(BPT) — As summer winds down, many are heading into a busy buying season with Labor Day soirees and preparing for back-to-school. With the typical family expected to spend an average of $634.78 on back-to-school shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation, consumers are seeking cost saving strategies to ensure they are getting the most bang for the buck, and allowing them to save money for bigger things, like buying a house.
With more access to information thanks to online resources and smartphones, the power is in purchasers’ hands. Other ways people are cashing in on the savings is going back to the tried and true — bulk shopping.
Expert couponer, Kelly Snyder, of Kansas City, says volume buying and storing goods correctly has made a positive impact on her family’s finances. However, one important thing to keep in mind is what to do with all those purchases.
Snyder along with fellow top savings bloggers Briana Carter, of Bargain Briana, and Lauren Ortiz of Saving Addiction, offer their top tips to help shoppers best navigate through the sea of savings.
Don’t bypass a budget. Know how much you’ve spent in order to see your savings. By keeping a monthly budget, you’ll never pay too much.
Don’t create a storage war. Being organized will help keep track of what you have and prevent wasting food or needless purchases. For perishables, dedicate one shelf each in your refrigerator for beverages, produce and leftovers.
Get rewarded for loyalty. Join loyalty programs of establishments you frequent the most. Eventually your purchasing power will return major perks. For example, Shop Your Way, a free membership and shopping community, allows Kmart and Sears customers to earn points for their purchases to redeem online or in store.
Tracking gets you a treat. Create a price book to record costs for items over a six-week period. Make a purchase only when prices hit their low.
Increase your buying IQ with a smartphone. Download money-saving and grocery coupon apps like SavingStar and Coupons.com.
Remember coupons are king. While many still enjoy clipping paper coupons, downloadable eCoupons are more popular than ever. Sears is the first retailer to offer eCoupons that are redeemable in-store, online and from a mobile device. In addition, they are redeemable both in-store and online.
Go generic or store brands. It’s always better to go with a store brand if you don’t have a coupon for a name-brand item. While these versions are cheaper, they often offer similar quality.
Serve what’s on sale. Buying sale items in bulk allows you to pre-cook meals in one day to be served over the week. A great kitchen helper to get this job done quickly would be a double oven such as the ones offered from Kenmore Double Oven Range.
For more money-saving opportunities and ways appliances help get the best return for the money, visit ShopYourWay.com, Kenmore.com and Cookmore.com.
