Four Easy Tips to Save Money While Shopping

1. Create a new email address. 

Most stores now ask for your email address when you checkout or offer a discount if you sign up to receive company emails. But, weekly (or even daily) emails can end up costing you more money, as it makes it harder to resist the temptation to spend when you see an ad in your Inbox. Instead of giving stores your regular email address, create an email account to be used solely for online shopping. This will make it easier to exercise self-control and will also keep your inbox free from emails you don’t want to label as spam.

2. Shop with a “coupon” app. 

Before making a purchase, check RetailMeNot or Rakuten to see if there’s a coupon available, or the possibility of getting cash back on your purchase. Apps are also useful for stores such as Target, which offer store-specific coupons only available via their Circle program. A few examples of websites are:

● SavingStar.com – This app can help you save money on groceries.

● Coupons.com – Offers an app where you can link coupons to your grocery store’s loyalty card.

● CouponCabin.com – They have a blog which features money-saving tips.

● Groupon.com – Find discounts on everything from local restaurants to spa treatments or vacations.

4. Sleep on it. 

At the end of the day, if you’re unsure about a purchase, hold off a day or two. Ask yourself, “Would I buy this if it weren’t on sale?” It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of “This item is 70% off, but only for the next hour only!” This is a sales tactic, so if it isn’t something you’ve been planning to purchase, step away from the laptop (or leave the store), sleep on it, and see if you’re still thinking about it tomorrow. Saving money with coupons can feel rewarding, but if you get caught up in trying to snag that time-sensitive deal, you could end up spending more money in the long run.