The following is a guest post from Whitney of Lazy Life With Littles:
No time to clip coupons? No problem!
I love coupons, but there are so many easy ways to save money nowadays without spending hours going through newspapers, only to find three or four coupons relevant to you and your family’s needs.
Below you’ll find a roundup of different ideas from my arsenal that you can use to save money on things like groceries, clothing, restaurants, and daily essentials.
1. Download the Coupons.com app
I’m sure you all have heard about this website before, but (if you didn't already know) it now has an app! No printing necessary!
Just go here to download the app. Search for the stores you shop (like Walmart or Target) and link your loyalty card. Load some coupons to your card and just scan it at check out. Your coupons will be applied to your transaction. That simple!
2. Never underestimate the power of Dollar Tree
I go to the Dollar Tree about every week — sometimes more!
There are so many great deals you can score at Dollar Tree. They have a good selection of frozen fruit (great for smoothies), plain quick oats, and snacks for the kids (raisins, peanuts, pretzels). Sometimes if you’re lucky, they even have name brand items, such as Nature’s Own bread or Juicy Juice juice boxes.
Other good buys from Dollar Tree include: beauty and hygiene products (makeup, cotton balls, deodorant), craft supplies, party supplies, and medicine. Look around, though. Sometimes they have hidden gems throughout the store that you never even knew you needed. 😉
3. Check out Groupon
Groupon is great for getaways, but I enjoy it mostly for the local deals. If your family likes to eat out often, check out Groupon for new restaurants to try at a discounted price.
There are also great deals on family fun like miniature golf, bowling, and museums. I’ve tried and enjoyed some new outings that I might not have otherwise done because I came across a good deal on Groupon (new restaurants, a winery tour, mystery dinner).
4. Shop Aldi
If you haven’t made the switch over to Aldi yet, I highly recommend you do so. Aldi has come a long way from what it used to be. I shop Aldi for most of my groceries each week, in addition to another store (usually Kroger) for the rest.
Aldi's products are now made without the use of trans fats, added MSG, or synthetic colors. They also have a decent amount of organic options, and even some gluten free products! Their produce usually always has the best prices in my area in comparison to other grocery stores.
Aldi also has a line of baby products, and kitchen & bathroom essentials. I use the diapers for my little one and they seem to work just as well as the big name brands. Same goes for their garbage bags and toilet paper. And speaking of toilet paper, Aldi's 4-pack of TP is only 0.59 cents!
Note: Since shoppers do bag their own groceries at Aldi, I suggest investing in durable, reusable bags.
5. Go to garage sales and thrift stores
I LOVE garage sales!
Garage sales are by far the lowest priced place to find clothes, especially baby clothes. You can find many pieces that look brand new, but for a fraction of the original price. I’ve seen baby clothes for 0.25¢ to 0.50¢ per item!
Even if you’re not in the market for clothing, you can find virtually anything else at garage sales: house decor, baby items, furniture, plates and dishes, knick knacks, shoes, etc. etc. etc. All at a very affordable price!
If it's not garage sale weather, check out your local thrift store. The prices may not be as low as those found at garage sales, but they probably come close. Some thrift stores even have deals for the week (example: a specific colored tag is half off), so be aware of those, too.
6. Don't forget Big Lots
This discount retail store is one that I love to frequent. They sell pretty much everything: furniture, toys, hygiene products, electronics. My favorite buys are the foods, though. They have a great selection of minimally processed, packaged products (great for on-the-go snacks for kids).
Examples of things I have personally bought from Big Lots include: Annie’s products, individual fruit and applesauce cups, protein and granola bars, Kashi cereal, almond milk, coconut water, jams, and dried fruit. They even discount items further if the sell by date is approaching. I recently bought a box of KIND breakfast bars for $1.25, and a few bags of granola for 0.25 cents each!
And there you have it — a few simple things that I do (and you can, too!) to save a little money on a day-to-day basics.
What are your tips to save on daily life?
Whitney is the lazy guru at Lazy Life With Littles. She is a wife, mother, blogger, and lover of simplicity. She believes in doing everything in life the easiest way possible.
photo source
Harris Teeter
