“ He that does not ask will never get a bargain”
French Proverb
We love a good bargain. I am yet to meet someone who insists on purchasing full price when they have the opportunity to get a discount! When you make a purchase it definitely feels good to get good value for less.
I like a good discount and usually try as much as possible to hunt for bargains. I want to share some bargain hunting hacks, to help you stretch your shilling as much as possible;
1) Buy in bulk;
Whether it is household consumables, meats, and groceries, always buy in bulk.
Buying your consumables from wholesale shops will save you 20% –30% of the full price on the items sold in the supermarket. Obviously, corner- shops and kiosks, should be avoided at all costs.
Cereals and other non-perishable foods can be bought from cereal shops. This will save you quite a bit.
When buying animal meat, it is much cheaper to buy them directly from the abattoirs, Also, at the butchery meat will be much cheaper than in the supermarkets.
Supermarkets have marked up prices, because of the convenience of shopping under one roof.
Visit the grocery market during market day and you will relish in variety of bargains.
The good thing is you don’t need to own a fridge, as you can preserve the meats through traditional methods of smoking and curing using salt.
The groceries can last longer when kept in generally cool temperature or when you cut them up, store them in sealed containers.
2) Utilize Loyalty Points;
Loyalty points are a reward system brands reward their customers for using their goods and services.
Signing up for loyalty programs makes sense especially if it’s for services that are already needed and consumed.
Some loyalty programs include;
i) Credit and Debit Cards;
Banks award loyalty points when you swipe your debit or credit cards, you can use the points to purchase air tickets, get upgrades or even convert them to cash. Find out what your bank offers so you don’t leave money on the table.
iI) In-Store Loyalty card;
Supermarkets have mastered this so well and are big on giving points , for purchases made.
iII) Phone company points;
These are points earned for subscribing to a particular telecom service provider.
The points can be widely used, especially in paying for utilities or the purchase of phones.
3) Buy at annual clearance sales;
Nowadays, many stores have annual clearance sales. This is usual, when they want to quickly dispose of the old stock to give room for the new.
The sales could be on big-ticket items such as furniture and fixtures e.g., cabinets, tiles and sanitary ware, to seasonal items such as clothes and cookware.
While annual sales are a great way to get bargains, you should confirm that the sale is actually at a discount.
What I usually do, especially on the expensive items, I have been eyeing, is to visit the stores and check the prices at least two months before the sale.
The sales are usually held around the same time each year so it is easy to plan and check.
4) Do- it- yourself (DIY) projects;
As the name suggests, as much as possible instead of outsourcing a job, learn the skill and do it yourself.
Now, my suggestion is not that you spend all your time being a jack of all trades.
However, there are things such as minor repairs and upgrades, around the house that you can easily do with the help of youtube videos.
This will obviously save you some money as you won’t have to call the plumber or carpenter each time your equipment breaks down.
Also, if you don’t have all the money for an upgrade, you can easily do it piecemeal yourself, without retaining someone else’s services.
I like DIY projects because I know of people who have developed and grown a side hustle, just by nurturing a DIY skill.
5) Purchase Second hand;
There is a great saving in getting gently used items. We do it all the time when buying cars and think nothing of it.
However, making a habit of buying second-hand items can reduce your cost of living.
From books to clothes to furniture, if you have time to look through thrift shops and flea markets you will get some good bargains.
The trick is to take your time in browsing and shopping. Also, be ready to bargain
Rarely are the prices quoted in second-hand shops, fixed. There is always an opportunity to bargain further.
Bargaining is an art form and a science that is perfected with time, so be sure to exercise this muscle any chance you get.
It is also important when you are purchasing online to be extra careful not to be too trusting as you could end up losing your money.
Wherever you are, there is always an opportunity for a discount and making a saving, you just have to find it. Let your money work for you, don’t leave it on the table!