When a Bargain Isn't a Bargain...or Is It?

I hate shopping. I know…I’m a weirdo, but I just hate it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to “acquire” things, but the actual shopping part…not so much. I hate traffic. I hate crowds of rude people. And I especially hate going out of my way to buy something specific only to find the store doesn’t have what I want. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve had to go out in search of an outfit for a specific event or to buy a gadget to fulfill a certain function in my home, and then to traipse from store to store searching for the right thing. The one that fits. Or the one that’s the right color. Or made out of the right kind of material. And as often as not, I never find exactly what I’m looking for, but have to settle for something that “will do”. I just hate it.

That’s why I love online shopping. I can sit at home in the comfort of my pajamas and shop – any time of day, for any number of items, with as much or as little specificity as I care to explore. I can sit here for hours scrolling through Amazon search results looking for just the right notebook or craft supply. I can order two items, have them shipped to me for free (thank you, Amazon Prime!), and keep the one I want. The other is as easy to return as dropping by a UPS store with a pre-printed barcode (or scan it from your phone) provided by Amazon when you request the return.

I have become such a hermit since the onset of COVID. Between the worry about spreading the disease, the discomfort of the masks, and the sheer number of people who seem to be out and about during the daytime lately, I’d just rather stay home. I try to reserve my forays into the public for activities that truly interest me or tasks I simply must complete. I mentioned in our “Eating Healthy on a Budget” podcast that I subscribe to HelloFresh. When I’m working on a scrapbooking or creative project, I usually get my photo prints delivered by Amazon or Persnickety Prints. I’ve even changed many of my prescription drugs over to auto-delivery, and those that couldn’t, I’ve set up for 90-day refill cycles. If I can automate it – I do. If I can schedule it, I will. 

You would think all this home delivery would cost more, but really it doesn’t. Being willing to wait a few days, denying that instant gratification of going out to a store and acquiring it right now, often makes products and services less expensive. A retail store has to pay for retail space, which is often very expensive. The more products a store has to have on hand, the more space the store needs to display it, which also means more employees, not to mention the initial outlay of capital to have the product on hand in the first place. The exceptions to this are, of course, big box stores like Walmart, Costco, Sams, etc. who can buy in bulk, but even they are subject to the reality of having retail space and employees to display the merchandise, while online retailers sell right out of their warehouses, eliminating the middle-man of retail space, retail employees, and supply chains entirely.

I also like to shop from small business entrepreneurs – small mom-and-pop shops and sole-proprietors who offer unique items, sometimes at boutique prices. While it’s not strictly “inexpensive” (more often than not, it’s actually higher-priced), it is often exactly the item I’m looking for, and I like the idea that I’m helping support a person rather than a corporation. It’s an even better plus if the shop is local, but I’ll buy from online retailers, too. I like to support that individual creativity, and the quality of service you get from these businesses is worth every penny you pay for it - so really it IS a bargain. Etsy is a great online source for these types of creative endeavors, and another bonus is that I can both shop and sell there.

In the end, I think you have to be the judge of what a “bargain” means to you. After all, the New Oxford American Dictionary defines a bargain as “an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other.” If you don’t mind spending your time and gas driving to multiple locations to get the best sale price, then that’s a good bargain for you. Or if you’d rather pay a little more to shop in private or to shop from specialty sellers, then that’s really a bargain, too. The price is only a small part of it.

Why Pay Full Price?

Christmas is over and you guys are probably wondering why we are still talking about shopping. I say that it is never too early to plan ahead! Most people hate shopping, and I used to be one of them. My whole life, I have lived on a budget, and not always because I had to. When you grow up on a limited income, you have to sometimes appreciate the less expensive things in life. This has taught me to never pay full price for anything.

This shirt cost me $8 at Target

Last year, Texas had a huge snowstorm (that I called Snowvid) that brought record-breaking low temperatures and rolling blackouts. At the time, I lived in an old house that already had leaky pipes, which led to my landlord eventually having to replace the pipes in the house. Unbeknownst to me, the leaky piping ran through my closets, and when I discovered the problem, I had lost a good portion of my clothing, shoes, and accessories to mold problems. 

Aside from that, I have also lost a significant amount of weight over the last two years and my school was coming out of quarantine, so I could no longer teach in comfortable clothes. It seemed like everything was happening at once: mold, moving, and the start of the school year. How was I to get a manageable well-fitting wardrobe by the time school started? Impossible…that wasn’t going to happen. The only shoes I didn’t lose were the three pairs I never put in the closet because I wore them consistently throughout the week

How I replaced my decimated wardrobe without paying full price:

Seasonal/Holiday Sales: 

This one is pretty simple. Usually, at the end of the Summer or around every major holiday, stores will have some type of sale. At least twice a year, my favorite clothing stores have annual clearance events where they take extra percentages off clearance items. You just have to be smart and know when the “long weekend” holidays are, such as Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day. These are prime examples of holidays that retail stores have extended weekend sales to celebrate. Mark your calendars and check out online fliers to your favorite stores to make a game plan.

Teacher Discounts and Back-to-School Sales: 

If you live in Texas you know about the famous tax-free weekend that happens every year in August so teachers and students can get discounts on back-to-school clothing. Basically, it is a weekend in August that Texans don’t have to pay state and local sales tax on their clothing (or school supplies). As a teacher, I make it my business to know which stores you can get an extra discount for flashing your teacher ID. We Are Teachers has a great blog highlighting some of the clothing stores where teachers can get discounts. Stores also offer senior discounts, credit card discounts, military discounts, first responder discounts, essential worker discounts, and student discounts.

Bargain Stores: 

I’m not talking about Goodwill® or the Salvation Army®. There are stores around where you can sometimes buy quality clothing without buying secondhand. The stores I am listing are stores where I can typically buy articles of clothing in my style for less than $20.

• Ross Dress for Less®: This is my go-to place for work dresses. I can get clothing in my size for less than $20, and the clothing is name-brand quality. You can also buy shoes, accessories, and household items here.

• TJ Maxx®: This is my go-to place for work pants on a budget. I was able to buy some last-minute back-to-school pants (that I didn’t need to hem) quickly and efficiently. I also like their sister store Home Goods® for home/office accessories.

• Old Navy®: Why is this store on this list? I mean, they are a major retailer. Old Navy® is a major affordable retailer. They also have sales pretty much every day of the year. Their clothes might not be the highest quality, but you can create a fashionable ensemble for less at this store.

• Target®: This store is a given. I can buy clothing that I can wear on a daily basis at Target®, plus affordable shoes and accessories. I also like to shop at this store for household items and seasonal supplies.

The Clearance Section: 

This dress cost me $12.95 on clearance at Torrid

For those that like designer shoes and accessories (me), the clearance section of a store always has good finds. I am okay with buying off-season clothing for a lower price, especially if it is a brand that I particularly like, such as Torrid and Betsey Johnson. Listed below are some of my favorite go-to sites and stores for designer purses on clearance.

• Macy's

• Overstock

• Kate Spade Outlet

• Coach Outlet

• Bag Borrow or Steal

Price Comparisons: 

When I talk about price comparisons, I am talking about shopping online versus shopping in-store. For example, the clearance section of Old Navy looks completely different online than it does if you walk into their store. Sometimes if you do a little research, you can find the same thing online for a better deal than you can in the store. A lot of retailers moved to online sales and curbside pick-up during the pandemic. So, stores will offer incentives to buy online and pick up curbside or have items shipped to the store for free. Listed below are stores that I only buy online because it is cheaper than buying in-store.

• Torrid

• DSW

• Shoe Carnival

• Ulta

Playing the Long Game: 

When I say playing the long game with a store, I am talking about finding a store or two that you are committed to shopping at and only shopping at that store for certain things. For example, I buy most of my shoes at Shoe Carnival® and DSW® and I buy most of my clothing at Torrid®. Because of this, I am a VIP member at all of these stores. I signed up for accounts with the store, and over time, I have built up buying credits with these stores so I can get some deep discounts and coupons. These discounts and coupons afford me to get outfits for an extremely low price or free. By signing up with stores I love, I can also get emailed coupons, insider monthly sales, and birthday discounts. The only annoying aspect is that you have to sift through a million promotional emails a day, but it is worth it in the long-run. I save the most money doing this. I was able to replace my molded shoes in a matter of months this way.

Coupon Apps: 

I don’t always use coupon apps, but there are a lot out there. Check out Dave Ramsey’s 16 Best Coupon Apps of 2021 for a full list. I will list below the ones that I personally have used. You can get these apps for IOS and Android.

• Ibotta®

• Shopkick®

• Target®

• RetailMeNot®

• GasBuddy

Paying Over Time: 

This isn’t technically a discount, but stores having layaway options aren’t really a new thing. When I was little, my mom would put Christmas presents on layaway and pay for them over a few months. In recent years, pay over time apps have become popular. This is another way I was able to replenish my wardrobe, accessories, and household items. My absolute favorite is Klarna, and I have also played the long game with this company. Through Klarna®, you not only get to pay off your purchase in four payments but you can also get discounts at many retail stores every month if you buy through their app.  If you make your payments on time every month, you also earn gift cards to shop with. You can also shop in-store with Klarna®. 

Gift cards I have earned from Klarna.

I have also listed below some other apps with pay-over-time options that I have used, and here is an article from Investopedia that lists even more options:

• Zulily

• Afterpay

• PayPal

• Fingerhut

In conclusion, after reading my Grocery Shopping on a Budget blog, I obviously love to shop and I love to find the best deals. I hope that my tips are helpful to you in your future shopping endeavors. I’d love to hear from my readers about where they like to shop. I’d also love to help you get the best discounts on the next shopping trip that you take. Comment below with your favorite store and send me some suggestions if there is a store or app that I haven’t mentioned above that I need to check out. As always, let’s continue the conversation on our Facebook Group.

Grocery Shopping on a Budget

I just want to start off by saying that I am an English teacher and not a math teacher, but I am a shopper and I get that from my mom and Maw Maw who can bargain shop with the best of them. Both women had different views on grocery shopping. My mom liked to go and get everything during one trip to the store, whereas my Maw Maw liked to go weekly and get just what she needed for the week. These are some things I observed while watching my two mentors growing up. Nowadays, I do a little bit of both. As a bargain shopper, you must be able to budget, and that is where the math comes in…I always tell people that I don’t do math unless it involves percentages or statistics and that’s what bargain shopping is all about: the math and science of shopping.

Here are a few simple rules and steps that I follow when I plan to go grocery shopping:

• Ask Essential Questions

• Make That List

• Research

• Favorites First

Ask Essential Questions:

I only get paid once a month, so I have to be strategic in how I stretch out my money. I like to make one big bulk grocery trip for items that I can either freeze or aren’t going to expire soon. Then, as my meal plan allows it, I will shop weekly for perishable ingredients. How do I plan? I have to consider some essential questions such as:

• How much money do I have for groceries this month? This is probably the most important question.

• What is my schedule for the month? I keep my work and life schedule in my Happy Planner®.

• How many days will I need or want to eat out? My coworkers and I eat out at least a few times a month, I eat out at least twice a month with my Modern Musings crew and Jason and I eat out a few times a month when we do our date nights. We switch out on paying.

• What do I want to eat this week/month? I usually keep it simple during the week because I don’t like to eat heavy at work. I cook a big meal at least once a week. For example, this week I am making Keto Chile Relleno Chicken Soup.

• What do I need that I don’t already have? I try to keep a list of things in my pantry and update it often. This process helps with the budgeting process.

Make That List:

After I consider these questions, I write out a list in my “all-purpose notebook” or APN. For those that don’t know, an APN is something I have been carrying around with me since middle school for random ideas and lists. I make a few different kinds of lists. Now, hear me out. You want to maximize your money.

• Wish List: First I make a list of all the things I want or think I need when I go grocery shopping. For example, I have two bags of coffee and I think I may be running low. I put that on the list. I have a few paper plates, so I will also add that to the list.

• Need List: After I write out everything that I think I might need, I consider what I will actually need for the next month and mark them as a “need.” For example, I have cats so I will need to buy a huge bag of cat food.

• Extra List: Everything else that is an extra buy such as coffee or peanut butter (things that are not specifically part of my meal plans), I mark as extra if I have the money to spend on them. On a side note, it is beneficial to keep a running tally of groceries as you put them in your cart and overestimate the amount to avoid surprises.

Research:

When I grocery shop, I am not a “one and done” person because I like to shop around for the best deals that I can find. Luckily, in the area I live in, I have an abundance of shopping options at my fingertips. I grew up in a small town where my family didn’t have that luxury. Once a month, my family would load into the car and drive an hour (or more) away to get our monthly grocery deals. Now, I don’t have to drive more than twenty minutes to my favorite grocery stores. Why do I research? Because I want the best deals for my money and my unique diet, as mentioned in my last blog. I eat low-carb, gluten-free, and mostly dairy-free. When I say mostly dairy-free, I still incorporate some cheese in my diet. Some of my favorite ways to research are:

• Weekly Ads: You can get these ads in few different ways, but most likely you will get the ads of the closest stores in your mailbox each week. If the stores you like to go to are a little bit farther away, you can sign up for the ads online and they will be delivered to your e-mail. Another money-saving tip when you sign up for ads is that you can also get coupons by mail or e-mail.

• Apps: If you are a phone app person, most stores have their own app that you can get ads and coupons directly. You can search and “cut” digital coupons that you can use at the store. Also, you can use the apps to shop for groceries and budget your money.

• Newspapers: If you don’t like apps or digital coupons but still want to look for savings, you can choose to buy a print newspaper or get one delivered. Every Sunday, the major newspapers carry weekly ads and coupons.

Favorites First:

When I am shopping and budgeting, I have a few favorite stores that I like to shop at first for my products. I don’t ever limit myself to one store. Sometimes you can save the most by shopping around. For example, if I am making chicken soup this coming week, I will look at the ads to see which stores have chicken on sale and what quality of chicken they might be offering. In addition to that, there are certain stores where I go for certain things such as the “healthy junk” I mentioned in my previous blog. Here are my favorite stores and why they are my favorites:

Items from the Manager's Special at Sprouts

• Sprouts Farmer’s Market: This is the store that I always go to first when grocery shopping because it’s a small store and I like the quality of their products. Aside from that, as I mentioned in my previous blog, they cater to individuals with special diets. This store also frequently runs “buy one, get one” free sales and “manager specials” on their meats, so it’s my first choice for “healthy junk” such as grainless granola and keto protein bars. I also buy my favorite low-carb, gluten-free bread here.

• WinCo Foods: I first fell in love with this store when I lived in Utah years ago.  They are relatively new to Texas, but now they are popping up all around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  The premise of WinCo Foods has always been a favorite of mine. It is a discount store that is employee-owned. Another plus is that most WinCo stores are 24 hours. They don’t have as big of a selection of certain items that bigger stores such as Walmart have, but the majority of their store brand dry goods you can buy in bulk. This is the store that I go to for most of my regular baking supplies, herbs, and spices. I also buy bulk candy here for gift baskets. You can also buy bulk vegetable bags at this store for large gatherings. This is also a good store to go to for ready-made meals and breakfasts. One thing I should point out if you have never been to WinCo is that they only take cash or debit cards, and you must bag your groceries yourself.

• Kroger: I used to think that Kroger was expensive but my best friend, sister, and fellow MMC Christen introduced me to Kroger’s clearance section. Every Wednesday, Kroger marks down their products that are almost out-of-date. Kroger is also another store that has great weekly-ad deals on meat and frequently offers certain meats as “buy one, get one free.” They also have alternate diet sections in their store in special sections, and they do carry some of the brands I like to buy for my diet. Aside from that, I really enjoy shopping at Kroger’s deli and cheese section. They make in-house charcuterie boards as well.

• Market Street: This is a great store to go to for their weekly ads as well. This store does not have as many special-diet options as Sprouts, but when you catch certain items on sale, your bill will be even cheaper than going to Sprouts. They frequently offer their meat selections as “buy one, get one free” and they have great deals on their store brand items. I especially like to go when protein shakes are on sale.

• Aldi: This store is still a favorite when it comes to discount shopping, and it is probably the cheapest place you can get certain items such as cheese, produce, and eggs. My only problem with Aldi is the fact that they are inconsistent with their items that are not in-store brands, so you never know what you will find when you shop there. However, you can shop at this store on any budget and still feel like you are winning by saving money. Aldi even carries some alternative diet items so anyone can eat healthy on a budget at this store. I typically only buy “extra” items at Aldi.

Other ways to save:

If all of that didn’t blow your mind, here are some other tips I have to save money when I shop:

• Don’t throw away your receipt: Often, receipts have coupons that you can use on your next visit. For example, Sprouts offers a $10 discount on your next visit if you spend over $75.

• Check your product boxes: If you have non-perishable items in your pantry, oftentimes there are coupons on the box. So, don’t throw away boxes without checking first.

• Go to product websites: My mother was a big fan of this concept. She would often go to product websites and download coupons off their websites. She would also go to couponing websites. It takes a lot of work and you have to sift through a lot of e-mails but saving money is worth it in the long run. Also, a lot of websites will allow you to try their products for free.

• Order grocery delivery: This is pretty simple. If you order groceries from delivery apps, you sometimes get discounts especially if you are a first-time buyer. Sometimes you can even get upgraded items if stores run out of your order.

• In-store coupons: if you look at certain products you are buying in-store, you will find coupons on the products. For example, the manager’s special that Sprouts has on their meats (see above).

• Know when to go: As I mentioned before, the best time to go to Kroger is on Wednesday when they do their markdowns. But, when do other stores do markdowns? In short, most other stores also do their markdowns on Wednesday mornings, typically because grocery stores restock their shelves mid-week and it is a low-traffic shopping day, unlike Friday and Saturday.

• Look for sales and discontinued items while in the store: Not all sales and discounts are listed in weekly ads, so sometimes you actually have to go to the store to check out low prices. Almost all stores also have a clearance section if you know where to look.

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong way to shop for groceries and my process may seem a little obsessive-compulsive at first but it is something that has worked well for me over the years. What do you do to save money while grocery shopping? Please let me know in the comments below or continue the conversation on our Facebook group: MMC Chat, and don’t forget to listen to our blog coming out this Wednesday