerts for a particular city or route that are individually vetted by Airfarewatchdog's analysts, making sure a computer algorithm doesn't send you a deal that doesn't exist. The site also tweets out eye-catching deals.
Source: mashable.com
