Beyond Coupons: How to Save Money Shopping
- If you spend less on shopping, it could be easier to save money and avoid debt.
- Make a point of shopping with a list, and compare prices before hitting the stores.
- Aim to pay for your purchases in full so you aren't charged interest.
Table of Contents
Shopping is something you probably do on a regular basis, whether it's food, clothing, or school supplies for your kids. And the less you spend, the more you'll have for your financial goals, whether that’s building an emergency fund, saving for retirement, or paying off debt.
But saving money on shopping doesn't just mean clipping coupons or loading digital versions. We’ve got seven ways to save money shopping so you can keep more of your hard-earned paycheck.
1. Always Shop With a List
Heading into a store without a plan makes it all too easy to get side-tracked by sale items and other enticing displays. To avoid distraction, always make a shopping list before you go. A list will keep you grounded so you can focus on the things you really need.
Planning is also important when you shop online. Temptations pop up even when you’re not in a physical store, so try to keep a list no matter how you’re making your purchases.
2. Separate Needs From Wants
It’s okay to treat yourself to extra purchases from time to time. But when you’re doing your everyday shopping, purchase your essentials first and estimate what the final bill will be before adding non-essential items to your cart.
Say you’re food shopping, for example, and you calculate that the items you need come to $105. That hard number may make you less inclined to grab a $20 impulse buy if your total is already higher than expected.
3. Buy in Bulk to Save Money
If you’re buying groceries and household supplies, buying in bulk could leave you paying less per ounce or unit. And those small savings do add up. You don't always have to buy a warehouse club membership to get the advantage of bulk pricing. Many supermarkets and big box stores carry bulk versions of toilet paper and condiments. Look for labels like family pack, value bundle, or bulk pack.
Only buy in bulk those products you use on a regular basis. The best way to treat perishable items is to have a plan to freeze them or cook and then freeze.
4. Compare Prices Ahead of Time
Whether you're shopping online or in person, a little research could be your ticket to saving money. Spend some time browsing different sites to check which store has the lower price for the things you need. Most supermarkets publish their weekly circulars online, so you can scout what's on sale and make your list based on weekly specials.
Use shopping apps like PriceGrabber and ShopSavvy to make comparison shopping easier.
5. Save Money by Paying for Purchases in Full
Credit cards allow you to pay for purchases on the spot and then deal with the balance over time. Similarly, buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans allow you to pay off your purchases in a few installments over a shorter period of time that’s typically 12 weeks or less.
Both credit cards and BNPL plan options offer convenience. And some credit cards let you earn rewards or cash back on the items you buy. But if you don’t pay your credit cards in full, you accrue interest on your balances, which could lead to needing credit card debt relief down the line. And with BNPL plans, interest and fees will be added to your original purchase price if you don’t stick to your payment plan.
Any money that goes to interest is money you can’t save, spend, or use to pay off debt. So if you can, pay for your purchases in full, either by handing over cash or using a debit card. If you swipe a credit card, pay the entire balance when it’s due.
6. Buy Off-Season to Save Money
Buying off-season could help you save money on clothing, sports equipment for your kids, and big-ticket items like furniture. The catch is that you’ll generally have to lay out the money before you actually need these things. But if you can swing it, the savings could be huge.
For example, buy summer clothing in early fall when retailers are trying to clear merchandise from their shelves. If you can afford to pay for next year’s clothing ahead of time, you could save big.
Your kids may need new snow boots every winter. March or April, when it’s past the season, is a great time to snag some deals on winter gear. Paying $25 in early spring instead of $50 the following December is a deal worth grabbing.
7. Buy Refurbished and Gently Used
You and your children might need items you can buy used, like sports equipment or some seasonal apparel. Buying used could mean big savings.
Say you’re looking for a bike for your 7 year old. You might be able to shave more than half off the price of a new bike for $20 if you scout yard sales and find a used one for $40. Research area consignment stores that sell children’s clothing. You might also find adult apparel or accessories for a fraction of the retail price.
Create Cash by Keeping it in Your Pocket
The more often you can save money shopping, the easier it is to meet different goals—and the more breathing room in your budget. In short, you can save money shopping while still getting your hands on the items you need and want.
Debt relief stats and trends
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking a debt relief program during June 2025. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In June 2025, people seeking debt relief had an average of 75% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Personal loan balances – average debt by selected states
Personal loans are one type of installment loans. Generally you borrow at a fixed rate with a fixed monthly payment.
In June 2025, 44% of the debt relief seekers had a personal loan. The average personal loan was $10,718, and the average monthly payment was $362.
Here's a quick look at the top five states by average personal loan balance.
| State | % with personal loan | Avg personal loan balance | Average personal loan original amount | Avg personal loan monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 42% | $14,653 | $21,431 | $474 |
| Connecticut | 44% | $13,546 | $21,163 | $475 |
| New York | 37% | $13,499 | $20,464 | $447 |
| New Hampshire | 49% | $13,206 | $18,625 | $410 |
| Minnesota | 44% | $12,944 | $18,836 | $470 |
Personal loans are an important financial tool. You can use them for debt consolidation. You can also use them to make large purchases, do home improvements, or for other purposes.
Regain Financial Freedom
Seeking debt relief can be the first step toward financial freedom. Are you struggling with debt? Explore options for debt relief to regain control of your finances. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your FICO score or credit utilization is. Take the first step towards a brighter financial future today.
Show source
Author Information
Written by
Maurie Backman
Maurie Backman is a personal finance writer with over 10 years of experience. Her coverage areas include retirement, investing, real estate, and credit and debt management.
Reviewed by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.
Are there coupon apps?
Yes, there are many free apps and browser extensions that serve as online coupon clippers and help you apply the biggest available discounts to applicable purchases. Many of these apps provide promo codes you can add at checkout for a discount, and some also help you accrue points and rewards for shopping with participating retailers. Among the most popular coupon apps are Dosh, Honey, Ibotta, ShopKick, and Rakuten.
How much should I spend on Christmas?
Your Christmas budget depends on your available money and what's important to your family. You can set aside a small percentage of your income for Christmas spending. You could consider allocating around 1% of your annual before-tax income. It’s more important to select an amount you can comfortably spare without getting into debt. Then, make a spending plan for your holiday expenses and start saving for Christmas.
How much credit card debt is normal?
What’s normal for one person might be troubling for another. The best amount of credit card debt is the amount that you can afford to pay off when you get the bill.