Being budget savvy and living a luxurious life isn’t as difficult as it looks. Over the years, I’ve been able to save money (without giving up shopping,) by skimming on other non-essential life expenses. Any shopaholic will tell you that the ultimate splurge is worth the hard work of saving every extra penny possible!
Here are my top tips for how to save money without giving up shopping:
Skip the Gym
A gym membership (especially an unused gym membership,) can become a costly expense. There are plenty of methods to scoring free workouts across the city that can save you upwards of $60 a month. Whenever possible, take your workouts outdoors (run or do yoga in the summer and skate in the winter). Take advantage of free gym amenities in friends’ condos, use our list of the best free fitness classes in Toronto, and follow fitness studios on social media to learn about free open houses and discounted class packages.
Befriend Coupons
Make coupons your new best friend. When making your weekly grocery list or shopping for a new outfit for a special occasion, start with a coupon. It’s best if you’re not picky about where you shop so that you can narrow your search by shopping at the retailer offering the best discount. Small savings from coupons can accumulate to big savings over time so be sure to take advantage of any discount, no matter how small. Start by checking out our line-up of the best sources for online coupon codes.
Be a Loyal Shopper
It pays to be loyal! You may feel bombarded by retailers asking you to register for their loyalty programs at the checkout. However, nearly every loyalty program is worth joining if you shop there often enough. Store loyalty cards typically grant customers access to unique discounts, free products, and special services. If there is no cost to join the program, I say sign-up! Most programs will provide you with an automatic discount upon registration, justifying their value immediately.
Buy Generic
Grocery shopping can be costly! Skip premium national brands of everyday items (like detergent, coffee, and boxed snacks,) and go for store brand items. You can save a ton of money by buying generic at the grocery store. The biggest benefit to shopping private label brands is that the retailer will often go above and beyond to back up their items by extending the limits of their traditional return policy if you are unsatisfied by the quality of an item.
Be a Tourist in Your Own City
There are so many ways to save by simply searching! Take advantage of entertainment and restaurant promotions that are typically catered to attract tourists to a destination. Check out the websites of BIAs across the city to find listings for free festivals, concerts, and cultural events. Benefit from citywide events like Doors Open Toronto and Winterlicious to experience new environments and tastes or a fraction of the cost.
How do you save money without giving up shopping?
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