Please post your favorite bargain/value products

[joha]

Hi all!

I'm back in school full time (and had to quit my job),the program that I need to complete, requires full time enrollment, so our income is cut in half basically.

I'm trimming all the corners so I don't end up with more debt (graduate loans and private loans which have a variable interest, very high in many cases).

Please post the products that you feel are bargain/value priced, and oh, if you have any other advice please (loans, ways to save,where to buy), let me know.

As always your input is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[joha]

Bumping. I really appreciate the input.

Thanks!

 

[grlpwrd]

I'll bite ... Instead of buying bottled cleansers, I go natural. I use baking soda and vinegar for cleansers. I don't buy strong cleansers like 409 too much which cuts costs and is a lot healthier.

I use a baking soda paste with water to clean my oven, sinks, prerinse for dishes, bathtubs, etc. I use vinegar as a rinse for my clothes and with water to wash my floors.

 

[liveforthemagic]

Go to WalMart! When I went part time, I started shopping there rather than Target. While I love TArget stores, I gotta admit the prices at Wal Mart for household supplies and other basic staples are just plain lower. Over the years, I have switched to almost entirely Wal Mart store brand products. Equate is one of their labels--we buy vitamins, beauty products, contact lens solution is WAY cheaper, etc. When you go to the cleaning aisle, always go generic. Once and a while you'll find something you don't like--like the Equate equivalent of Noxema is horrible--but for the most part its all the same and often half of what you pay for name brand stuff.

 

[smiller]

I'm not sure if it counts as "generic," but I do almost all my shopping at Aldi. I, too, have switched to the baking soda/vinegar route for cleaning, if only to symplify all the products you need! Plus, that combo was the ONLY thing that even began to clean up the top of my stove. I also try too just shop in one place because it cuts down on transportation costs and valuable time.

I was quite a fan of the Equate saline solution - do they make a generic multi-purpose solution, too? I'm not near a Wal-Mart but if I'm out by my parents I can stock up!

I'm a grad student, too, so I'm always looking for ways to cut costs!

 

[ilovejack02]

My favorite bargin beauty aid is Oueene Helene Mint clay face mask.... BEST stuff ever and i tend to be a beauty aid snob lol ! Its less than 3.00 for a bottle of it. I heard about it on Makeupalley.com which has reviews of thousands of beauty products!

 

[tracys2cents]

Buy little if anything at the supermarket that isn't ON SALE!

Don't pay $7.99 for detergent, it'll be on sale for $3.99 or $4.99 and that's when you should buy TWO. Switch from TIDE to All or Cheer or something that you can live with that's half the price.

 

[tracys2cents]

And NO MORE LOANS! Make that a cardinal rule! They're almost always bad news!

 

[joha]

Thanks!

This is kind of advice is what I need. Live for the magic, I too like Target, but will try the Equate cleaners (I have tried the Lysol equivalent and I like it).
grlpwdr, I just bought a galon of vinegar, so thanks for the cleaning tips.

I usually buy Era 300ml for 10.99 at BJ's and like the product, I also like Purex, which is cheaper.

Ilovejack02, I love Jack Skellington too! my sister also went to beauty school and she loves Queen Helene mask as well!

Thanks, I hope that others share their tips as well.

Thanks again!

 

[PaulaSue]

Coupons and not buying if not on sale. I don't go to a store and pay full price for much. My total with coupons and sales is less than 50% of the total before all of the above.

 

[tracys2cents]

Oh here's a good tip to remember. EVERY TIME you use the brakes on you're car, you're wasting gas.

When you zOOM past someone, then merge and slam on the breaks when the light turns red, you're wasting all the gas that you used to pick up speed with. It other words, if you move at a steady rate of speed you're losing less gas than when you speed up and brake, speed up and brake.

You'll see what I mean now, if you start thinking about this every time you use your brakes. At a stop sign, you'll be saying to yourself, "wow, i really didn't need to be driving so fast right here........I just used a lot of brakes and wasted a lot of gas!"

 

[jchick]

I shop at Aldi and Wal-Mart for groceries. I do go to a few local grocers, but only with a notecard that I've written the things that I want to get that are such a good deal (look at their sales paper). I also love Dollar General. I buy a lot of cleaning supplies, snacks for the kids, paper products there.

Always look at the grocer's sales ads and plan your menu around that. I just bought 8 lbs of ground beef (.99/lb), 5lbs of baking potatoes for $2, 3/$5 kraft mac n cheese, .99 chicken breast, etc. That's what I'll use to plan my menu. I HATE having to buy something for full price.

I just went to Sears and bought myself 4 shirts, a pair of jean gauchos, a pair of board length shorts, and a skirt for under $55! It was all stuff that I'll still be able to wear in a few months, I can layer the s/s tops, wear knee high boots with the gauchos, etc. I think the same way for my two daughters...I'm buying on the summer clearance racks right now, just bought my daughter a jean mini skirt, she can wear with leggings (back in style!) or tights this winter. Also bought her a dress from Limited Too for $15...we can layer a short jean jacket over it and pair with boots this winter. Think that way and you can make things last much longer than their season.

Don't buy in crazy bulk at the membership clubs (We have SAMs Club). I know the prices of just about everything I normally buy, a lot of the time it's not a better deal there. Sometimes it is...just depends.

Get water to drink when you eat out. I always do this...I need to drink more water anyways!

My sister just bought a bunch of her school books on half.com...try that, she saved over $100...cut her bill in half (no pun intended).

 

[liveforthemagic]

Just got back from my monthly Wal Mart run.

There is an equate non preserved saline solution in a can (which I love!) and there is also an Equate preserved solution in plastic bottle. I can't use the preserved stuff--but DH is going to try it this month. He usually uses Complete--but its almost $8/bottle now. The Equate is less than $3.

Also, our WalMart has tons of summer apparel on sale for every age group.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Match coupons with ads-then stock up. Keep eyes open for beer rebates, usually on displays. In many states, the beer doesn't have to be purchased to get the rebate. There is a $35.00 off produce one out there now, along with 15.00 back on a deli purchase. Every one I have ever mailed came back within a month, and I have never drank a beer!!

Buy an Entertainment book-don't eat out without it. We only eat out with the coupon or kids eat free nights.

If you have a CVS around, get on the deals portion of the families.com boards for tremendous tips. We have $45.00 to spend on anything in the store and it did not cost a dime to get it. Time to load up on Tide and TP this weekend.

Scour clearance racks-open up a credit account or 2, but request a limit of $200.00 to receive discount offers. It's nice when Kohl's has 70% off the markdown price and an additional 15% by having the CC. Macy's and Fashion Bug do the same. Just pay in full before interest is added.

Use gas discounts at Kroger, Wal mart, etc. Drink water while eating out. There are many, many things that can be done to help.

 

[planning06]

Most people don't realize that if you collect coupons, watch sales ads, and combine with other promotions like drug store rebates that you can get name brands much cheaper than generic brands or bulk store prices. There are many health and beauty things that I won't buy if they aren't free. I make money on some deals through sales, coupons, and rebates. The trick is to stock up when the deal is good. I've even gotten a lot of cleaning supplies for free as well as food items for free.

 

[englishteacha]

My DH and I live pretty well on a teacher's (meager!) salary, as he is self employed and doesn't get a regular paycheck like I do. We live in a cozy house, drive paid-for vehicles, and save for things we want. We always look for the best price on things, and I personally enjoy the hunt for a bargain!

Some advice:
Buy on sale, but only things you truly need (or really really really want).
I love White Rain shampoo and conditioner. Every stylist I've ever gone to comments on how beautiful and healthy my hair is. It's only 99¢ a bottle, and sometimes you can find it for less at Big Lots. We live in a rural area-the "big town" is 7,000 people-so our shopping choices are kind of limited. I shop a lot at Save-a-Lot and at Walmart and watch for deals. 90% of what comes in my house is generic. I also shop at the bakery thrift store. I can get good quality bread for less than the cheapy stuff at the grocery store. I use Sun laundry detergent. They have a new concentrated version called Sun Burst that does a really good job and smells nice, and is only $2 for 40 loads at Walmart. I also do a lot of shopping at thrift stores, particularly for clothes.

We eat out often, but we don't go to expensive restaurants. It's only 2-3 times a year a meal out costs more than $20. And, yes, you can make healthy choices at fast food places! We go to the movies quite often but we go to $3.50 matinees, and we have a discount card to the movie rental place.

Now that you're back in school you might be able to get some student discounts on insurance. Keep your student ID with you whenever you go somewhere as you might be able to get a discount at restaurants or movies, etc. for being a student.

You just have to know where your money is going. Give every dollar a name, as Dave Ramsey says!

 

[bevtoy]

Has anyone else tried using a teaspoon of dish detergent instead of expensive laundry detergent? Its a great stain lifter for laundry too.

 

[michvin]

We only buy organic milk and OJ (only for the am breakfast for kids). Water is really good for you and people spend loads of money on 'drinks' when water is very, very inexpensive. We have the fridge filtered water. You may surprised how much money you save.

 

[tracys2cents]

Hey English Teach....a friend of mine (from Waterville Me! ) told me that sometimes she is able to get "government rate" on hotel rooms by telling them that she has a teachers i.D. I guess it says State of maine on the I.d. or something. She's gotten rooms for as much as half price in some places!

 

[englishteacha]

I'd never thought of that...technically I work for the town, and have ID for the school and my union card...I might have to ask! I'm only 45 minutes from Waterville. Good bargain shopping there!