Few things are as exciting as finding a great bargain or scoring a major deal on an item you love. There are even entire shows dedicated to bargain hunting! 

You don’t have to be a professional shopper to be a bargain hunter. But, if you want to do it without getting into debt or blowing your budget, there are a few key things you must keep in mind. 

Use the following tips and tricks to bargain hunt without overspending. 

1. Don’t Buy Something Just Because It is Discounted

Don’t make the mistake of buying something just because you see it has been marked down. 

Have you ever filled your cart with items from a clearance sale or the dollar section at a store? Did you really need all those items? Be honest.

Too often, we buy stuff just because it’s cheap… But cheap adds up, and you can quickly $5 your way into debt. Plus, all the cheap stuff becomes additional clutter in your home. 

Before you make a purchase, ask yourself: Even at the discounted price, is it worth it? Do you need it? 

2. Only Buy Items That Serve a Purpose

When you’re tempted to make a purchase because it seems like a bargain, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does it serve a purpose/function? 
  • Will it replace something else that you will donate or get rid of?
  • Does it have a place to be stored or displayed in your house? 
  • Will you use it more than once or find joy in it regularly?

When you take the time to ask yourself these questions, you empower yourself to make intentional and mindful choices. Eventually, you will develop a lifestyle that aligns with your values. When you contemplate whether a purchase will bring lasting joy or serves a purpose, you will have a more rewarding life.

3. Buy Used Before New

Americans tend to be drawn to items that are shiny and new, but they are missing a huge savings opportunity: Buy used instead! 

People frequently get rid of items that are “like new” at a significantly discounted price. This usually happens when they just have to buy the latest and greatest thing. But, sadly, it didn’t serve a need or bring joy.

Make a point to look for a used version of an item before you purchase something brand new. 

For example, if you need a new dresser, head to Facebook Marketplace before visiting a furniture store. If you need a new outfit, head to Depop for peer-to-peer clothes shopping. Visit thrift stores, consignment shops, and resale places. 

Pro Tip: Head to stores like Goodwill that are located in higher-end communities to score expensive designer goods at steep discounts, as this is where wealthier families donate their gently used items. 

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4. Always Compare Prices 

Have you ever thought you got a really good deal just to discover you could’ve gotten it even cheaper somewhere else? This is so frustrating! 

Instead of this happening again, make it a habit always to compare prices. 

Download price comparison apps or browser extensions. It only takes a minute to check on the app to see if you are truly getting a bargain or if another retailer has what you want at a better price. Take note of which stores offer price matching, as well. 

When you research prices, also research features. See if there is something better for less money. Practice comparison shopping, and you will become a more informed shopper.

Compare Prices With Capital One Shopping

When you shop online, pay less for those quality products by using Capital One Shopping. When you download the Capital One Shopping browser extension, it will automatically search for coupons and promo codes for you.

When you’re checking out from Amazon, Capital One Shopping will scan your cart and see if you can find the same thing or something similar at a better price.

If a product you’re buying has a coupon code, the Capital One Shopping button will let you know.

You can then apply the code to your cart, and effortlessly save money.

The Capital One Shopping browser extension works across the entire internet.

Try the free Capital One Shopping extension here! Because why say no to free coupons? 

5. Sign Up for Mailing Lists

A great way to know if one of your favorite discount shops is having a sale is to sign up for their mailing lists. Often, retailers will entice you by offering an immediate discount code to get on their mailing list.

You’ll get notified if there are sales. In addition, follow your favorite stores on social media. 

There are also several social media accounts that specifically post about bargains. Find a social media account that posts about items you are typically searching for deals for, and follow the account. 

6. Sign Up for Subscribe and Save

There are some items that you routinely keep buying, such as toothpaste and coffee. Because you know you will always need to buy these types of items, consider signing up for a Subscribe and Save program like Amazon offers. 

With Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program, you can save up to 15% on essentials when you add 5 or more products to your subscription. You can save up to 10% on health products, such as vitamins and supplements, when you sign up for Autoship Vitamin Delivery from Vitacost.

7. Know What You Want

It’s always smart to shop with a list, especially when it comes to bargain hunting. 

Bargain hunting isn’t just shopping for random deals and discounts. It means knowing what a good bargain is and finding it. 

For example, let’s say you want a paddle board. Start doing research on the type of paddle board you want. 

This way, you will have an idea of how much a new paddle board goes for and how much a used paddle board goes for. With this in mind, you will be able to spot a bargain on a paddle board when you see it. Essentially, become an expert on the items you want.

8. Have a Set Budget

It’s important to have an idea of what would be a good bargain for an item. 

If you know what you want and how much you are willing to spend, you can utilize a price comparison site named CamelCamelCamel. 

This site allows you to input the cost you are willing to spend, and it will send you a notification when the price drops into your budget.

9. Check for Other Discounts

Don’t stop at the sticker price. Even if an item is already discounted, look for other discounts. 

There might be coupons available that can still be applied, as well as other types of discounts (such as educator, military, or student). 

If you are shopping in person, see if you can negotiate the price further. This works better at mom-and-pop shops than at big box stores.

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10. Practice Patience Before Buying and Turn the Tables on Retailers

When you browse products at an online store, these retailers want to make sure you successfully check out. They don’t like abandoned carts. This happens when people add items to their carts but never complete their transactions.

This is where you can often turn the tables on the retailers. Place the items you want in your cart, then virtually walk away. Close your browser and forget about the purchase.

To get you to complete the transaction, many times these stores will send you an email saying you didn’t check out. To entice you to go back online and finish the purchase, they often (though not always) offer you a discount.

Try it. You have nothing to lose.

Find Those Bargains!

With these tips in mind, you can become a master bargain hunter. 

  • Take the time to research what you want and do price comparisons. 
  • Make it a goal never to pay full price and to save as much as possible.
  • Try abandoning your cart to get a discount.

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*Capital One Shopping compensates us when you get the Capital One Shopping extension using the links we provided*