Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85954)
United States
August 24, 2008 9:44am CST
We all like to get a good deal. It is fun to find bargains that amount to a lot of things we need or want, but we only pay a small amount for it. Where or which store do you find you get the most bang for your buck? Is it something like a thrift store where they have good quality items and you feel like you got a steal? Aldi's is a store that I always feel I get a lot of cleaning items for a very small price, and they are just as good as name brand. Walmart is where I find I get the better groceries for a good amount. Although I understand people's issues with them. And sometimes Ross (dress for less) is like a mecca of things I can use for hardly any money, not just clothing. Although I admit these days the only shopping I do is for groceries. : ) So what about you?
6 people like this
13 responses
@snowy22315 (171136)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I like Aldi's and Walmart as well. Trader Joe's is a store they dont have everywhere, but that has excellent prices on things that would be considered "health foods" or food that is different than what is in a mainstream grocery. I get alot of my clothes at outlet malls or a store called Gabriels or Rugged Wearhouse. I also
likd TJ Maxx for clothes. I havent done any clothes shopping this year either though
except once or twice at Costco.
1 person likes this
@trieschman (272)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I heard Trader Joe's and Aldi's are owned by the same company. I don't have any hard proof so take it as heresay. They do seem similar when you start to think about it - good prices, typically not name brand items, grocery......
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
31 Aug 08
We have a "last chance" Goodwill, don't know if they charge by the pound tho. But the books were in these huge boxes and I wasn't able to climb in and do a proper look through. Besides, it was at the end of a long day I was ready to eat dinner and crawl in the sack.
I've said I'd like to get back there, but it hasn't happened yet.
@trieschman (272)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I do too! I also enjoy the library sales. Ours isn't just old library books. The friends of the library donate their gently used books for sale to benefit the library fund. I have found a bunch of great things - books, movies, software. And on the last day they have a bag sale - fill it for 5 dollars. It's worth checking to see if you have similar library sales in your area.
Back to Goodwill - some areas have Goodwill outlet stores. Here you pay per pound rather than per item. I have found great deals at these as well. Check the national Goodwill website for locations.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I shop at a multiple of stores to get more bang for the almighty buck. We have a dollar tree and discount dollar where everything in it is a dollar good for getting cleaning supplies. Like you been awhile since I have shopped for clothing for myself,But when I do I will look for bargin deals at thrift stores first. The stores I shop at for food (mostly when it is on sale) Is Food City,Save-a-lot, and on occasion WalMart.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Umm, I would but there isn't a Aldi's close to where I live even or I would. I have been to a Aldi's before when I was living in Ohio but the closest one to me is in Ashland and I can't afford the $60 it would take for gas to get there.
1 person likes this
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I often shop at those $1 stores like Dollar Tree. I also visit the salvage grocery stores quite often. As far as clothes I find my best deals at yard sales. Sometimes though I can find good deals at KMart and Sears. At the end of the season they really have some good sales.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
25 Aug 08
I have just found an awesome site called Dealextreme that sells things dirt cheap and what's more, it offers free shipping worldwide.
I have linked my affiliate (yes I just found it has such a program today) link to the top banner on my profile page so you can grab it there is you want to be nice.
Otherwise, just go straight to the root site.
Cheers! 
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I love Aldi's too. Their brownie mix is the best. I can get fill up my cart in that store for a fraction of what I would spend at most other grocery stores. I wish I had a Ross where I live, but I do shop there when I visit my nephew in Florida. I've gotten many great bargains there.
Every so often, I get coupons in the mail from Penney's that are usually 10 dollars off a purchase of 10 dollars or more. If I combine the coupon with something that is also marked down, I can get something for very little money. I recently bought a top that was originally 20 dollars, and was marked down to 12.99. With my 10 dollar off coupon, I only had to pay 3 dollars for a nice top.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85954)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I love when JCPenney has a sale. You're right, with a coupon and their sales, you can get something fantastic for a small price. Sometimes I can't find anything I like, but I remember I got an Easter dress that was listed as fifty dollars, for the markdown price of fifteen. I was so excited because my mom insisted on buying me an Easter dress, and I didn't want her to pay a lot, but I also wanted to find something I'd like enough to wear more than once.
@vmoore709 (1101)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hello! You are so right, especially in today's economy. I guess it really depends on what I'm looking for as to whether I buy it in an actual store or online. If I'm out shopping, I'll go to Target normally. I can find most of what I need there. For clothes, I'll tend to look at Old Navy. They usually have great sales. Online, I'll go to www.comeplaytoday.com for the most part. I'll swing through ebay at times as well to check things out.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
we are sticking to our tight budget this year so we go to dollar store for some household products like dishwasher and other cleaning stuffs. grocery wise we have local grocery store here that sometimes is a good bargain, meat wise my husband will go to meat market they sell meat for less than the grocery store. clothes my husband buys more than I do hahah true :) everything else like entertainment we don't buy much this year aside from new pc because the old one broke
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I don't shop alot either but do like the dollar stores for a bunch of stuff that I like to have like pretty napkins....scrapping stuff...things like that. I hardly buy groceries anymore...once every two months or so I go buy a bunch cause honestly I don't like going to the grocery store.
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
27 Aug 08
There are actually a few stores I feel that I am getting my money's worth. One is Value Village, where they sell second hand clothes of good quality. I buy a lot of my clothes there. Another one is Giant Tiger, where they sell new clothes at discount prices. I buy a lot of my undergarments and jeans there. Another one I really like is Wlamart where I buy a lot of my foods. I buy cereal for example, for $3.99 a box and the same size box and same brand is $8.99 at Coop and Sobeys. I also buy all of my toiletries and soaps at Walmart and am very happy with their prices. I like to save a few dollars too, where ever I can so I know what stores to buy what at.
1 person likes this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Walmart is usually good, but you do have to watch because you can sometimes find lower prices elsewhere. Family Dollar or Dollar General, depending on where you live, is a good place to shop for cleaning products and some food products. We belong to Sam's Club, but since there are just the two of us, I don't always want to buy in the bulk quantities they sell, and sometimes it's not cheaper than what you can buy at Walmart.
For clothing, I shop at thrift stores and a clothing consignment store. Yesterday we found some very nice name brand jackets for much less than we could have purchased new.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
25 Aug 08
i think you get the most when you do shopping at the right time. Once you are done with the right time then go to a discount store. They provide you with so much discounts that you can get the best deals. Alongwith that you can go to the regular stores when their sale season is on and get the most of your bucks. So plan your shopping to get the best returns.
