Driving from store to store for the best deal takes time, energy and research. With gas prices on the rise, you might be tempted to stick with one stop shopping. DON'T DO IT!
Shopping Around to Save Money
The difference in a mile could mean the treat of a pizza night for your family or an opportunity to save towards bigger goals like vacations and home repairs. I love to tell the story about standing at the check out counter at a local grocery store with a bag of fresh cherries. Those cherries rang up to $11.34 — at which I appropriately coiled back, bared my mommy fangs and said, "Oh no you don't. Please take those off the bill."
I carted my butt over to the produce market only a mile away where, for $13, I got the same amount of fresh cherries, plus blueberries, plus blackberries, plus a huge bag of bananas, plus grapes. It just doesn't make sense even in the best of times not to take advantage of such bargains, just ripe for the picking.
There are many hidden resources in your community. Here ten steps to identifying ways to save money in your town.
1. TAKE A DRIVE AROUND TOWN: Start with what you can see. Are there product markets, butcher shops, etc. that give better deals than the local grocery store?
2. SPREAD OUT. Next check outside your town, within a reasonable drive. There may be small farms or discount shops worth the effort.
3. COMPARISON SHOP on COMMON PURCHASES. Know your options. I have been talking mainly about food, but the same goes for gymnastics classes, sports gear, and anything you need to spend money on.
4. ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS FOR SUGGESTIONS. Pick up the phone today and make a new friend. Neighbors are not only good for moral support but some of them have been around longer and can give advice on where they pick up the best deals and sales. If you are the old-timer, perhaps someone can use what you know.
5. NEIGHBOR EXCHANGES and SWAPS. Now that you know your neighbors, develop relationships to swap childcare, etc. rather than pay the growing babysitting fees. (NOTE: I have nothing against young entrepreneurs but it has become more expensive to pay for the babysitter than the whole date night.)
6. COMBINE FUNDS to SPLIT PURCHASES. Split your costs with others. Go in with a friend to split a large purchase at the produce market where portions almost always outweigh what you can eat before it goes bad. Another friend told me about combining funds with neighbors to pay a window washer to come wash everyone's windows. In my neighborhood, those of us on the field side pool our money to get someone to cut the closest part of the field to reduce the number of ticks and bugs we already fight.
7. KNOW YOUR DISCOUNT OUTLETS. Save significantly by shopping the best deals first. For some people, wearing the infamous OPC (Other People's Clothes) brand is just nasty. I have always enjoyed the freedom handy-me-downs gave us to spend my funds on a few nice things around our "get dirty" clothes. WELL, my kids have outgrown being given things and so we decided to venture into a large Goodwill just to see what it had to offer. I found Land's End, Old Navy, Gap, and just about anything I would find shopping in the mall except that these had no tags and there is a degree of wear JUST LIKE HANDY-ME-DOWNS but at a fraction of the price of going to the mall. It is worth at least looking — so get over yourself.
8. DON'T PAY FOR THINGS YOU CAN GET FREE: LIBRARY, LIBRARY, LIBRARY. Don't buy books that you will never read again. If you have a library network like we do, you can order them and they will come in a day or two. YOU CAN WAIT. The libraries near us also offer movies at half the price of the movie stores. The library also has a number of freebie community mags that share coming events, advertise area stores, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Return the books and movies before they are overdue. Don't wreck a great deal by racking up library fines.
9. FIND THE BEST OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES. Make a date to explore. You don't have to pay a mint for swimming and skiing just to keep your kids active. Find a local creek or lake. Know the best sledding hill when winter comes.
10. CHECK OUT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS for FREE PROGRAM. Know your family friendly outlets. From discounted programs at the YMCA to chicken dinners at the firehall, there are many great programs that people are already creating to pool resources and get to know each other. I teach a couple pre-school classes at the YMCA and get my membership for free and my children's programs' discounted. It helps to knock that $80/month off and gives us a huge outlet for exercise, fitness and summer fun.
Additionally, area churches are a great resource for inspiration, wholesome activities and spiritual fulfillment. Like any other resource, even churches need the appropriate amount of research to find the right fit for you and your family. Meet with the local leaders. Know what they believe and don't!
Check out my previous post on 10 Steps to Finding Hidden Resources in Your Home and stay tuned for more hidden resource searches. . . online, in the world, etc.
Sarah Peppel is a freelance writer, mother of two preteen girls, a wonderful husband and insane little beagle. She is co-writing a budgeting workbook for single moms at the pregnancy center where she volunteers. Take a peek into her crazy world over at Genesis Moments. She also contributes frugal beauty tips and reviews at Chic Critique.
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Those were great ideas, especially about asking neighbors or friends to share in the produce buying and dividing. Thanks for the advice.