Because so many of our expenses are fixed (like rent, electricity and water), one of the easiest areas to save money is in day-to-day shopping. Here’s a look at some great online articles that offer suggestions for ways to save serious money in ordinary shopping situations.

Store-Specific Tips

This ConsumerReports.org article outlines strategies for saving money at specific chain stores. One of the article’s main points is that there are serious savings in the world beyond big-name discounters like Target and Wal-Mart.

Here are some highlights:

Costco & Sam’s Club: These membership-required stores both offer higher-than-ordinary membership levels. If you already spend significantly at either venue, an upgrade may be worth the ramped-up savings you can get on regular trips.
• Kohl’s: Again, if you’re spending significantly here, you can get serious cash-back benefits. Check out the store’s website for some of its money-saving strategies.
• Kmart: This store uses a rewards program called “Shop Your Way,” which gives you one percent back on your purchases. Plus, if you’re out of work, you can apply on the store’s web site for a special savings card that cuts 20 percent off the price of more than a thousand goods.

Outlet Mall Scams

This article Consumerist.com highlights the potential for wasting money at outlet stores, which often seem deceptively bargain-friendly. The problem, according to the article, is this:

• Years ago, when clothes and other goods were more often produced in the United States, “factory outlets” were located in actual factories and offered great prices on slightly damaged or irregular goods that were otherwise great.
• Today, many of the consumer goods we buy from outlet malls are produced overseas; the “factory” part of the outlet has disappeared.
• Because of the popularity outlet stores have gained in recent years, it seems many manufacturers are making outlet-specific goods that are intentionally of a lower quality than their “regular” items.

What all this means is that what may seem like a terrific bargain is actually a fair price for a less-than-stellar piece of merchandise. So, if you’re shopping outlet malls, keep in mind that you aren’t guaranteed a bargain&38212;you still have to do that work yourself.

On Accepting Used Items

This last article deals with some of the tricky parts of the budget-friendly strategy of opting for second-hand goods. If you’ve been offered other people’s castoffs, keep these questions in mind:

• Can you keep them? Some people want their stuff back when you’re done with it, so make sure you know others’ expectations from the beginning.
• Do you need it? Before blinding accepting other people’s goods, figure out what you need and what you don’t—otherwise, you might end up with a lot of unwanted things cluttering your home.
• What comes next? When you’re finished with whatever the items are, are you expected to donate them, sell them or toss them? Make sure you have an idea of your responsibility so you don’t upset anyone by accident.

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