9 Big Misconceptions Shopping at the Dollar Stores!

Last night, I was reading one of my favorite bloggers when I saw her most recent post, 7 Reasons You Should Never Shop the Dollar Stores. What? Never?!? I was shocked. Y'all know I'm a big advocate for the dollar stores. It has saved my family a small fortune over the years! I love walking in to the 99 Cent Only and getting items on my weekly shopping list. As a coupon blogger, I would have believed other extreme couponers would love the dollar stores as much as I do, but as I have found, it's not usually the case.

I understand shopping at stores like the 99 Only or Dollar Tree have their own ebb and flow. You can't shop there like you do a "regular" grocery store, but there are some simple ideas that anyone can easily follow to get more savings on their grocery bill (all without coupons).

1. Sizes are smaller. Sizes might be smaller on some things, but that doesn't mean you're getting more for your money when you buy a bigger item at another store. Visually sizing up a item can be misleading. This is why you must know your products and compare. For example, I'll often find a 7 oz bag of chips at the dollar store for $1.00, but 9 - 12 oz bags at other stores for $2.00 to $3.00! The bag often looks bigger, but in this case the dollar store is a better buy. To know if you're getting a good deal, it's easy to find the price per ounce. Simply, divide the price by the ounces printed on the bag. The smaller the price per ounce, the better the deal.

2. You impulse purchase. This is a bit silly. I'm going to be frank; if you're likely to "impulse buy" at the dollar store, you're going to do it at any store. I never go shopping without a shopping list or budget in mind, even at the 99 Only! It's important to stay on budget, so make sure everything you buy has a purpose in mind.

DIY: Three Steps to the Perfect (At Home) Pedicure

I'll admit, pedicures aren't my thing. Even though they are considered a pampering session and adored by both women and men, it still feels like just a "necessity" for me. That being said, I like to hurry it up, get it done and move on to other things, like, well, blogging, lol!

Here are some boiled down, easy and sure fire ways to have a soft beautiful pedicure, without the visit to the spa.

Stay Healthy

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day has several benefits, yada, yada. we've heard it all before. But your skin cannot look luscious and luxurious without the basic moisture it needs. If you want that natural glow, try increasing your fluid intake, use fruit infused water bottles or trade a soda for a flavor enhanced water. Just a little change can go a long way!

Vitamins: In our prepackaged, "everything is convenient" world, it's easy to find we aren't getting the nutrition we need. Vitamin deficiencies can cause a wide range of symptoms from poor skin and nails to paralysis and brain fog. No joke. If you don't take a multivitamin, start. (Hey, y'all. I'm not a doctor, but I'm speaking from my personal experience. Talk with your primary care physician before starting a new routine).

Get the Right Tools

Clippers: Have you ever noticed nail clippers come in two sizes? Many people assume these are sizes for men and women, but they're actually for your hands or feet. Make sure you grab toe clippers for your pedicure. You'll have an easier time grasping them and getting an even cut.

Nail Brush: I like to use a nail brush with an Epsom salt bath or while I exfoliate my tired feet. I use this for my whole foot, not just the nails. It does a great quick job of brushing away old skin and leaves my skin feeling smooth and refreshed.

Making the Most: 5 Services You Don't Have to Pay For

Sometimes we don't have the resources we need to get things done - or we don't know they are already at our disposal. This is the main reason I started Janie Girl; to share resources, encourage and build each other up to Make the Most and live fully. I've posted services that were free in the past, but I wanted to share some others that are more basic and meaningful.

Have you ever needed a service and thought, "Ugh, I wish this was free"? Or did you have an outage and desperately needed an alternative? Here are five services you don't need to pay for... at least in a pinch!

Fax without the machine

FaxZero: Have you ever needed to fax a document from home? It's last minute and too late to mail. It's an urgent time-sensitive form and you need it there now? But who has a fax machine? Check out FaxZero. It's a free internet faxing service that lest you send faxes to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, up to three pages per fax and five faxes per day. The best part, you don't need a secondary phone line! Go to FaxZero.com

Text from your computer

Joopz: I know many of my readers don't text or don't have the option with their phone service. Offers come often that require texting, but that doesn't mean you can't participate! Check out Joopz, It's a free web-based text messaging service that enables two-way communications from the Web to any mobile phone in the U.S. and Canada.. and back! That means you can text with friends, family or even companies for coupons and offers - all for FREE without using your cell phone! All you need is an internet connection (desktop computer, laptop or tablet). Go to Joopz.com

Make a call from your email

Gmail: If you have a Gmail account, did you know you can make calls directly from an email that you send or receive. When you open an email with a phone number in the text, the number will be in blue. Click the phone number in the email. On the keypad that appears, click Call. Make sure you have speakers and a microphone installed prior to using this feature. If you want to have inbound calls, you can also sign up for Google voice. This requires a bit of registration, but offers several features and integrates your current phone. Go to Gmail.com

Use Your Smart Phone to Browse the Internet

Tethering: I'm not talking about using your smartphone to browse, I mean use your phone as a hot spot so you can see the internet on your home computer. It's called internet tethering - the method is different for each smartphone, but there are so many options, and most are FREE! This is a great option to have if your provider is known for going down from time to time. PC Advisor has some great tips on how to set this up for your devices.

Free Media Borrowing

Hoopla: We all love reading books on Kindle, which is cheaper than purchasing a hard copy. And getting DVDs from Redbox or even having a Netflix or Hulu subscription is a huge money saver over cable... but did you know there is a free service that lets you digitally access the resources from your local library online? For FREE?! Introducing Hoopla: instantly borrow digital movies, music and audiobooks by simply being a library cardholder. Titles stream instantly and are automatically returned at the end of the lending period. It's that simple! FYI: Your local public library must have an account set up with Hoopla Digital before you can use the Hoopla app. Check to see participating libraries. Go to HooplaDigital.com

Greater Phoenix Digital Library: And if you were looking for eBooks, the local Phoenix Public Library doesn't disappoint. Add in streaming video and audiobooks, here are thousands of titles to choose from without leaving the comfort of your home. PDL likely offers more than Hoopla, but is (unfortunately) regional. Check your library website, or ask your local librarian if your region offers digital borrowing. Go to The Greater Phoenix Digital Library.

And I want to throw an extra in. It's not really a service, but this is a awesome learning tool that I just had to share...

Tumble Books: While we're on the subject of reading, here's a great resource for your little ones! Check out Tumble Books: an online collection of animated, talking picture books that help children learn to read in a fun way. TumbleBookBiblioteca, a collection of Spanish books, is also available. Go to TumbleBooks.com

Making the Most: Citrus Trees and Recipes

A few days ago I got a call from my mom; she asked if I wanted to go pick citrus with a friend. You see our dear (and sweet) Mrs. C has this beautiful mini orchard in her yard and she had an over abundance this year. It's a common site in Arizona. In fact, many charities will collect your extra citrus and donate it to the hungry if you have too much. Even the Boy Scouts of America will harvest your fruit for you as a service project. It helps them earn hours toward merit badges and reach goals. Citrus is a way of life here in Phoenix.

Isn't that stunning? The trees were just thriving and the aroma was absolutely amazing. It carried all the way to the street! I was more than happy to set a little time aside and "pluck" away. Fresh from the tree is nothing like purchasing from the store.

Why We Stopped Making Resolutions and How It Changed Us

 
I had always been weary of New Years Resolutions. They have a great purpose and thought behind them, but they often fall apart in application. I try to keep intention in my traditions, because without meaning why do we do anything?

But for New Years Resolutions, especially after marriage, I felt the pressure and the failure was incredibly heavy. New Years is supposed to be filled with hope, new beginnings and a rebirth of things to come, but I found my resolutions repeatedly unattainable. I quickly realized the contradiction of hope and impending failure was incredibly unfair... To myself... And my family. 

Four years ago the hubbs and I were just starting out; we were dating and we had a lot to look forward to. There were so many dreams and goals that had been waiting on the shelf because we were waiting for each other. It was an imaginary line in the sand, but once we hit that mark it felt like we were off to the races! Career, family, graduation, weddings, and other milestones... They all came so quickly - and soon I found jumping from milestone to milestone caused us to lose something.

Just for a moment, I caught myself missing the beautiful moments in between.

You see, I was in such a hurry to better my life, to be a "perfect wife" and reach goals I convinced myself I needed, I began grasping at dreams that were far outside my reach. Some, I didn't fully embrace either. You know, "keeping up with the Jones." I became a quitter and as a result, I started to hear the voice of self-doubt. I set myself up to fail.

It wasn't until the hubbster pointed out a change in my behavior that I realized the problem. New Years Resolutions are goals we should set for ourselves. But all too often, especially as a woman, I try to reach for more and get hurt in the process. 

Goals and aspirations are admirable pursuits. They have their place in life and while they give me something tangible and make me feel excitement in success; true joy, happiness, love, faith and hope - the things that hold us together - come from somewhere much deeper. 

Hubby and I made a new tradition that year. Instead of dwelling on the negative to drive us to a goal, we started looking to the positive... and released them. Scribbled on a balloon, at the stroke of midnight we watch our dreams float up into the night's sky. I treat it like a physical prayer and the symbolism is powerful. A resolution can be interrupted, forgotten or abandoned. A prayer, once given can never be taken away.

Making the Most: Why We Stream TV

My husband and I love watching TV together; we are huge sci-fi buffs and we really get into various "fandoms" (i.e. the discussions, the merchandise, all of it!). It's our thing - but the cost of cable was starting to grind on my last nerve. You see, we had tried local programming with antennas and converters, etc. Unfortunately the mountains here in The Valley make it difficult for any receiver, even the high end ones to work as advertised. Even though we watch a lot of cable, we were paying for more channels than we watched. It just wasn't working.

Back then Hulu had just launched and I realized watching all my shows on demand (without a subscription!) was the end of cable in our home.

Fast-forward to today - we almost exclusively stream minus a few DVDs we pick up from time to time. We do it all on the Amazon Fire Stick. I know many of you use the Roku, PS3, Apple TV, Google ChromeCast.... there are so many options and we have played with most of them, lol. However it was the quality and price of the Amazon Fire Stick that really sold me. It's easy to use, you can mirror your devices, has a remote and is compatible with many other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video.

You know what the best part is? It's cheaper than Starbucks! LOL. Take that cable! We don't use Netfilx or Hulu Plus right now (although we do get free trials now and then), we mirror Hulu which you can do through the stick or connect your computer to your TV with an HDMI cord and we get Amazon Instant Video free with our Amazon Student account.

Amazon Student let's us get free shipping on most items from Amazon.com and let me tell you, we save a ton.  It's $49/year, but to qualify you'll need to sign up with a .edu email address or get a prime account for $99/year. Both come with free Instant Video. If you get the Amazon Student account for video alone, you're still getting a deal and paying about half the price of Netflix or Hulu. Plus, you can score a 6 month free trial of Amazon Student here!

So let's beak it down

Steaming 
Amazon Fire Stick: $39 (look for this on sale, I got ours for $19!)
HDMI Cord: $5 (if you need one - this is the one we use) 
NetFlix: $8/month
Hulu Plus $8/month
Amazon Prime: $49/year - $99/year
Total = $335/year (at most. This price will go down because you won't purchase equipment every year)

OR

Cable
Basic $75/month
Total = $900/year

My Favorite Apps for Savings

Technology has changed nearly everything we do these days, so it's no surprise that living a Janie Girl life means utilizing all that the tech world has to offer. It seems that is changing on a day-to-day basis, so I like to keep up on what's new and what works... emphasis on the "working" part! lol. Here's a quick and dirty list of all the apps I've found to be useful in my daily endeavors. These nifty little gems are worth every MB they use up, haha, and they're all free on the app store :)

Favado - This is a great app to see who has eggs/milk/bread/etc. on sale this week in your area. Or to compare all ad sales for that matter. No more flipping thru the mailbox and looking for inserts, it's all here. Favado lets you create a shopping list and even shows you if there is a matching coupon and where to find or print it.  https://www.favado.com/ 

Ibotta - Want more savings than coupons? Ibotta gives you rebates on items you purchase after doing a short task (watching a video, liking a FB page, learning trivia). Earn on everything from grocery items to electronics. https://ibotta.com/register

RetailMeNot - RMN lists coupons and sales; need I say more? Find every active coupon available for that last minute trip, show coupon or code at the register and get extra savings! I love checking Retail Me Not every time we shop and find something I don't have a coupon for... just in case. I have saved tons, and it's quick and easy to do. http://www.retailmenot.com/

Groupon - Everyone knows Groupon. Find coupons to events, hotels, restaurants, etc. The bonus to downloading the app? No more wasting paper, you can redeem strait from your phone! http://www.groupon.com/mobile

Safeway - Most grocer's have apps today, but the Safeway app is the best I've seen yet. Find digital coupons as you stroll the aisles, some "just for you", then use them by the time you reach the check out. No waiting like the other grocery stores who warn it make take 1-24 hours to load to your loyalty card. http://www.safeway.com/ShopStores/Get-Connected-Mobile-Apps.page

Amazon and Amazon Subscribe and Save - All the power of buying from Amazon in one quick app! The hubby and I love to us this app because it's faster than any smartphone browser. It's good to know what's cheap and where. Comparing prices on the fly saves me from doing tons of returns! Plus, Best Buy will price match Amazon prices if fulfilled by Amazon... and Fry's Electronics will "match internet pricing". So having a quick look-up can lower your purchase price at the register too! http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000645111

Walmart Savings Catcher - Enough said. Scan your receipt after shopping at Walmart. Within 3 days they will let you know if there is a competitor price cheaper somewhere in your area and refund the difference to you on an e-giftcard.  http://www.walmart.com/cp/Walmart-Mobile-App/1087865

Belly - This is a big one here in Phoenix! Belly is a loyalty card program that any small business can sign up for. That means you have one loyalty card for your favorite "mom and pop" shops in town. The great part about Belly is you can rack up points quickly and start saving right away! Why download the app? If you don't have a Belly card, you can get a digital one thru the app. You can also see a full list of businesses who participates in your area. https://www.bellycard.com/

GoodRX - We have used this app from time to time and if you are looking to save at the pharmacy this is a good app to check out. Compare prices on medications and see available coupons -  yup, that's right, coupons on prescriptions medications.  http://www.goodrx.com/mobile

And if you're looking for more, here's a bigger list from All You Magazine; "The 34 Best Shopping Apps to Save you Money!"

Making the Most: Organizing Your Coupon Stash!

As promised, I want to share with you easy tricks to organize that growing stash of coupons and make them accessible. First, you probably noticed I have a specific way of referencing coupons (i.e. SS 9/19/10 - and if you want to brush up on the couponing abbreviations, you can see my list here).

There are countless ways to organize your coupons, but most just seemed too bulky to me, time consuming to put together and even more time consuming in the store. So here's the system I've com up with that I think fits with my "mad dash" approach to shopping (who doesn't want to shop in under 90 minutes?).

First, when I get my inserts in the mail or newspaper, I label them with a sharpie on the front with the date. The date doesn't always match the date you receive your insert. Instead, you can find the date of that insert on the folded outer edge of the insert cover.

Next, I flip through the insert and clip the coupons I know I'll use and will make good deals. If you have items you like and know go on sale for $1.00, $/x is a great coupon, especially if your store doubles. It's almost a guaranteed freebie!

Once I'm done clipping, I sort my clipped coupons into a recipe box. This recipe box came with dividers, but I also added some (each category is a food group or item group). This box really comes in handy; it's small enough to fit in a shopping cart seat and it's easy to stash in your car. Check out Michaels for these, last night they had a bunch marked for $1.00!

There's also a coupon organizer pictured above. I love my organizer. I use this to hold coupons sorted by store. As I explained before, I don't use shopping lists for my grocery trips. Instead I plan my trips ahead by gathering up my coupons and organizing them by aisle. Once I know what coupons I want to use at which store, I put them in a particular store's divider. That way, when I happen to go, all my coupons for that store are together and ready to be redeemed.

Now what to do with those inserts?

Using letter size pocket expanders, I sort my inserts by month. The great thing about inserts, their size lets you use card stock as a dividers, you don't need tabs! After the year rotates through, the inserts are expired and you can throw 'em out.

And that's it! I keep my coupon organizer on me at all times (it easily fits in my purse, so I never forget it), my recipe box stays in my car (so I can take it with me for heavy shopping) and the inserts stay at home so I can get to them when I'm looking at my shopping lists online. It's a "Now", "Soon", and "Maybe Later" system that's easy and accessible!

So you want to get started? Janie Girl is having her first ever giveaway that can help you organize those coupons! Stay tuned, it's coming this weekend!

Making the Most: The 5 Must Dos of a Couponista

Planning a shopping trip and staying on budget can sometimes become overwhelming. Juggling all the deals, coupons and store policies can add an extra layer of complexity too; it sometimes just makes my head spin! So what do you do to make your shopping trip just a bit easier? Here are a few of my "musts" that I never do without.

1. Never Leave Home Without Your Coupons - I don't know how many times I've ended up out with friends or family and they wanted to go to eat or do a quick shopping trip (lets face it, shopping for us women is recreation, whether we buy or not). Now, I wasn't planning a trip, but here I am at "Such and Such" looking at a great deal that I know I have a coupon for, but it's at... home!?!
   
   To keep me out of the "no coupon woes" I keep a 3 part filing system for them that makes it easy for me to keep my favorite coupons at hand, without lugging around large binders that I would need to stow in my car aiding in my gas bill. The short rundown: I use a small coupon expanding folder that fits in my purse, a receipe box and a large expanding folder. I'll explain this system in full detail in a later post, so I can get you all the information you need to get a system going too.
   
   
2. Have a Plan - I don't do shopping lists. That sounds kind of crazy, doesn't it? But what I've found having a list is just one more thing I have to juggle at the store (and boy, these two arms can only handle so much!). Instead of lists, I use my coupons as my guide.
   
   Before going to a store, I'll sit down at home and organize my coupons that I already know I will use by putting them in order. I order them by aisle and shelf or how I'll see them in the store. Now, every store is different, but if you're like me, you probably have that one store you love. You're loyal, and you know exactly where to find what. Organizing your shopping trip by asile should be a snap!
   
   I don't often buy without coupons, so the few other things that I need to pick up are usually easy to remember. If not, they often fit on a scrap of paper that I can easily put at the back of my coupon stack.
   
   
3. Help Keep Yourself On Budget - I've seen the calculators, but I've always found that keeping a running total in my head is just fine. If I know what I'm up to, then I know when to stop, when to put back, etc. And accounting for tax is generally easy. Use your elementary arithmetic and round up. $.01 - $.49 = $.50, $.50 - $.99 = $1.00 and so on. Freebies are free, but you still have to pay tax. The rounding up method usually covers these taxes.
   
   
4. Buy Small and in Quantity - I know it sounds funny. Before I couponed, the idea was to only go to the store once every two weeks, maybe longer, so we bought in bulk. Plus, bulk is better, right? Actually with couponing, buying small and often is where you get the most bang for your buck. It's the complete opposite of everything I learned growing up, but it makes total sense.
   
   If I want to buy some dial handsoap and the small is marked $1.00, but the large (which is 3x that size) is $2, buying the large would be a great deal. Now, let's coupon: if I have three $1/1 coupons I can get the three small soaps free, but the large will still cost me $1.00. In the long haul, buying small while using coupons pays. You'll also notice that you can't get a great deal on everything every week. So you'll have to go often, at least once a week (or twice if you max out the doubling limit - most stores only let you double up to 3).
   
   Now, who really needs that many soaps in one week?
   
   
5. Learn to Stockpile - Since you can't get a great deal on soap or cereal or, whatever that prize item is in your home, when you can get it free or cheap, you'll want to stockpile. Stockpiling has come to be the couponers' lifestyle. Though I don't really need eight hand soaps in any given week (a purchase from a few weeks ago), they were free and needed in my stockpile. Stocking up keeps you from spending full price in a pinch and keeps you away from that "no coupon" lurch.

Making the Most: Free Products for Party Hosting!

A couple Janie Girl readers brought to my attention their love of House Party and I know why. It's a great website that asks you to host a party and sends you free product or merchandise for doing it! You could get anything from clothing, food, toys and appliances, depending on which event you apply for. I love this! But did you know that House Party isn't the only website who pays to host a party??

Check out the Pssst Network. As a Pssst member you get access to exclusives coupons, videos and the opportunity to apply for My Get Together. MGT lets you host parties featuring General Mills products like it's current event, Chex Mix, just in time for the football season.

Do you have a little one? Earth's Best is looking for Moms who want to host a play-date for infants or toodlers. You'll get $90 in treats and goodies if selected.

Of course you can go the more traditional route and host a consultant led party. Most of these also give hosts valuable product, plus you can ask all kinds of questions of someone in the know and it's more of a co-hosting (a bit easier I think). Check out Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Heritage Makers. (BTW, if you live in the AZ area I can recommend a few consultants like Angela with Pampered Chef - Kitchenwarrior4Him AT gmail DOT com, and Fran with Mary Kay - email me for info).

Have you tried any of the above? Let us know how it went!

Making the Most: Really, That's Free?

Have you ever found a website and thought to yourself, "How did I not know about this!?" Needless to say, I've had a few of those moments. I love that the internet has an endless variety of gadgets and services right at your fingertips. I'm always looking for new sites to try that will make my life just a bit easier, aren't you? Here's some of my favorites that you may, or may not, have heard about.

1. Pandora Radio - If you were like me and cried (just a bit) when internet radio dried up a few years back due to skyrocketing royalties, then you might just love this little gem. Pandora isn't your average online radio, you're the DJ. Choose a song and Pandora will generate a playlist from that pick. Fine tune your playlist by liking/disliking a song and Pandora will take your suggestions into account, making the radio station all your own.
2. Hulu - Video on demand is all the rage, but you have to admit, YouTube quality usually stinks. You can always check out the TV network websites, but every network has a different download for their player which usually ends up being time consuming to load. My favorite must-have right now is Hulu. There's no special download and the video quality is great. Not only do you get most of the major networks, you can see a bunch of shows from your favorite cable channels too, not to mention movies, sneak peaks and exclusive web content!
3. Evite - Evite is an online invitation service that allows you to create custom birthday, party, or anything invitations through email. Evite also has a cute selection of ecards through American Greetings, so once you confirm an invitation, you can send a "Happy Birthday" right back!.
4. Calorie Count - Let's face it, we've all done the fad diets, but Calorie Count is a traditional diet program that allows you to count calories in and out. What makes CC different is the database, knowledgebase and community. This site has thousands of foods listed in their nutritional database making it easy to log with one click and tracking your exercise it just as easy too. From the analysis chart, to the weight loss map, this free program takes that extra hassle out of staying healthy.
5. eHow - This is a fantastic site if you want to learn how to do, well, just about anything. With video tutorials and step by step instructions in every article, eHow makes it easy to put you in the know.
6. Fonolo - Fonolo allows anyone to visually navigate through a company's phone menu before they call cutting waiting time and headaches.Callers simply click on the phone menu option they want, and Fonolo connects them to the right agent. They have thousands of companies big and small listed and you can even suggest one that you don't see. There's also an iPhone app to take it to the next step of convenience.

Also on my list of favorite freebie sites are trading, barter and recycle or "new to you" website that have been getting a lot of attention lately. I can't wait to share these in my next post, so stay tuned.

What's your favorite site that you can't do without? Share with us in the comments below!

Making the Most: 12 Tips on Shopping the Thrift Stores

I'm starting a series on other ways to maximize your frugal finds by sharing ticks and tips I've picked up over the years. It's been trial, error and a whole lot of fortunate accident, but good or bad - up or down - it has always ended up as an adventure!

First up: thrift stores.

Thrift store shopping is a whole different game from your usual department store. There's no stock, everything is one of a kind, most need a little TLC or some good elbow grease and all of it is second-hand. Surprisingly enough though, thrift stores are also a great place to find high quality, gently used and sometimes brand new items at the fraction of the original cost.

Here's some tips on how to make that shopping trip a good one:

1. Look for the Deal of the Day - It could be a special tag color, week number, certain items or rack, but almost every thrift store has a sale every day, prominently displayed. If you don't see a sign right away ask the store clerk for the day's deal. While you're at the store counter see if they have an events calendar too. These can be really handy listing all the upcoming sales for the month or year.
   
2. Always Try it on - I don't know how many times I've picked up a clothing item from at a thrift store only to find that it shrunk in the wash or was custom tailored to the previous owner. Only trying it on will show if it's a good fit. Also, that mirror can be your friend. Seeing clothes as you would wear them can expose stains, rips, missing buttons, lost beads, bad zippers, etc.
3. Test Those Stains - I know it may seem crazy, but try bringing a Tide pen or Shout Wipe with you to the store or into that fitting room. Often you'll be able to tell if a stain is permanent or just a little dust from the stock room floor. It's well worth it to see if that stain will come out in the wash.
   
4. Look For Quality - You'd be surprised the brand names you'll find! You'll have to do a bit of digging, but I've seen wonderful deals on the best of designers. It's not just a luxury to have the nicer brands, think of it as insurance. Since you're buying second hand, the life expectancy of your item is considerably less than one off the shelf at Macy's. Quality brand made items last longer and are less likely to fall apart 6 weeks down the road.
5. Stick to What You Need - It can be tempting to buy when the deals are so good, but it can also add up fast. If you don't have an need for the purchase, there's a good chance it'll end up tucked away in a closet, garage, or worse back at the thrift store donation box. Tip to the wise - resist buying unless you know when and how you'll use it.
   
6. Keep your Eyes Peeled  - It's great advice to go into a thrift store with a plan, but I highly recommend keeping your eyes open for some surprising deals. You never know what you're going to find. You may go in for a pair of jeans and leave with the perfect coffee table for your living room. Stay open minded.
7. Know the Area - Knowing the community where your store is located will give you an idea of the items you'll find in the store. Elementary school near by? You may see a good rack of kids clothing and mom gear. Mall or retail shopping center down the road? You may find higher end items and more brand names. Downtown areas usually have more art selections and so on.
8. Check Specialty Shops - If you're looking for something specific, you may want to look for a specialty thrift store. Try Other Mother's for everything kids, moms and moms-to-be needed. Goodwill's new furniture Redesign Stores are packed full of furniture for every room in your home. And if you need to renovate, Stardust Building Supply is the place to go for gently used and second hand appliances, building material and hardware at up to 80% off retail.
9. Sign up for Newsletters - Newsletters are a great way to keep up to date on store events and sales, but also some offer coupons too! Check out Goodwill for example. Here in AZ, you'll get a coupon every 2 weeks!
10. Donate Your Goods - Donating isn't just good for the community, environment and the charity you give to, but, you guessed it, more coupons! Many thrift stores offer a coupon when you donate. Simply ask for a receipt. Also, your donation may be tax deductible.
11. Check for Promotions - From time to time a store might have a promotion for coupons or even prizes. Take for example Savers' Super Savers Pass where stamps are collected for purchases or donations to get a 30% off coupon. This promotion just ended, but your store may have something similar. Savers also has a Club Card for extra discounts. Sign up in-store for yours today.
12. Go Often - Anyone will tell you, shopping at a thrift store can be hit or miss. You'll have to go often to find the deals you're looking for, but it's well worth it!

Also did you know you can now shop Goodwill online? It's true! ShopGoodwill.com sells items from their Goodwill stores located all over the US. And just like shopping at a physical location, revenues from these online auctions fund Goodwill's education, training and job placement programs for people with disabilities and other barriers.

Do you have a great tip on shopping the thrift stores or want to share a great deal you've recently found? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear your stories!