A Bargain Hunter's Tips to Save Money on Everything You Buy
Wouldn’t it be nice to save money on every single purchase you make? Well, if you want to live frugally, that’s the goal! You need to figure out ways in which you can spend less money, and a big part of this is understanding how to save cash on every purchase.
To do this, you must become a bargain hunter!
Bargain hunters scour the world for excellent deals and things that help them spend less. Today, you’ll see a few tips that will help you do just that. Some tips may only be relevant for certain purchases, but you should try each of them whenever you have to buy something. The chances are at least one will work, meaning you save a fortune throughout your life.
Get cashback
Cashback is one of those things that seems too good to be true. It works like this: you buy something online, and then receive some money back. Lots of sites exist, but Quidco is probably the most well-known, as is TopCashback. It’s even possible to find some credit cards that give cashback on every purchase.
A couple of things to note:
- Not every website will offer cashback
- The cashback rates vary and are usually small
Typically, you’ll get around 1% cashback on purchases, meaning it’s good to use these sites for big expenses. But, if you always claim cashback whenever possible, it will soon add up. Within a year or so you can easily have over £100 back in cash – that’s basically free money.
Buy used goods
In some cases, lots of money can be saved by simply buying something second-hand. The best example of this is a car. Instead of spending tens of thousands on a brand-new model, get one from a few years ago that’s been driven a bit for a fraction of the cost.
The same goes for other expensive pieces. A second-hand sofa can still be in excellent condition – as could a second-hand smartphone. In most instances, you can make used things seem new anyway.
It’s a really good idea to adopt this approach when buying clothes. If you need new clothes, buy them second-hand to save an absolute fortune. Think about it this way, if you wash the clothes before wearing them they will just feel like all your other items anyway. This saves money and you’re doing your bit to fight back against fast fashion.
Purchase things at auctions
Auctions are literally designed for bargain hunters. The idea is simple: things are put up for sale and people can bid on them. If nobody else is that interested in an item, you can pick it up for next to nothing.
Loads of different auctions exist, with some offering more items than others. If you’re online, eBay is the most well-known auction site that can help you get anything from electronics to clothes. Then, you may consider searching for police auctions near me to find some really interesting deals. A police auction is when items are sold that were confiscated or can’t be returned to the original owner for whatever reason. They’re 100% safe and can include anything from smartphones to vehicles – and sometimes even houses!
Have a look for different auctions near you, and you may be surprised at what crops up. Set yourself a budget when bidding and you’ll always save money on any winning bids.
Sign up for loyalty programs
The majority of grocery stores and other companies have loyalty programs you can sign up for. Now, a lot of these are completely free for you to join. All you have to do is sign up, and they typically give you a loyalty card or connect your online account to the loyalty scheme. Depending on the scheme you’re on, you will typically receive rewards every time you shop.
An example of a typical loyalty program is that you earn points for every dollar you spend. The points add up and can be transformed into vouchers to get money off future purchases. A lot of bargain hunters will save their points during the year and then use them to get discounted stuff at Christmas. Many loyalty programs also offer exclusive prices for members. So, you literally get to save money on regular purchases.
Buy what’s on offer
Lastly, buy whatever is on offer. This is a good idea when shopping for food and groceries. Form your weekly meals based on what the store has on offer that week. It helps you save so much money, and it can also encourage you to try different meals.
Start using these tips whenever you’re buying something and you will genuinely start saving money.
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