Podcast Summary
Learn Money-Saving Tips from a Couponing Expert During the Holiday Season: During the holiday season, follow a couponing expert's tips to save money and avoid increasing credit card balances.
During the holiday season, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, saving money is crucial as Americans are taking on more debt and everyday expenses continue to rise. Our guest, Kirsty Torok, a stay-at-home mom turned queen of couponing, shares hacks to help you find the best deals and save significant amounts of money with minimal effort. With over 2 million viewers on TikTok, Kirsty's expertise in couponing and finding discounts can help you never pay retail again. Additionally, credit card balances have jumped 15% in Q3 of 2022, marking the largest year-over-year increase in more than 20 years. So, it's essential to be savvy with your spending during the holiday season. Tune in to this episode of Trading Secrets to learn from Kirsty's story and discover her money-saving tips and tricks.
Shopping for deals during the holiday season: Do research, compare prices, and use social media for info on discounts to save money during the holiday shopping season
This year's Black Friday and holiday shopping season could offer great deals due to retailers looking to get rid of excess inventory caused by the pandemic. Prices for many items are likely to be significantly discounted. To ensure you're getting the best deal, shop around and compare prices at various retailers. You can check their websites for early Black Friday sales or use tools like Google to see who has the lowest price for a specific item. While there are websites that aggregate information on bank products and services, like Nerdwallet, there isn't a dedicated platform for finding sale prices and discounts. Couponers on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram can provide valuable information on deals and discounts. Remember, doing your research and comparing prices can help you save money during this holiday shopping season.
Price discrepancies among retailers during inflation: Download store apps for hidden discounts to save money during shopping, especially during the holiday season
Consumer package companies and retailers have been increasing prices faster than inflation, leading to discrepancies in prices among different retailers, particularly in the past few months. This trend is driven by the desire to boost profits and offset supply chain costs. To save money during shopping, especially during the holiday season, it's essential to download store apps like Target's Circle or Walmart's, as these apps often have hidden coupons and discounts that aren't advertised in-store. By scanning items in the app before checking out, shoppers can save a significant amount of money. The most savings achieved by using this method is not specified in the discussion.
Stacking coupons for rock-bottom prices: Invest a few minutes using coupon apps to save substantial amounts of money, often earning more than your hourly wage
Couponing is a strategy to get rock-bottom prices by stacking sales, rebates, and coupons. This process, known as "stacking," can result in significant savings. There are two types of coupons: app coupons and paper coupons, including manufacturer rebates. The dedicated time for using apps to scan items and get rebates is minimal, often just a few minutes. For instance, scanning items in a cart at Target saved one person $10 in just 5 minutes. By investing this small amount of time, individuals can save substantial amounts of money, potentially earning more than their hourly wage.
Save Money During Holiday Shopping: Check Target, Walmart, and Amazon for best deals on home goods, clothing, toys, electronics, and miscellaneous items. Use price comparison apps and scan competitors' prices for additional savings through price match guarantees.
Consumers can save significant amounts of money by taking advantage of coupons, rebates, and price matching guarantees during holiday shopping seasons like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Target, Walmart, and Amazon are recommended as the top three retailers to check for the best deals on home goods, clothing, toys, electronics, and miscellaneous items. On the other hand, stores like Macy's, JCPenney, and Dillard's may not offer the best deals due to their financial struggles. A former Target employee shared insight into Target's seasonal inventory discounting strategy, emphasizing the importance of checking the back corners of stores for deeply discounted items. Additionally, using price comparison apps and scanning competitors' prices while in-store can lead to additional savings through Target's price match guarantee. Overall, being informed and proactive in shopping can lead to substantial savings during the holiday season.
Shopping Expert's Tips for Max Savings: Shop early for Christmas deals, use price matching, discount apps, cashback sites, and gift cards for max savings.
Savvy shopping during the holiday season and beyond can lead to significant savings. Shoppers can take advantage of price matching policies at stores like Target, as well as discounts on clearance items bought early. Additionally, using apps to compare prices and shopping through cashback sites like Rakuten can add extra savings. Kirsty, a shopping expert, recommends shopping early for Christmas deals and suggests using gift cards in January when toys go on sale. Price matching can be done easily by scanning items through competitors' apps at the register. For online shopping, using cashback sites can result in extra savings without costing the retailer or shopper anything extra. Transparency is key, and Kirsty only shares and uses coupons that she personally benefits from.
Save money through authentic deals and coupons: Authentically share discounts, save on essentials, and increase overall income by adding savings to gross income.
Saving money is a powerful way to improve your financial situation, and it's possible to do so through simple strategies like using coupons and taking advantage of sales. The speaker, who runs a TikTok account dedicated to sharing deals and coupons, emphasizes the importance of authenticity and sharing only what she personally uses and saves money on. She encourages her audience to never pay full price for items like toothpaste and to always look for discounts. By doing so, she has helped people save significant amounts of money, including a single mother who was able to take her child to Disney World for the first time. This strategy not only saves cash in the short term but also increases overall income in the long term by adding the saved amount to your gross income. It's a win-win situation for anyone looking to manage their finances effectively.
Explore shopping options for better deals: 5 mins of comparison shopping can save significant money, avoid bulk buying at warehouses, and consider curbside pickup and online ordering
Shopping at only one store can lead to missing out on better deals and savings. Consumers should explore options like curbside pickup and online ordering to compare prices and be strategic with their shopping. Another time-saving tip is to avoid buying certain products, like laundry detergent and health/beauty items, in bulk at warehouses like Costco or Sam's Club. Instead, consider shopping at stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Target for the best deals on home essentials. Kirsty's top trading secret is to dedicate just 5 minutes to scanning deals on your phone or in the store to potentially save significant amounts of money. To connect with Kirsty, follow her on TikTok and Instagram (@atorok.coupon.hunter) or join her Telegram group (taurok coupon hunter).
Exploring little-known ways to save money: Discover cashback apps like Rakuten to earn back a percentage of your spending at participating retailers and save money with minimal effort.
There are numerous simple ways to save money that many people might not be aware of, such as using cashback apps like Rakuten. During a recent podcast episode, the hosts discussed their experiences with saving money through various methods, including getting free toothpaste at CVS and saving $10 at Walmart. They were surprised by how much they could save with minimal effort, and they encouraged listeners to explore these tips for themselves. One particular tip that stood out was the use of Rakuten, a cashback app that allows users to earn a percentage of their spending back in cash when they shop at participating retailers. The hosts were amazed that such a useful tool wasn't more widely known and wondered why it wasn't more mainstream. They also discussed how businesses can afford to offer cashback deals, suggesting that it might be a way to attract customers and increase sales. Overall, the podcast episode highlighted the importance of being mindful of spending and seeking out opportunities to save money, no matter how small.
E-commerce platforms earn margins and affiliate deals, passing savings to consumers: E-commerce platforms like Rakuten offer rewards memberships, price matching, and affiliate deals, enabling consumers to save money and access retailer and manufacturer incentives directly.
E-commerce platforms like Rakuten earn significant margins on sales and also receive kickbacks from merchants through affiliate deals. This creates a win-win situation where consumers can benefit from discounts passed on by the platform. The speaker's personal experience of saving money through rewards memberships and price matching illustrates the potential for substantial savings by utilizing these features. The convenience of having a smartphone to scan items and check for deals makes saving money an accessible and easy process. Overall, this model of e-commerce allows consumers to effectively "skip the middle man" and enjoy the benefits of both the retailer and the manufacturer's incentives.
Small actions lead to big savings: Be intentional and proactive in managing everyday expenses to save money through simple actions like using coupons, shopping smarter, and utilizing loyalty programs.
Small, everyday expenses can add up significantly over time, and saving money through simple actions like using coupons, shopping smarter, and being more mindful of spending habits can lead to substantial savings. The speaker emphasized the importance of being proactive and dedicating just a few minutes each day to finding deals and discounts, rather than being passive and missing out on potential savings. He encouraged listeners to follow a coupon hunter on Instagram for deals and savings opportunities, and to make small changes like using store loyalty cards and downloading apps to save money on groceries and other everyday purchases. The speaker also shared his own confession of being lazy and not utilizing Kroger's loyalty program, and vowed to make a change and start saving more. Overall, the key takeaway is that small actions can lead to big savings, and it's important to be intentional and proactive in managing everyday expenses.
Setting realistic budgets during the holiday season: Avoid unnecessary spending by setting realistic budgets and considering alternatives like thoughtful, affordable gifts or trips.
Despite the inflation and the pressure to spend during the holiday season, it's important to set realistic budgets and not fall victim to unnecessary spending. The speaker shared personal experiences of splurging in the past and how inflation has contributed to increased expectations for expensive gifts. However, they acknowledged that this trend can get out of control and suggested alternatives such as buying thoughtful, affordable gifts or even taking a trip instead. The speaker also mentioned their family traditions of gift-giving, ranging from the old-school, time-consuming way to the more modern, quick approach. Ultimately, it's essential to find a balance that works for you and your family while keeping in mind the true meaning of the holiday season.
Prioritizing Relationships and Experiences over Material Possessions: During the holiday season, families are shifting towards thoughtful, meaningful gifts that prioritize relationships and experiences over expensive physical items. Effective communication and planning are crucial to ensure everyone's satisfaction.
The traditional way of exchanging physical gifts during the holiday season is changing, and people are focusing more on experiences and practical items instead. Many families, like the one discussed in the podcast, are moving towards understanding each other's needs and preferences and giving thoughtful, meaningful gifts that don't require spending large sums of money. The conversation also highlighted the importance of communication and planning to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the gift-giving process. Additionally, the podcast hosts acknowledged the importance of considering the emotional value of gifts, even if they may not be expensive or extravagant. Overall, the discussion emphasized the importance of prioritizing relationships and experiences over material possessions.
