20 Ways to Pinch a Penny – Part II

Here are 20 ways to pinch a penny – Part II:

8.  Clearance:  Be willing to take the time to scan clearance isles or endcaps at stores.  You never know what treasure you will find.  One time at Bed, Bath & Beyond, I found a half set of dishes that matched the set I already had.  I came home with more mugs and plates at a fraction of the cost of the original price.  I also found a broken picture frame clock.  I took off the broken clock parts, and still had a very cute picture frame that cost about $3, compared to $24!

9.  Shop for gift items all year round!  Whenever I see a deal that looks great, I always think if I can use it as a birthday or Christmas present.  I seriously shop for Christmas and birthdays all year round, and usually have gifts months in advance.  I’ve had my daughter’s birthday presents for months, and have some ready to go for Christmas as well!  The last 2 years I’ve spent $100 or less on Christmas – mostly because of the gift cards I hang on to from Swagbucks.  I also have used Groupon credits, or used gift cards I’ve won from giveaways on other blogs to achieve that goal.  This saves from having to pay full price, last minute, right before the holiday.

10.  Be a member of Swagbucks!  I do a search daily, and with referral  from a few other loyal Swagbuck searchers – it pays for the majority of our Christmas every year.

11.  Do-It-Youself!  I’m sure everyone is aware that it’s always cheaper to do something yourself, than to pay for someone else to do it.  You do have to consider the time trade-off as well.  But if you are handy, and the time investment is worth the money savings, then complete projects yourself!

12.  Get creative – think outside of the box.  Use your freebies for things you may not normally use them for.  That’s why I started my Crafting From Your Stockpile series!

13.  Buy in bulk and split with a friend.  If you’ve avoided stockpiling, or buying in bulk because your family won’t use that product before it expires, then consider teaming up with a friend and split the costs in half for even more savings!

14.  Buy produce in season or grow your own.  We all know buying produce in season makes for a cheaper price.  In fact had a beautiful morning this morning,  picking strawberries at a local farm (for a much cheaper price than what I’d get at Wegmans.)

Also, start your own garden!  Even if you don’t have a large yard for a garden, there is a free Kindle eBook available today for Vertical Gardening – Bountiful Results in Small Spaces.

Stay tuned for the rest of my 20 ways to pinch a penny!

(click over here to read part I)