My 10 Commandments For Free and Cheap Stuff
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As a frugal shopper and semi-extreme couponer for at least five years, I’ve come up with what I call my 10 commandments of free and deal shopping. These are concepts that I’ve come to learn the hard way – meaning – I’ve gotten stuck in some way with each and every one of them.
I certainly shop much differently than I did five years ago, and this Living Well and Spending Zero Challenge has been a great way of putting all things money back into a healthy perspective again.
Whether you are new to shopping frugally, thinking about maintaining a different way of spending, someone who has been using coupons and shopping sales for awhile, or an old pro at it like me, there are things here that you will either learn or completely agree with!
Without further delay, here are my 10 commandments of deal and free shopping!
1. Discount sites, like Groupon, are not always filled with good deals
The price tag may not really be all that special, there is almost always fine print that can be limiting in some way, and we can often buy things that we weren’t really thinking about buying. These are among the reasons that I think sites like this should be used with caution. Just do your research into the pricing beforehand and always, always, always read the fine print so you aren’t caught off guard when you discover it later on.
2. Deal sites and coupon match-up sites should also be used with caution
Just like with the discount sites, we can end up buying something we wouldn’t normally have bought just because we saw a good deal on it. After browsing these sites several times a day, every day, for many years of my life, I can say that it is easy to get caught up in “shopping syndrome.” We can become serial shoppers without ever intending to.
3. Don’t let a deal, no matter how good, create a sense of urgency in you
Often this sense of urgency turns us into impulse shoppers. Impulse shoppers can buy some crazy things at times…not that I would know anything about that 😉 It is always a good idea to sleep on it before you make a purchase. Keep in mind, I am not perfect here either. Just last month I nearly bought a new purse, which I don’t need, because it was on clearance at the Vera Bradley outlet. It was a steal of a deal, but I literally walked away saying that if I still wanted it the next day, I would go back and get it. Guess what? I didn’t want it the next day, at least I didn’t want it bad enough to part with the money to buy it.
4. Not all deals are a good deal for all people
What is a good deal for you may not be a good deal for me and vice versa. We are all so different with lives that contain different variables. Don’t assume that if someone tells you about a good deal they found that it is something that you should jump all over, too. Do your homework first.
5. Free stuff can often become clutter
We I can get so caught up in the thrill of free stuff that I don’t think about the fact that I will have to do something with all that free stuff. After all, there are only so many big bottles of mouthwash one can store! Don’t forget about having to find a place for all that stuff. If we remember to look at free stuff in this light, we may chose to walk away from something at times. Also, be sure to not be a shelf-clearer with free stuff. You can read more about that in Coupon Etiquette.
6. Internet shopping is very, very painless
Ask me how I know about this one. I hate the art of shopping – the going to the store sort of shopping. This is why Internet shopping is so great for me…at least sometimes.
7. Buying a lot of inexpensive items can add up to a big price tag
Even a trip to the dollar store can wind up getting out of hand. It is amazing how fast all the little things seem to multiply. Little things here and little things there can get very expensive.
8. Sometimes things are not what they seem
This is especially true with online shopping. We can buy something that we think will be great for us or someone we love, only to find that it really isn’t. Sometimes an item can be the wrong color or the wrong cut or size, but perhaps it’s because we didn’t really put too much time into investigating it thoroughly. Of course things can be returned, sometimes, but even returning something is rarely easy.
9. Free shipping is a great marketing plan, but it often isn’t a good spending plan
Higher thresholds like $50, $75 or even $100 at times can make us buy extras in order to qualify for free shipping. Without giving it much thought, we have spent an extra $50 or more in an effort to be frugal by not paying for shipping. Sometimes, spending the extra money for shipping will be cheaper since we aren’t padding our cart with extras. Don’t fall into the free shipping marketing ploy. Of course you can choose to walk into it, but falling into it isn’t really a smart way to shop.
10 There will always be another good deal
In fact, someone on my Periscope broadcast on this topic said that she either read or heard somewhere that for every one deal, there will be two more to take its place. I can wholeheartedly agree with that. There will always be more than enough good deals to jump at when the time is right.
There are all kinds of great and even free deals to be had, but not all deals are the same, and not all deals are what we think they are. We all work incredibly hard for our money. My 10 commandments are just a few things to keep in mind since they just might keep a bit more money in your pocket!
