How to: Avoid Paying Retail
May 1st, 2007
With a little research and some persistent footwork, you should be able to avoid paying retail for practically everything. The Internet has become an especially useful tool for learning more about frugal shopping. From clipping coupons to knowing where and when to buy goods, a little practice will soon make you an expert at bargain hunting. To get you started, here are 35 tips to help you avoid retail prices.
General Tips
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Swap Paperbacks
If you are an avid reader, you should consider joining a paperback swap. Paperback swaps are groups of people who read similar genres of books. The books are continuously passed around after the readers are finished with them, saving everyone a lot of money. -
Apply for a Credit Card Rewards Program
If you are applying for a credit card, try to find one with a desirable rewards program. There are programs suited for all kinds of consumers, from frequent travelers to students. -
Find Garage Sales
Garage sales are terrific places to find second-hand goods. Not only are the bargains great, but many items sold at garage sales are in near-mint condition. For instance, children often outgrow clothing before it gets much wear. Such items are best bought at a garage sale. -
Visit Resale Shops
From clothes to music, there are many specialty resale shops out there. Making it a habit to peruse these stores will save you a lot of money on things like books, CDs, DVDs and more. -
Use Your Employee Discount
If you are lucky enough to work somewhere with an employee discount, don’t forget to use it. For instance, if you work for a department store, you should choose to shop there with your discount rather than going to a different store for the same item. -
Use Someone Else’s Employee Discount
Be sure to take advantage of any employee discounts to which your friends or family may have access. Most people have no problem sharing their discount with loved ones. -
Join AAA
The American Automobile Association, or AAA, is a very inexpensive club to join. For a small yearly fee, you will be able to use your membership card for discounts at hotels, restaurants and more. -
Join AARP
AARP, formerly knows as the American Association of Retired Persons, is a non-profit organization for people over 50. It offers discounts on everything from insurance to restaurants. If you are 50 or older, this is one of the easiest ways to start living frugally and avoid paying retail.
Internet Shopping
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Comparison Shop Online
Each store’s idea of "retail price" can differ. Where applicable, you should try to window shop online before spending your money. That way, you are more likely to find an offer that is below average retail price. -
Buy on eBay
eBay is probably your best online resource for bargain items. It offers practically everything and includes both new and used goods. Visited by millions each day, this site is popular for a reason. -
Search Overstock.com
Overstock.com is a Web site devoted to selling overstocked items at reduced prices. It is a good resource for bargains though the selection can be a bit limited. You might not find everything you are looking for, but it is still a good idea to peruse the site regularly, as you never know what you will find for a very low price. -
Discover Craigslist
If you haven’t already, you should bookmark Craigslist.org. The online classified ads site will offer a large variety of goods and services to the frugal shopper.
Groceries
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Join a Price Club
Stores like Sam’s Club and Costco are well worth the membership fees if you have a large family or ever buy in bulk. Although paying for the privilege to shop may not sound frugal, it will probably pay off with just one or two trips to the price club. -
Buy Goods With Damaged Packaging
While you don’t want to buy something that doesn’t work, you should ask for a discount on things that have damaged packaging. Many managers are flexible about things like this and will reduce it for you on the spot. Even if they don’t, it won’t hurt to ask. -
Check Sales Papers
Don’t throw away what may appear to be "junk mail". By looking at each sales paper in your mailbox, you may discover a great bargain. Many grocery stores, for instance, hold last-minute sales with very little advertising. Giant, one-day sales may only be announced through sales papers. -
Look at End Caps
End caps are the displays located at the ends of each aisle in the grocery store. Often, the items on the end caps are on sale, so you should make it a habit to look at them as you shop. -
Buy One, Get One Free
Take advantage of any sales that offer multiple items for the price of one. Provided that you are buying an item you normally use, this sale is an easy way to buy in bulk and save. -
Use a Grocery Store Rewards Card
Most grocery stores and some pharmacies now offer a free rewards card, which will reduce the price of many items throughout the store. These cards are available as small key fobs, so you won’t have to worry about walking around with a wallet full of them. -
Plant a Vegetable Garden
You would be surprised how many vegetables you can plant in a small area. Even with a minimal back yard, you should be able to grow a decent garden, which will save hundred of dollars a year in groceries.
Coupons
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Double and Triple Coupons
Many major grocery stores will hold double and triple coupon events. This is the best time to grocery shop with your coupons. Buying something with a triple coupon that is already on sale will sometimes get you a free item. There are serious couponers out there that can buy hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for only a few bucks during double and triple coupon events. -
Join a Coupon Newsgroup/Message Board
Joining a local newsgroup/message board for couponers will alert you to things like sales events and other deals. Since some of the best deals go completely unadvertised, this a great way to avoid paying retail. -
Buy the Sunday Paper
Not only does the Sunday paper advertise many sales, it holds a lot of manufacturer coupons. You should make it a habit to buy several papers a week if you plan on saving money with coupons. -
Check Your Receipts for Coupons
Many grocery stores print coupons on the back of receipts. Often, they will be coupons for certain items you purchased that day, so you are likely to find ones you will use in the future. -
Look for Coupons on Manufacturer Web Sites
You should make a list of brand name items you buy regularly at the grocery store and visit the brands’ websites. Often, the sites will have printable coupons but if not, they will have contact information which you can use to request coupons through the mail. -
Look for Coupons on Grocery Store Aisles
Pay attention to coupon dispensers located on grocery store aisles, as you may find a coupon for something you are buying on that trip or a future one. -
Take Advantage of Free Photo Offers
Once you begin having children, you are likely to receive many family photo coupons in the mail. You should take advantage of ones offering a free photo. Rather than letting the studio talk you into a full portrait package, you can take this free photo and scan it into a home computer for inexpensive printing.
Luxury Purchases
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Look Into Foreclosed Homes
If you go house hunting, you should always check out homes that have been foreclosed. Someone else’s loss could be your gain, as foreclosed homes can be bought for considerably less than market value. -
Attend Seized Property Auctions
There are several departments of the government that hold seized property auctions, not to mention local police departments. From books seized by the post office to vehicles that have been impounded and never claimed, these auctions can be a great place to find a deal. -
Buy New Cars at the End of the Year
The end of each calendar year brings about many sales at car dealerships. This is because the dealerships are trying to make room for next year’s models. If you are in the market for a new car, December is the month to buy. -
Buy Used Cars
Even if you can afford a new car, it may be wiser to buy a model that is a few years old. This is the best way to purchase a fully loaded model for below retail price. Some people are leery of buying used cars because they want a warrantee on the vehicle. However, if the mileage is low and the car has been pampered, you won’t need one. -
Look for Furniture Warehouses
Rather than shopping at an overpriced furniture store, you should check out furniture warehouses that carry individual overstocked and retired pieces. You can piece together a custom set of furniture this way for a fraction of the retail price. -
Buy Floor Model Items
Stores like Best Buy will periodically sell their floor model items for a fraction of the retail price. These items are in near-mint condition and often carry some kind of limited guarantee. -
Buy Refurbished Video Game Consoles
When Christmas rolls around, forget about buying a video game console for the kids at full price. There are many second-hand video game stores that carry refurbished models for a reduced cost. They will have a limited money-back guarantee and work just as well as a new console. -
Buy Clothes Off-Season
Although this takes a disciplined shopper, you should try to buy your clothes off-season. In other words, buy your winter clothes in the summer and your summer clothes in the winter. High-ticket items like winter coats are especially cheaper in the off-season. -
Cut Hair at Home
This seems a little less practical for women with complicated hairstyles, but children and some men can easily receive a home haircut. This will save hundreds of dollars a year.
As you can see, there are ways to avoid paying retail for practically everything. From paperback novels to houses, you can find a cheaper option for many purchases. With adequate research beforehand and some patient browsing, you may save thousands of dollars a year.
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