Everyone in America is very much aware of the current state of the economy. Unemployment is taking its toll on many people across the nation. This has increased the number of wise shoppers, those looking to get the biggest bang for the smallest buck. If you want to become one of those wise shoppers, then read the following secrets to thrifty shopping.

Prepare a List It may seem like an old way of doing things but there is power in the shopping list. When you take stock of what you need around the house before you go shopping, you cut out the danger of impulse buys. Impulse buys are those things you do not really need but you get anyway because they look cute, handy or convenient. Most of the time they will be placed at the checkout counter or on end caps. If you ever wonder where all the money is going just open your junk drawer and look at last week’s must-have-impulse purchase. Make a concise list of everything you need or staple goods you are low on. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to the list like glue.

Comparison Shopping Were you aware that many stores will honor comparison ads from their competitors? Wal-Mart agrees to honor comp ads from any store within a 30-mile radius of their store. The only restrictions on this are buy one get one free and percentage off sales. Everything else is fair game. Therefore, while you are making your list you might want to look at the grocery ads from your local paper and get the best deal available. You will probably want to take the ad with you to the store in case the associate needs to verify pricing.

Look for Coupons Many people look down on the use of coupons, but even the rich use them; nevertheless, using coupons can help you save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill. No one would refuse a twenty dollar bill if offered it, so don’t refuse to use coupons.

Buying in Bulk Buying in bulk, or family sized items, can be beneficial and help you save money. However, in some instances, it isn’t necessary. For example, buying 4 loaves of bread at a time may not be a good idea if you are single. Also, you should always compare the price of the family size to the price of the regular size. You may need to use a calculator to compare the price per ounce or pound.

Shop with ShopNBC.com ShopNBC.com is one of the best-hidden jewels on the internet. The website offers a plethora of deals on every kind of product imaginable, and many of these deals cannot be found anywhere else. They offer special prices on Egyptian cotton sheets, which would ordinarily be ridiculously expensive in any other retail store.

Auctions The online auction craze swept the country a few years ago and made the creators of eBay quite wealthy. The buzz has died down somewhat but that does not mean it is a bad choice for shopping deals. You can even find household goods like bulk toilet paper on sale for much less than your local retailer, however watch shipping charges they can quickly add up and negate any savings.

Big Ticket Items Take a bit of time when purchasing big ticket items. It is very easy to take extra money you earn and purchase thing like furniture or electronics or jewelry. It’s a good idea to keep a small list of the things that you want or would like to have in the near future. Take magazine and cut out pictures of those things and comparison shop. However, let several months pass before making your purchase. Often times you will find that you really don’t want the item as bad as you thought.

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