Not Cheap, Just Frugal

I do not consider myself cheap, but I am frugal.  I combine store sales, paper or online coupons and money back apps to save as much money as I can on items we use regularly.  I stock up on items that we use a lot when there good sales, but things go on sale somewhat regularly so you really don’t have to buy too much at one time.  I have limited storage space so I try to only buy enough to last us until the next sale comes along.

It takes good organization to not only store these extra items, but to be able to find them when we need them.  I try to only buy items that we will actually use.  I used to buy sale items just because they were cheap, then we ended up throwing them away because we didn’t like them.  It doesn’t save money if I buy items that we don’t use or can’t use before they expire.  They also take up space that could be used for other items that we will use.  I now consider this excess stuff as clutter.  Just because it is cheap doesn’t mean I need to buy it and bring it home.  I still look through the clearance sections but I try to make sure it is something that we actually need and will use before I put it in my cart.

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Some items do not go on sale very often, so when they do, it makes sense to stock up.  Velvetta is one item that we really like, but the price has went up dramatically in the few years.  I try to never have to buy it at the regular price and have stopped using it as much in my cooking because of the price jump.  If I find a good deal, I will buy 2 or 3 boxes every time because there are some dishes that we really don’t like without the Velveeta  Some items go on sale seasonally, butter is usually the cheapest around Easter, BBQ sauce is on sale most the most in the summer, and baking items flood the sales for Thanksgiving and Christmas which is considered the baking season.  Paying attention to how often sales come around will help you plan how much of something to buy when it is on sale.

Another thing to know is how much something costs at non-sale price at the cheapest store you shop at regularly.   If I know that I can buy biscuits at Store A for $1.25 everyday, then when I see them for $1, I will only buy enough to get through a week or two because I know I can buy them for $1.25 anytime.  If they were usually $2 everyday, then I might buy more at the $1 price because it is a better deal.  If there is a good sale on a perishable item that can’t be frozen, then I think how I can use it in multiple meals.  That helps me decide how much to buy.  I don’t do a lot of meal planning, so it is usually pretty easy for me to work these items into our meals.  If I don’t think we will be able to use them before they go bad, then I just wait until next time.

I probably save the most money on shampoo, deodorant, and laundry detergent.  These are items that I rarely, if every buy at full price.  The sales on these type of items come around often enough that I am able to keep a good stock up amount on hand so we don’t run out.  My family is somewhat particular with the brands that we like, so I wait until the ones we like are on sale, have a good coupon, or money back offer (sometimes all three) before I stock up.  I pass up some really cheap items, because I have learned through personal experience that it isn’t a good deal if we don’t use it, or have to use more to get a good result.  When I am shopping I try to remember, if the money stays in my wallet or bank account, I am saving money.

To see more ways that I save money, check out my Savings page.  Are you frugal?  Have any tips for saving money?  Add them in the comments below.

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