FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Luke Knowles, (970) 672-1136, luke@freeshipping.org
Stretch your dollar with these 7 tips to help you brave the recession
[Fort Collins, CO, March 9, 2009] – In this sluggish economy, most Americans are cutting back on household purchases to stay within their budget. Luke Knowles, founder of FreeShipping.org – which is a one-stop destination for consumers to find online retailers that have free shipping deals – offers these suggestions to stretch your dollar during these challenging financial times:
1. Shop Online
How many times do you visit a retail store and leave with a heftier bill than you originally planned? Impulse purchases and buyers remorse often accompany trips to bricks-and-mortar stores. When you buy online, you will find wider selections at lower prices because retailers have limited overhead. You can save a lot of money on items like clothing, home decor, supplements, skin care products and appliances. With free shipping coupons to places like Kohl's, Kmart, Vitamin Shoppe, and CompUSA, buying your purchases online is your best bet at curbing the buying bug and saving more. Also, when you shop online, you are less likely to make an impulse purchase.
2. Make a List
Simple as that. Create a list in three columns labeled 'immediate necessities,' 'future necessities,’ and 'non-necessities.' Writing everything down clears the mental clutter and helps you maintain focus when you are tempted to buy that expensive skin cream but you know it is not as important as bringing home bread and milk. Grazing online with no particular focus can be just as cash depleting as random mall trips. The aforementioned lists will help you stay disciplined.
3. Reduce Driving
Before you head out the door to complete your errands, schedule your trips. Write down where you intend to go and why. This will save time and gas money buy not forgetting to purchase what you need. It is frustrating when you return home from the grocery store and discover you forgot to buy intended items. Every dollar counts, especially when the price of gas fluctuates.
4. Be Smart When Eating Out
Even families on a budget tend to dine out because of their fast-paced lifestyles. When you do eat out, take advantage of coupons. Restaurant.com offers thousands of e-gift cards for purchase at 40-60 percent of their value. Even with the minimum purchase required by most eateries, you'll make out with a tasty meal and save the green. The Entertainment Book (www.entertainment.com) is still alive and well. There are numerous coupons for fast food eateries to fine dining restaurants.
5. Eat in Smart
Groceries online? Absolutely! Order your staples from Amazon.com, Meijer, or Safeway while saving big bucks and avoiding the checkout lines. Some grocery stores will even deliver entire orders to your home. Check and see if a grocery store in your area has online ordering and delivery.
6. Rent DVDs from home
No need to visit the video store to rent DVDs. That is so 1999. It’s 2009, and you can save money by ordering movies through Netflix or Blockbuster.
7. Don’t pay for shipping
FreeShipping.org was created to provide consumers with a one-stop shop of online retailers that offer free shipping. The site now has more than 1,200 stores, including Victoria's Secret, Target, Bloomingdale's, Kohl’s, Sears, Best Buy, Old Navy, Nordstrom and Macy’s. A growing number of retailers are recognizing that free shipping is becoming a necessity, and not just a perk. Why pay for shipping when you can have it delivered at no cost?
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FreeShipping.org is the Internet’s premiere destination for online shoppers to find free shipping deals offered by more than 1,200 online retailers, including Victoria's Secret, Target, Bloomingdale's, Kohl’s, Sears, Best Buy, Old Navy, Nordstrom and Macy's. For more information, visit www.freeshipping.org.
