How to do Your Every Day Shopping and Get the Best Deals

I have always considered myself to be frugal - cheap, and with the way the economy has been lately, I find myself more and more concerned with getting the best deals as I shop. Since I have been the primary shopper in my household for many years, I have come to some very helpful conclusions on how I can guarantee myself almost 100% that I will be paying the lowest prices.

First and foremost, while I'm home I check the weekly advertisements, to see what's on sale in a store(s) I can go to and hopefully also have a coupon for that item. As I do that, I also compare prices between the ads.

If there is something I need that is not in an advertisement, I have stores in order of preference of where I shop.

1. I go to a .99 Only Store to see if they have what I need. Every item in the store is $0.99 and some items are 2 for $0.99. You will never find an item priced over $0.99 in this store. They have a large food selection, even a frozen food department. I have found computer games, DVDs, backpacks, duffle bags and holiday socks in this store and of course they only cost $0.99 each. Their inventory changes daily, so it's always fun to browse through the store and to revisit it often.

2. I go to the Dollar Tree to see if they have what I need. Every item in this store is $1.00 and never above. Some items are 2 for $1.00. I must admit this is my favorite dollar store, even better than the .99 Only Store. Their items are of very high quality, clean and neat. Many times I will see an item in here with a price tag of over $10.00, but of course it only costs $1.00. I have bought high quality ITouch cases, camera cases, statues, pictures frames and photo albums here for only $1.00 each. They have the nicest greeting cards for every occasion and they are only 2 for $1.00, or $0.50 each. I love their school supplies and toy products. I always shop here for my holiday decorations and I buy holiday socks here too. All of their leftover holiday items are half price - only $0.50, after the holiday. I buy most of my paper products here such as Reynold's aluminum foil, styrofoam cups and napkins. They sell individual 20 oz. bottles of soda here for $1.00 that are now up to $1.39 in other stores. They have a food section, but not for frozen food. I often buy spices here for only $1.00 per bottle. Their inventory changes daily, so it's always fun to browse through the store and to revisit it often.

Don't confuse the above stores with a store like Dollar General. In Dollar General their items are priced in denominations of $1.00, so they do sell items that cost $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00....

3. When I know that the .99 Only Store and the Dollar Tree do not have what I need, I go to Big Lots. Big Lots sells small and large items including household items and appliances. Some Big Lots' stores also sell large pieces of furniture such as mattresses, bookcases, couches, etc. It's always fun to walk around in Big Lots to see what they have. They also sell perfume, health and beauty items, food, school and craft supplies, toys, clothing for the entire family, baby items, outdoor furniture and supplies, grills, DVDs, computer games, electronics and lots more. Their inventory changes daily, so it's fun to revisit the store often. Every time you go to Big Lots always browse through their clearance sections to see if they have what you need there.

4. After shopping in all of the above stores, I go to Wal-Mart. As I said, I have compared prices many times and for products that aren't on sale in other stores, Wal-Mart has the best prices. Most Wal-Mart stores are now expanding their food department, including frozen food which is great. For those every day health and beauty items such as makeup, shampoo, soap, etc. buy them in Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has a home department, an auto department, a garden department and all the other common departments. If you like to just shop in one store rather than go in-and-out of several stores, choose Wal-Mart. As you shop in Wal-Mart, always keep an eye out for their clearance sections in each department. They are usually in a small area down an aisle, or on an end-of-aisle display. Clothes on clearance are usually hanging on a clothes rack in each department, with a large sign of their price, or price range on top of the rack.

As you frequent these stores you will familiarize yourself with their prices and their inventory so you won't have to check to see if they have what you need each time you go out. You'll remember in advance.

5. As you frequent all the other stores you shop in, always look in their clearance sections. For me, Walgreens always as the best clearance sections with the best prices. I usually think ahead and often do my holiday shopping in these sections, especially for children. While you're at the clearance sections in all stores, it's always good to think ahead about that gift you have to give. Walgreens likes to change their inventory regularly and they lower the prices on older items and items that haven't sold, or haven't sold fast enough. They add items to their clearance sections constantly, so always browse through them every time you go into a Walgreens store.

6. After a holiday, every store will have their leftover holiday items on sale. Most stores have them 50% off for the first week, 75% off for the second week and sometimes 90% off shortly afterwards. I have enough Christmas wrapping paper, Christmas cards, gift tags, etc. to last me for at least the next 10 Christmases.