How To Save 30% on Almost Anything

January 25th, 2010 | by admin |

Perhaps the easiest step you can take in your journey to debt freedom is to cut your spending.

In our house, we’ve found ways to save on practically everything we buy. I’ll list a bunch of items here and ways to save 30% or more—and I invite you to post questions of items you’d like to save money on, and I’ll reply with my best cost-cutting idea and encourage others to do the same!

1. Baby diapers (disposables) or overnight trainers: Costco is pretty good, Toys R Us is also good. At any costs, don’t buy these at the grocery store. The very best place however, is a liquidator’s shop. They’ll sell bags that were damaged in shipping, have misprinted labels or are odd lots. A pack of pull-ups for our tot are usually $16. I spend no more than $9. Bonus if the pack is damaged and you can negotiate a price because it’s missing one diaper or one is torn/cut. Never buy baby products like this though if the pack has been damaged in shipping with water or other contaminates. I try to make sure that the damage appears to have come from opening the box. Switching to cloth diapers for some families (especially families with multiple little ones). Independent liquidators will often negotiate!

2. Office Supplies: Find a thrift store that carries them. I found one that is run through a church and is often donated things like paper, pens, post-it flags and more. I go through a lot of legal size paper that usually costs $70 to $80 a case if I use a coupon. The thrift store sells me the cases of paper (usually with one broken strap or missing the box lid) for $10.

3. Auto Service: Ok, this one isn’t a guaranteed 30% savings, but that’s usually my goal. First, shop around the price on the service you need. (Don’t forget to check auto shop’s ratings!) Also, ask about discounts that may apply to you. USAA member, Military member, Senior, AAA member? This will usually get you 10-15% off. Combine that with a local coupon (check the service provider’s Web site) and finally, ask if they’d give you a discount for allowing them to schedule the work at their slow time? The week of tax day auto shops are dead. Same for the week of Christmas. I just got a large auto service done over New Year’s weekend and saved a bunch of cash. Also, ask if they can extend the discount to services needed but not yet scheduled. I need a serpentine belt and a transmission flush that I didn’t have done on New Year’s. Would they give me the same batch of discounts if I bring in my car again at the end of the month? Sure, why not. Just tell them it’s “Eric’s deal” they told me, and signed the quote on my receipt. Cool beans. Never be afraid to ask. Especially when they know you have plenty of time to shop around.

4. Groceries: First, make a price book, and step outside of your grocery routine. Try ethnic markets and bulk food stores. Next, check co-ops. Finally, especially for large families, consider joining a gleaning club. I’ve just joined one in my area, and in exchange for one run twice a month to a store to pick up produce or breads that are expiring soon, I get a weekly allotment of the whole clubs’ gleans (some glean dairy, some glean breads, others other foods, supplies). If you can or freeze or have a spare freezer, this is a great way to fill your pantry. Liquidators are also good for canned foods, coffees, etc. Learn food safety (i.e. never open a can that bulges) and buy non-perishables that are dented or discontinued. You can check the shelf-life of food at www.stilltasty.com if you want to know if the food is still good.

5. Detergents/Soaps/Cosmetics: I use bulk liquidators/chains for these things. Big Lots is my favorite. I can always find my favorite dishwasher detergent for 50% of what I usually buy. Also, for laundry detergent, I make my own. It costs me about $3 to make one year’s worth. I used to spend $17 a month on laundry detergent. Cosmetics like shampoo, makeup, lotions are very, very easy to find at BigLots and usually very affordable.

6. Eating out: STOP! Do not pass go! Do not collect $200. You don’t need to eat out—you’re getting out of debt. See item 4 and go pick up a can of tuna and a can of SPAM at a liquidator’s. Surf and turf baby!

In sum, on anything you need to buy, try the following: Craigslist free or Freecycle.org (today I got a garbage can lid–mine blew away, and I gave away a fitted crib sheet), pawn shops, thrift stores, consignment shops, liquidators, bulk stores, barter/trade and negotiate. Sometimes you can even combine the above techniques.

So what do you need to save money on? Let’s brainstorm some solutions!

Financial Solutions