Comments on: I’d Like to Save Money by Improving my Shopping Techniques… http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:36:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: CatherineL http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11855 CatherineL Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:27:07 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11855 Hi Mrs M - I don't see the point in buying in bulk either and I hate waste. But, as you say - you waste so much time and money going to get stuff you've run out of. It's crazy. Hi Mrs M – I don’t see the point in buying in bulk either and I hate waste. But, as you say – you waste so much time and money going to get stuff you’ve run out of. It’s crazy.

]]> By: What One Area Of Your Personal Finance Management Would You Like To Improve? http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11800 What One Area Of Your Personal Finance Management Would You Like To Improve? Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:13:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11800 [...] Micah would like to improve shopping habits. If you are new here, please consider subscribing to receive content via RSS or [...] [...] Micah would like to improve shopping habits. If you are new here, please consider subscribing to receive content via RSS or [...]

]]> By: Then It Hit Me: We Don’t Buy Stuff…. http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11797 Then It Hit Me: We Don’t Buy Stuff…. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:31:03 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11797 [...] I’d Like to Save Money by Improving my Shopping Techniques… [...] [...] I’d Like to Save Money by Improving my Shopping Techniques… [...]

]]> By: Meg from The Bargain Queens & All About Appearances http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11756 Meg from The Bargain Queens & All About Appearances Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:06:31 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11756 Food used to be one of our largest expenditures. Since <a href="http://www.allaboutappearances.info/my-new-grocery-shopping-strategy/" rel="nofollow">changing the way I buy food</a>, I can't believe how much my husband and I are saving -- without cutting coupons. We bought groceries for the week today and spent about $40 for the both of us -- including a few treats like about $8 on three bars of Dagoba chocolate. And really, a lot of the stuff we bought will last longer than a week (though it probably balances out considering that we are eating stuff we bought last month even). I have some containers of dry stuff that I can get really cheap like chickpeas, oatmeal, couscous, rice, flour, etc. Each week or so I just buy some fresh veggies and fruits to mix in, like bananas for my oatmeal, carrots for the couscous, and celery for the hummus I make. I also have a few bulk bags of nuts and a huge bag of frozen veggies from Sams, in addition to lots of seasonings to so that I can experiment to my heart's content. We even have some of the dry stuff 'on display', which is rather comforting. I know that even if we couldn't afford fresh stuff for a while, we have enough stuff to eat for months in those containers. (My husband buys bread, milk, and a few other things. He isn't much into veggies, so he's eating pb&j sandwiches, cereal, and pizza he got on sale.). And as far as non-food items, we're just buying less but more carefully. There have definitely been some treat items, but we make sure that they're really things we want and good quality. And we're set on toiletries thanks to Sams Club and Walmart.com freebies. Heck, I'm still working on a bar of soap I took home from a hotel. Food used to be one of our largest expenditures. Since changing the way I buy food, I can’t believe how much my husband and I are saving — without cutting coupons. We bought groceries for the week today and spent about $40 for the both of us — including a few treats like about $8 on three bars of Dagoba chocolate. And really, a lot of the stuff we bought will last longer than a week (though it probably balances out considering that we are eating stuff we bought last month even).

I have some containers of dry stuff that I can get really cheap like chickpeas, oatmeal, couscous, rice, flour, etc. Each week or so I just buy some fresh veggies and fruits to mix in, like bananas for my oatmeal, carrots for the couscous, and celery for the hummus I make. I also have a few bulk bags of nuts and a huge bag of frozen veggies from Sams, in addition to lots of seasonings to so that I can experiment to my heart’s content.

We even have some of the dry stuff ‘on display’, which is rather comforting. I know that even if we couldn’t afford fresh stuff for a while, we have enough stuff to eat for months in those containers.

(My husband buys bread, milk, and a few other things. He isn’t much into veggies, so he’s eating pb&j sandwiches, cereal, and pizza he got on sale.).

And as far as non-food items, we’re just buying less but more carefully. There have definitely been some treat items, but we make sure that they’re really things we want and good quality. And we’re set on toiletries thanks to Sams Club and Walmart.com freebies. Heck, I’m still working on a bar of soap I took home from a hotel.

]]> By: Sandra http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11754 Sandra Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:17:46 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11754 I get over excited about coupons and then think, ooh, I have three coupons for such and such. For example deoderant, I buy three. And then I'll come across a couple of more coupons for the same and think I save more. I have to stop myself. What am I going to do with 5 sticks of deoderant???? So I watch what I want to "stock up" on. I get over excited about coupons and then think, ooh, I have three coupons for such and such. For example deoderant, I buy three. And then I’ll come across a couple of more coupons for the same and think I save more. I have to stop myself. What am I going to do with 5 sticks of deoderant???? So I watch what I want to “stock up” on.

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11751 Minimum Wage Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:44:21 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11751 For example, I have less than $10 right now and am living on cereal and potatoes. For example, I have less than $10 right now and am living on cereal and potatoes.

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11750 Minimum Wage Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:41:33 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11750 <i>- That we won’t have enough money. This is silly. We do have enough money. And I can look at it this way: We’ll have even more if we don’t have to go shopping as often.</i> This is a very real fear for some people. And since I either walk or take the bus (I have a bus pass), there is no marginal cost in making extra trips. - That we won’t have enough money. This is silly. We do have enough money. And I can look at it this way: We’ll have even more if we don’t have to go shopping as often.

This is a very real fear for some people. And since I either walk or take the bus (I have a bus pass), there is no marginal cost in making extra trips.

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11749 mrsmicah Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:18:15 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11749 I like how you put it, Frugal Bachelor. It's a lot like managing inventory. What I need to avoid most is underbuying so we have to go twice or even 3 times in a week. On the plus side, the grocery store is directly on my route home from work so I can just pull into the parking lot. I like how you put it, Frugal Bachelor. It’s a lot like managing inventory. What I need to avoid most is underbuying so we have to go twice or even 3 times in a week. On the plus side, the grocery store is directly on my route home from work so I can just pull into the parking lot.

]]> By: Frugal Bachelor http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11748 Frugal Bachelor Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:12:01 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11748 I have written about this on my blog before, but I don't believe buying in bulk. I live in a small apartment and don't have room to stockpile extra stuff - also I do not believe the extra cost of real estate (e.g. for a pantry) is worth it especially if you live in urban area. Only a few things I purchase have significant quantity discounts. I don't want to be in the business of 'managing inventory' which is essentially what you are doing when you are buying in bulk. I'll leave that to the produce managers, meat department supervisors, and grocery store accountants. I go to the grocery store exactly once a week, and purchase exactly what I need for the week, nothing more, and nothing less. I have written about this on my blog before, but I don’t believe buying in bulk. I live in a small apartment and don’t have room to stockpile extra stuff – also I do not believe the extra cost of real estate (e.g. for a pantry) is worth it especially if you live in urban area. Only a few things I purchase have significant quantity discounts. I don’t want to be in the business of ‘managing inventory’ which is essentially what you are doing when you are buying in bulk. I’ll leave that to the produce managers, meat department supervisors, and grocery store accountants. I go to the grocery store exactly once a week, and purchase exactly what I need for the week, nothing more, and nothing less.

]]> By: Mercedes http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11739 Mercedes Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:05:59 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/02/17/id-like-to-save-money-by-improving-my-shopping-techniques/#comment-11739 HI Mrs. Micah, I don't know if you have one or not but putting together a price book can help you with underbuying. A price book not only tracks prices but also sales. If you narrow it down to the list of things you think you should stock up on then it would be less work. Once you have a price book for these things then you can identify sales cycles. It will also help you identify stock up point prices. Here's <a href="http://moneycommonsense.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html" rel="nofollow">my post on how I put mine together and you can also check it out I have it posted online.</a> I have also done some of the work as I have priced some items at two big warehouse clubs. HI Mrs. Micah,
I don’t know if you have one or not but putting together a price book can help you with underbuying. A price book not only tracks prices but also sales. If you narrow it down to the list of things you think you should stock up on then it would be less work. Once you have a price book for these things then you can identify sales cycles. It will also help you identify stock up point prices.
Here’s my post on how I put mine together and you can also check it out I have it posted online.
I have also done some of the work as I have priced some items at two big warehouse clubs.

]]>