I-5 Design & Manufacture / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I travel 4.39 miles to grocery shop every week at Trader Joe’s. Although there are several grocery stores in my neighborhood, I have major gripes with each one of them. I’m not alone. Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,200 of its subscribers and found that one-third have said so long to shopping nearby stores.
stevendepolo / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Save money this month by only purchasing items you need from the best buys in March list below. I included items from the Consumer Reports‘ sales calendar plus others I’ve seen on sale around this time.
Gas grills – Their a bit cheaper because of the low temps, but the prices for these are on the rise as the days become warmer. Research last years models to avoid paying the steep prices on new models.
Is it safe to buy appliances from an outlet? Credit: Editor B/Flickr
Jeannie is not sure she can trust an appliance outlet store. What do you think?
Dear Julia, Love your site. Question for you or the readers: we need a new dishwasher and Consumer Reports recommends 2 Whirlpool models in our price range. I did “Bargain Babe” due diligence in looking around for a great price and came across the Whirlpool Outlet store, which claims it has brand new products. But how do I know I can trust them?
Their site looks legit, but they’re based in the Midwest and we’re on the East Coast, so it makes me wonder if I’d be better off paying a little more and buying from a brick-and-mortar store, which feels so 1990s to me! Any advice you could offer would be great! Thanks, Jeannie
Jeannie, I would check a few things off my list before making a major purchase from an online retailer you are new to.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Daquella Manera/flickr
I am a firm believer in returning products. If I get it home and find out that it doesn’t fit, work, or do what the advertising promised, I return it. However, I hate the time, effort, and gas it takes to make a return.
Most stores have very good return policies. However, it often costs more to return the item than its purchase price. For instance,
This week’s Savings Experiment from WalletPop, my former employer, tells you how to pick a grill. Price are coming down now that summer is half over; the video recommended one that costs less than $200!
I got to tour the Consumer Reports testing labs as part of the ShopSmart Summit where I learned about two common scams to watch out for. Here are seven photos to illustrate the tour.
CR tests exercise and infomercial equipment. Can you guess which has the worst track record? As the lab manager said, your diet has a greater effect than exercise on your weight, but they can't sell you a diet so they sell you a product and throw in the diet.
Some people believe everything they read. Credit: AMRosario/Flickr
I recently learned about two common scams at a savvy-shopping summit hosted by ShopSmart magazine, a publication by Consumer Reports. Way beyond Nigerian princes begging for money, this stuff could really trick you.
1. Fake endorsement. This one looks like a web ad from a TV station claiming a product, like diet pills, really works, says Federal Trade Commission lawyer Tracey Thomas. What might trick is you the comments from “real” consumers. But the news sites and comments are fake, and Tracy has yet to see any testing to back up the miracle claims.
2. Almost free trial. The second scam Tracey talked about was
TJ's Next to Godliness Cleaner is tops!
The May issue of ShopSmart has a list of 27 amazing bargain products, 17 of which I’ve listed below. What are your favorite cheap products?
Laundry detergent - ERA 2x Ultra with Oxi Booster is $10, half the cost of top rated brand Tide and just as good.
Sunscreen – Find top rated sunscreen Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 30 at Target for $5.25. Love the spray!
Wine - Pick up Yosemite Road Chardonnay by the dozen at 7-Eleven, which sells it for $4 to $5. But hide the label from foodies and wino friends.
Lightbulbs – EcoSmart Soft White Bulbs at Home Depot are $6 for 4 and is the cheapest of ShopSmart’s top rated CFLs. Each one will save you $56 over the bulbs life compared to incandescents.
Archer Farms chocolate ice cream from Target beat out Haagen Dazs. Kanko*/Flickr
I’m guessing you have eaten generic groceries before. But did you know that in a scientific test, generics equalled or surpassed brands two-thirds of the time?
I recently talked to Sue Perry, deputy editor of ShopSmart magazine, a publication put out by Consumer Reports, about the rising quality of generic groceries. If you have not taken a chance on generic grocery brands, in-house labels are better than ever before. In a scientific test of 21 products, 14 generic labels “were better if not as good,” Perry said. “That’s a pretty good track record.”
Brand names were clear winners in just seven of the categories, and (more…)
Alaskan Dude/Flickr
At the beginning of the month I like to consult the Consumer Reports sales calender, which tells me what things are good to buy this month because of sales, overstock, and seasonal changes in merchandise. Up this month:
- camcorders
- indoor furniture
- outdoor furniture
- swimsuits
Early July is an especially good time to buy a swimsuit because stores are marking them down but there is still a lot of selection. Wait until August and the suits are mismatched and only XS and XXL are left. On tap for August:
- air conditioners
- backpacks
- dehumidifiers
- lawn mowers
- outdoor furniture
- snow throwers
Ross/Flickr
I check the Consumer Reports sales calender once a month to check if the purchases I am contemplating line up with when CR says is the best time to buy. The calender is based on data from industry surveys and publications, and consultations with CR’s in-house experts. Here is what they say will be priced nicely in May:
- Athletic apparel and shoes
- Camping and outdoor gear (my camping pad no longer holds air, but I don’t have any trips planned so I’m going to pass)
- Cordless phones
- Lawn mowers
- Small consumer electronics
And here is what’s on tap for June:
- Camcorders
- Computers (buy early for back to school?)
- Indoor furniture
- Small consumer electronics
- Summer sports gear
- Swimwear (I totally disagree with this one! July and August are the best time to get steeply discounted swimsuits and not sacrifice too much selection.)
Shward/Flickr
Consumer Reports put out a sales calender showing when is the best time to buy cars, clothes, furniture, and dozens of other consumer goods. The monthly list is based on data from industry surveys and publications, and consultations with CR’s in-house experts. Here is what’s on tap for best deals in April:
- Computers
- Digital cameras
- Lawn mowers
- Spring clothing
And here’s a sneak peak for May:
- Athletic apparel and shoes (good thing, I need a bike helmet, a yoga bra, and bike gloves!)
- Camping and outdoor gear
- Cordless phones
- Lawn mowers
- Small consumer electronics
This list doesn’t mean you should rush out and buy the items in these categories. You’ll still have to compare prices and think about which specific product meets your needs. But be on the lookout for sales on these items.
