Saving money on shopping is not difficult and it doesn't require any specialised training. There are ways for anyone to stretch their budget a little farther.
1. Check for deals online?
Stop yourself on impulsive purchase at the retail shops for things that you don’t need immediately. Go online and check if you could order it usually at a cheaper price. Or research on similar items at a much cheaper price.
For the internet-savvy, search online for coupons, and you'll save even more.
2. Can you borrow what you wanted to buy?
This tactic can be a great money-saver for any item that you use infrequently or will only need to use once. For example, if you only need to use a drill once a year when you change apartments and have to reinstall your curtain rods, you can get by with borrowing a drill from someone else. Many home improvement stores even have tools you can rent. Likewise, instead of spending money on the newest bestseller novel that you will probably only read once, head down to your local library and see if you can borrow the book.
3. Negotiate for a better price?
Bring out your auntie skills. Hahaa.. I mean no harm asking for discount right? Try asking for a discount or offer to get more items at the retail shop for a better price (only if you need those items as well).
Even like on some websites store and carousell or ebay or Qoo10, you can actually just try emailing the seller to ask for a better price.
4. Barter Trade?
Places like Carousell or like classified listings on craglists or gumtree is good places you can try to Barter. List out the service or goods you have to offer in exchange for what the person is selling. Even if the other party isn't willing to barter for the entire item, he or she may be willing to at least reduce the price in exchange for an hour of your expertise.
5. Time Your Purchase on special occasions
For example, you can plan your purchase and get it near sales season like great Singapore sales or Christmas sales...etc.
Or you can wait a little longer on electronic items which you want to get, as a sale will emerge once a newer model comes out or the regular price will drop as supply increases and demand drops.
Because sometimes when you wait, at the end of the day you might even feel you do not really need those items and end up forgetting to get them.
6. Cashback websites and cashback credit cards
Rebate of 1-3% might seems small but imagine over 1 year or 10 years? It can accumulate to a hefty sum. There are plenty of cash back websites; all you need to do is to link to the webstore through the cashback websites. Very easy to register to save some money.
Even when you are dinning out or going to movies or bar, when you are paying for the bill, do ask if they have any promotion or discount with any credit cards. This way you might even save more.