Frugal
Living: Surprising Ways to Save Money
Every
frugal living connoisseur knows the basics when it comes to saving
some green: clipping coupons, using online coupon codes, shopping
sales. For the savvy shopper, though, there are even more tips and
tricks you can use to get your money to stretch as far as possible.
Most of these methods are dependent on the kindness of sales
associates, so always be sure to be polite and understanding (plus,
as anyone who has worked in retail knows, all too often salespeople
are seen as something other than a human, so being polite is also
just the right thing to do). If you are unable to get a discount, be
sure to thank whoever helped you for their time and effort.
- Software renewals
The
key to getting discounts on software renewals is to be patient. As
the expiration date nears, many companies will send you reminder
emails, often containing coupon codes for as much as 80% off your
renewal. Keep in mind that offers will probably start at 20% off—you
need to hold out for the big price cuts to be given. Of course, it is
unwise to wait until the very last moment for critical software; I
usually take the coupon code given to me or take it from
ChameleonJohn about one week
before the expiration date.
- Sales
This
tip is primarily useful for smaller stores, although sometimes works
in big company-run stores as well. Of course as a smart shopper, you
already know to always be on the lookout for sales, but sometimes
even the sale price is still higher than your budget. To get an even
lower price, don’t hesitate to ask a sales associate if the item
will be discounted even further in the future. If it will be,
salespeople will often go ahead and give you the deeper discount
price. Even if the price isn’t scheduled to be lowered any more,
sometimes the cashier can go ahead and give you a couple of dollars
off. Of course, the magic to this method is to be unfailingly polite.
- Special Discounts
Many stores offer discounts
for specific sections of the population, including students, seniors,
military personnel and AAA members. Even if you don’t see a special
discount advertised, don’t hesitate to ask. Even if the store
doesn’t usually, sometimes cashiers can find a different way to
give you a reduced price, if you are polite. Probably the best
example of this (and one of the areas you can save the most) is
student discounts in the electronics department. Around the time
school starts, lots of stores start offering amazingly valuable
deals, especially on laptops and computer accessories. You can
literally shave hundreds of dollars off your bill at this point—some
of the most popular companies offer free Microsoft
Office suites for four years to students, as well as reduced
price access to premium technical support and laptop protection.
- Manufacturer Freebies
One
of the best kept secrets on the internet is how many freebies and
online coupons are offered every day. One of the best sources for
name-brand freebies is manufacturer websites, particularly for
personal care items (think Proctor and Gamble) and nonperishable food
(like General Mills cereal). Especially if the company has recently
released a new product, they often will send you a sample size or
coupon code for a travel size at no charge. And as an added bonus,
great coupons and online coupon codes are often included with your
shipment.
- Product testing
Before
products go to market, they must be tested by real consumers in the
real world. There are lots of sites to sign up to become a product
tester—all you need to do is search Google
for “(type of product you want to test) product tester.”
Companies offer monetary compensation, free products or both.
With
these simple tips and tricks, you will be saving money in no time.
And always be on the lookout for your own creative ways to save!
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