Alright. I’ll admit it-I’m a sucker for a bargain. And over the last decade, as we’ve struggled with adding dogs, kids, and a home as complications to our life, the skill of penny pinching has been invaluable. Below are my top ten tips and cardinal rules for saving a buck in several major categories like clothing, groceries, toys and baby gear.

1: DON’T BUY IT JUST BECAUSE IT’S ON SALE
I’ve seen SO many people drawn in by what appears to be a great bargain. They purchase something they’ll never use and it sits in a corner, collecting dust. Take my word for it people- this is how hoarders are born. Unless you’d like to become a cautionary tale on reality TV, always have a list or at the very least an idea of what you need before you go shopping or bargain hunting. An example- don’t just go out shopping for “work clothes.” Inventory your closet, decide what you really wear or could make better use out of, what should be donated or thrown out and what you really need. Then go out to the stores armed with an itemized list of what you need and how many. You’ll be less likely to get sucked into the sales rack and buy that really cute sweater only to realize when you get home that it looks exactly like three other sweaters you own.

2: INVEST IN MULTI TASKERS
This applies in SO many areas, but specifically to kitchen tools, baby gear, and clothing. Think about what you absolutely need to purchase and what you might be able to utilize that you already have or find a creative, recycled solution. A great example is a changing table. I have no idea why these exist, but every new mother gets convinced she needs one. Bullshit. If your dresser is a low one, use that and strap a changing pad onto it- a $20 solution. Baby food makers? I’m sorry, but that appears to be a mini food processor or blender and I already own both of those items and they function quite well, thank you. My husband and I are currently fighting about buying a rice maker. He insists he’d eat more brown rice if he had a more foolproof way to make it. I’m opposed because the rice maker does not save time or money and I have a great rice maker in our cupboard- it’s called a pot with a lid.

3: BUY USED
I could count on one hand how many clothing items I’ve bought “new” this year and last year. I’m converted completely to consignment and used items for my own and my kid’s clothing and gear. There is plenty of waste and excess in the universe- why propagate more? I have a fool proof method and it begins with planning and preparation. Think ahead to the next season- what will you and your kids need. Again, take an inventory and decide if he’s really going to fit into those snow boots next year or not. Then begin with garage sales. They are the cheapest way to get a large volume of clothing items and gear for kids and babies. Don’t waste your time though- selectively go through the ads online and only hit sales that promise the items you’re looking for. You’ll hit plenty of unadvertised sales on the way. Know the better neighborhoods in your area where you might get the items you want. After you’ve exhausted the garage sale route for a few weekends, head out to consignment shops next. I start with thrift stores because they are generally less expensive but usually end up having to buy essential items from consignment stores with more reliable inventory. My last resort is to hit retail stores and I focus on buying local if I can. For my own wardrobe I try to buy just a few pieces each season that are unique from higher end boutiques to spice up my the style of my consignment wardrobe.

4: UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY
No need to scan circulars and comparison shop. If you have a smartphone, the answer is in the palm of your hand! We are avid Amazon shoppers and I highly recommend a Prime membership. Not only is the shipping a real lifesaver in time sensitive situations like Christmas and birthdays, but Amazon has millions of items at a significant savings from your local retail chain stores with no sales tax and free shipping. Health and beauty items are a great example for our family. We buy significant amounts of natural or organic products and when it comes to items like toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo, that can get expensive. I check our local health food and other stores for items that we need in the near future. Then I pull up my Amazon or Target app, scan the bar code and compare prices. 9 times out of ten, I can get it way cheaper (we’re talking 3 or 4 dollars less) on Amazon if I buy it in bulk (3 or more of an item). This is also a great strategy for items like supplements and vitamins and even food items that you use a lot of like oatmeal or tea.

5: SOCIAL NETWORKING IS YOUR FRIEND
You’re constantly being hounded to “like” things on Facebook. Don’t always cave in, but be aware that following certain retailers that you buy from frequently can really pay off. You’ll get a heads up on sales and often get special discount codes to use in their online storefronts. And please get on board with popular sites like Groupon and Living Social. If you buy only what you’ll actually use or need, these sites can offer significant savings on local restaurants, outings and events for the whole family and local retailers. There’s also another group of sites popping up like Zulu, that offer daily deals from retailers focused in a certain area, like designer clothing or kids wear. Subscribe to just a few that you think will feature items you’d be likely to buy elsewhere. I’ve gotten huge savings of 50% or more on winter coats from Timberlane, Melissa and Doug toys and shoes from sites like these. But as with anything, read the fine print and do cost comparison before purchasing. No need to rush to buy something from one of these sites that you can get from Amazon for the same price.

6: COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS
I am not a crazy coupon clipper and I don’t waste my time pawing through every last piece of junk mail searching for deals. I do advocate couponing though in a few areas like name brand groceries where it can make a significant difference. If you shop frequently at the same grocery store, sign up for their online emails and coupons. We have a few brands that we use faithfully like Farmland bacon or Brown Cow yogurt, but they cost quite a bit in comparison to other products in the same category. I go right to the product website and sign up for monthly deals there and get coupons on a regular basis that can save me as much as $40 off our grocery bill monthly. When we plan to do something fun in the local area, I check out their website and often find discount coupons I can print out that save us a bundle on admission prices.

7: BUY QUALITY
There’s no point in pinching pennies on an item if you’ll just have to replace it in a year. This is especially pertinent when shopping for kitchen or baby gear. Do your research. I recommend when you’re going through a big life event like purchasing a home for the first time or having a baby that you sign up for Consumer Reports. You’ll find trusted advice on the best buys for big ticket items like appliances, strollers and car seats. The subscription will cost you a small amount each month so maximize your use in the first few months and then cancel it. I also frequently check Amazon reviews before purchasing something in store like toys or shoes to ensure we aren’t wasting our money on a lemon.

8: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEASONAL SALES
Buying off season is one of the oldest bargain shopping mandates in the book but it’s a keeper. I don’t waste my energy rushing out after Christmas and elbowing other angry shoppers to buy all the gifts I’ll need for next year, but I do pick up a good bargain on standard birthday gift items or seasonal wear and stow it away in our basement until it’s needed. If you are going to need to replace or purchase a big ticket item soon like an appliance or home furnishings, check online to see when you might be able to snag the best deals. Many sites will give recommendations on when stores will push to offload old items to bring in new stock.

9: KEEP A WISH LIST
Ever open a present and think- what on earth is this and how will I ever find an excuse to use it? Yeah, me too. Or find members of your family buying expensive and impulsive last minute gifts that aren’t really what you need or want. Keep a wish list online for each family member- I recommend Amazon which will allow you to compile items from other websites as well into a universal list. That way when Grandma has no idea what your six year old wants for Christmas, you can just forward the link and feel assured your kiddo will get something age appropriate and useful.

10: TRACK YOUR EXPENSES
It’s necessary to keep track of where you are splurging so you know when you need to cut back and how to do so effectively. Although I don’t handle the finances in our family, I’m still shocked by how many people don’t keep their receipts or track their credit card use in anyway. Like many households, we use a computer program called Quicken and do monthly balancing with our bank statements to ensure we know where your money is going. It produces graphs and charts that let us see trends over time and develop plans to cut expenses in advance so if we need to be frugal, we can be sure to be effective instead of frustrated. It’s been especially effective in helping us eat at home more often and spending less on luxury items.

Lastly, I’d recommend becoming a member of a warehouse club like Costco, even if you don’t have a large family. Costco has started to carry many items you can stock up on in abundance including organic foods and personal care products. We save a bundle on items we can freeze like steak, fish and chicken as well as hormone free diary products and eggs. We buy all of our paper products here like paper towels, toilet paper, ziploc bags and more. I’ve gotten amazing bargains on boxed sets of books and toys when Christmas rolls around as long as I’ve committed to shopping early for a good selection. And when it comes to diapers, if you’re willing to buy their generic brand and use monthly coupons to stock up, Costco is the cheapest way to go and the savings are well below Amazon subscribe and save rates and diapers.com. Happy hunting!