It was , and I was browsing Century 21, the former land of discounted designer goods, when I spotted them: Beautiful Dries Van Noten lug-sole oxfords—from the runway, in my size, and half off! At around $300, they certainly weren’t a steal (I was working as a fashion assistant in Manhattan and didn’t have frivolous funds to spend), but in my mind, they were practically free.

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The sales associate rang up the spellbinding Dries shoes, and I was euphoric…until I got home that night, new shoes in tow, and realized my internet had been cut off. Then, I got a follow-up text message from Verizon: my cell- bill was overdue too. There I was, sitting in my shoebox studio apartment while half of my utilities were screaming out pay me! The next day, I walked back to Century 21, the scene of the crime, and returned the shoes so that I could pay my bills. This wasn’t the first time I did the walk of shame; living outside of my means is a behavior that has continued on well throughout my 20s. 

When I entered , however, I’ve decided I need to change. My New Year’s resolution became clear and sobering: It’s time to transform myself from a shopaholic to a save-aholic. Turns out, this sentiment is a popular one. Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge—who helps consumers rewire their brains, shop smarter, and save money in the process—says January marks a popular time for people to reevaluate their consuming habits, and agrees there’s no better time to start than now. “[The new year] provides us with an opportunity to do things differently, and hopefully, better—and that includes being better shoppers.” 

But as a recovering shopaholic, I wondered how can I put my savings plan into action in a way that’s actually realistic. So, I decided to call up two pros for baby-step advice. Below, Bodge spoke to being a smarter shopper overall, giving easy tips to curb frivolous spending habits. Financial expert Alexa Von Tobel—the cofounder and managing partner of Inspired Capital and author of Financially Forward—also touched on how to actually save money when I’m not shopping too. Turns out, applying their guidance into my everyday life was way more simple than I thought it would be. Not only have these tips made it easy to curb my reckless spending tendencies, but they’ve also rewired how I will be approaching managing my finances in . A smarter shopper and saver this year? Now that’s a deal worth investing in. 

1. Von Tobel says to invest in your savings account—and seriously commit to it.

“As soon as your income hits your account, transfer a set amount to your savings automatically. No matter how big or small that number is to start, it sets your habit in motion and drives positive reinforcement as you see your savings balance grow. Next, if you’re new to saving, you want to start by focusing on building your emergency savings—that’s a foundation of six months to a year’s worth of cash. In other words, if a curveball comes your way, this is the safety net you can rely on without going into credit card debt.”

2. Bodge says that if you must online shop, use it to your advantage.

“The main mistake that people make when they shop online is not taking a look for savings opportunities. Thanks to technology, it’s very easy to do so. For instance, if you find an item you want, you should always search for that item online and make sure there’s not a better price elsewhere. I recommend using Google and clicking on the ‘shopping’ tab for the best info.  

Another easy way to save online is to install a free browser extension, like the sidekick from CouponCabin.com. Doing so will ensure that as you browse online, you’ll be alerted to available cash-back [deals] and other discounts. You click on them to activate, and shop as you normally would. Another way to save with minimal effort is to set deal alerts for items you’re interested in on Slickdeals.net. This is very helpful, especially for pricey items. By doing this, you’ll automatically be notified when that item goes on sale, so you don’t have to spend your time and energy looking for deals. Slickdeals also now offers cashback, so there are even more opportunities to save and earn by using this handy tool.”

3. Von Tobel says to put household spending on autopilot.

“For me, I prioritize spending on experiences and travel, and being generous with family and friends. But I hate spending on boring basics. Set aside a few minutes to enroll in subscriptions for your go-to household items (think: paper towels and dog food). Many companies will give you a discount for doing so. For example, Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program gives you 15% off if you put at least five items on a recurring basis. That helps you cut down on the stuff you don’t even care about, and save more for whatever mindful indulgences actually make a difference to you.” 

4. Bodge agrees—ditch those “little luxuries” and stock savings instead.

“What I mean by ‘little luxuries’ are those things that you’re spending on that you could potentially do yourself. Sure, it feels great to have someone do your nails or clean your apartment, but imagine if you did one of those tasks yourself and saved that money every time. This is a great way to save up for a rainy day.” 

5. Von Tobel says to delay instant gratification and think longterm. 

“You’ve probably heard of the Marshmallow Test, the famous study that tested delayed gratification in children. In practice, that means my daughter has five physical piggy banks that she uses to save for different goals, both long- and short-term. Every time she has a quarter or dollar to contribute, she picks which goal it goes to and tracks her progress. Once she’s reached a goal, that money is ready to be spent, guilt-free. You can adopt the same practice no matter your age. Consider setting up sub-accounts for various saving goals. It’s much better to save money toward a specific goal than putting it in a catch-all ‘savings’ bucket—it lets you assign a specific target to a goal, save toward that over time, and know exactly what you stand to gain on the other end (be it the down payment on a home, or a vacation for when we can travel again.”

6. Bodge says to look for spending traps.

“The New Year is a great time to evaluate where your money goes. You will likely find that you are spending way too much for things like mobile service or cable, which are two areas that you can make easy, money-saving adjustments. For example, I was happy with my Verizon mobile service, but it was costing me a fortune every month. I was curious about Mint Mobile, so I tested out their service, using a handy kit that you can buy on Amazon for between $1-3. When I realized that Mint was a good as Verizon, I switched my family over, saving us about $100 a month! We also dropped cable this year because I realized that I was paying for hundreds of channels that we weren’t using. Even after adding a couple more streaming channels, I’m saving over $50 a month.” 

7. Von Tobel says to look for new ways to make your money work for you.

“The new year is the perfect time to look into your company’s benefits. One of the biggest financial misses you can make is not maximizing your 401K benefits. If you started a new job in the past year, take a moment to check your policy. If your employer matches any percent of your retirement savings, that’s like free money, so make it a goal to contribute as much as possible to get that match. Also, invest ‘extra’ money. Tech has opened up access to so many ways to start investing, no matter how much money you’re working with. Companies like Public.com let you own slices of companies starting with as little as a dollar. Fractional investing is a great way to start building an investing muscle and allows you to invest in companies you believe in. They charge zero commissions to invest, so there’s no downside to testing it out.”

8. Bodge says to secure the right card for shopping. 

“Another big miss is shopping with the wrong credit card. It’s wise to revisit your credit cards periodically to make sure you are using cards that are best suited for the way you shop. Using a free service like Gigapoints will help you determine which credit cards are best for you so you can get the most out of your shopping, including rewards, welcome bonuses, annual fees, and more.” 

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9. Bodge says to also consider the purchase before buying. 

“Buying impulsively can get you into a world of trouble. If you are prone to shopping impulsively, it might also make sense to get into the habit of walking away from your virtual shopping cart for a breather. When you walk away, think about that item—is it something you need? Something you’ll really use? Something that will make life easier, or more comfortable? And most importantly, can you afford it? If you answered ‘yes’ to most of these questions, it’s probably okay.

Also, consider buying gently used instead of new, to give previously loved items new life! For fashion, look for designer finds on sites like The RealReal, or if you’re a photography buff, try a site like MPB.com for carefully-inspected camera equipment that comes with a six-month warranty. You can save 30% on average when you buy used instead of new.”

"I Saved $65 Doing It": Grocery Shoppers Are Sharing Their Best Money-Saving Habits, And This Should Be Required Reading Right Now

"Use the 60/30/10 grocery rule."

It's, unfortunately, far too easy to spend one million dollars a week on groceries these days, so I'm always on the lookout for good money-saving ideas. Recently, I was poking around on Quora and came across some grocery shopping tips that are too good not to share. Here are some of the best ones:

1. "Anything in the center aisles of the store I usually skip, except for a few exceptions, such as the baking and spice aisle, the tuna fish, the peanut butter, rice and beans. Shop mostly along the walls of the grocery store. That’s where the produce, meats, dairy, and eggs are."

2. "If you have trouble with impulse spending, shop with cash. Going in with only $25 or $50 to spend on the next three days keeps you from buying unnecessary things."

—Andrea McCurdy

3. "Be organized in your fridge. Sometimes, I tend to buy lots of food just to shove it into the back of the fridge and forget its existence. When I remember it, it's already expired. A huge waste every time."

4. "My grocery offers delivery. For a modest yearly sum, the delivery is at no additional charge. I buy nearly all my groceries this way. The prices are the same as in the store. I don’t do any impulse buying, saving quite a bit. I don’t have to spend time grocery shopping, either. My car doesn’t spend time in a parking lot getting dinged, and I save on gas. Tipping is not permitted. It’s a win-win!"

—Wendy M.

5. "I never go to the store without a list. This might seem obvious, but it's a lifesaver! I plan my meals for the week, check what I already have in the pantry and fridge, and then write down only what I need. It helps me avoid those impulse buys that always seem to sneak into my cart. Another thing I do is look for sales and discounts. I check the weekly flyers and clip coupons when I have time. Sometimes, I even use those store apps that offer digital coupons and personalized deals. It takes a little extra effort, but it's worth it to save a few bucks here and there."

6. "Choose one or two stores near you with generally good prices, and use them for most of your shopping. Don’t go all over town. Space permitting, make fewer, larger trips."

—Betsy Megas

7. "Eat before you go to the store. When you're hungry, everything is tempting!"

8. "Plan ahead. If you need cream for one dish, find another dish that will use up the rest of the cream within a few days."

—Lynn E. 

9. "Look for the store brand or in-house brand items. Many stores, supermarkets, and online shops sell groceries and food items of their own brands. The price of these items is often less than that of other competing brands."

10. "Partially prepare your meals in advance. Try to do some preparations like marination, chopping the vegetables, mixing the spices required for cooking, and other things that can help you speed up your cooking time. When cooking gets easier and quicker, you are less tempted to buy from outside."

—Kushal Parsa

11. "I always make a list, and I check my list against the weekly sales flyer. Sometimes, if non-essentials are not on sale, but I know it will be soon, I’ll hold off on buying that item. If pantry items go on sale and I know I’m low but not out, I’ll stock up. I always check the expiration date and see if I will use the item by that date."

12. "I check the cost per ounce. The items on sale aren’t always the cheapest price."

—Cali A Taylor

13. "Shop your pantry first. Take a few things out of your cupboard, fridge, and freezer. What do you need to make these meals?"

14. "At least half of what we buy is on sale! Our local grocer has weekly sales that come out on Wednesday through the following Monday. I’m there on Wednesday, shopping for the stuff that’s just been marked down."

—Jan Steinman

Are you enjoying these money-saving grocery tips? Share this post with your favorite shopping buddy!

15. "Meal plan based on what will spoil first. For example, if you bought fresh strawberries, you should include them in every meal until they are gone."

16. "In the US, it seems there is a fair amount of produce that is rejected by large grocery stores for aesthetic reasons, e.g., a bell pepper that is half green and half red, and this produce is still often sold at small independent grocery stores. In both California and Maryland, I've found Mexican groceries where the produce is half as much as Safeway."

—Mark Eichenlaub

17. "Buy in bulk when it makes sense, such as for non-perishable items you use frequently."

18. "I’ve observed many friends who will purchase bulk items at stores like Costco, Sam’s Clubs, and the like but will buy twice as much as they would normally use. So if an item like a super large bag of broccoli is $5 a bag, but you throw away half of it because it wasn’t used quickly enough because it’s just the two of you. Well, realistically, you paid $10 a bag for what you used. Poor purchasing habits."

—Jim Connolly

19. "Look high and low – not in the middle. The most expensive items are usually put on the shelves where you can easily see and reach them. Some of the less expensive items may be on the higher or lower shelves."

20. "Use a rewards card if your store offers them. By engaging in weekly deals and point bonuses, you can receive anywhere from $5 to $10 in credit toward future purchases. Just be careful with this approach. If you are spending an extra $10+ on items that you don’t need to save $10, then you’re not actually saving money. Only follow this if you are going to spend that amount anyway or if you are using the bulk buy approach."

—Bradley Dalli

21. "Invest in herbs and spices. These will make food, no matter how cheap, more exciting."

22. "If something goes off in a shop, it's their problem; if it goes off in your house, it's yours. Don't buy food you are going to throw away. It's fairly easy to judge what you ate all of the previous week. For instance, no one throws away bacon or steak, but perishables and impulse buys 'that might be a good idea' do get thrown away."

—Joe Geronimo Martinez

23. "Use the 60/30/10 grocery rule and spend 60% of your budget on fruits and veggies and 30% on protein such as dairy, fish, and meat. The remaining 10% can be used on snacks and extra stuff that you might need."

24. "If you live in a city, go to ethnic neighborhoods and shop in the markets there. A plucked chicken will naturally cost more than one you pluck yourself (I’m not kidding!), but in general, the produce and meat will be MUCH lower-priced than at the big chains."

—Albert Cornelius Doyle

25. "Use leftovers so nothing goes to waste. You can make four meals from one skinny chicken. Growing up, it went like this: baked chicken on Sunday, chicken and dumplings on Monday, chicken soup on Tuesday, and chicken gravy on toast on Wednesday."

26. "Fruits and vegetables in season are usually cheaper and fresher than those not in season. Try to plan your meals around seasonal produce."

—Zarita Lopez

27. "Eat more vegetarian meals. Lentils and beans are way less expensive than meat."

28. "If you see something on sale but the grocer is out of stock, ask for a rain check. They are sometimes good for 30 days. Rain checks are given out as an incentive for you to return to the store for more purchases."

—Howard Hirsch

29. "Use a calculator. Stick to your list and use a calculator as you shop to stay under budget."

30. "On Tuesday, I saved over $65 on my grocery bill by using coupons. The total bill was $253, I paid $185. Totally sold on coupons and using the online system for my favorite grocery store to have additional coupons on their online system and using their frequent customer options."

—Susan Zook

31. "Create a menu that revolves around inexpensive ingredients like rice or pasta, for example. If you are unsure of what the costs of food are, visit the grocery store, walk the aisles, and take note of all the food that interests you and what they cost. Then, determine what is inexpensive to you and set a budget for the entirety of the menu or just one dish."

32. "If you eat meat, buy what’s on special this week and freeze it. Then, plan meals around it for next week."

—Evelyn Jane Saungikar

33. "Save leftovers and make soup. Even bones that have been gnawed on by family members (maybe not the dog) can be boiled up for trendy 'bone broth,' otherwise known as stock. Chop and brown onion, chop up the random odds and ends from the fridge and freezer, and toss them in with water to cover. Make some garlic bread on the side, or even just buttered toast."

34. "I keep a supply of pantry staples bought in bulk, like several varieties of rice, dried beans, cornmeal, flour, nuts, condiments, and dried fruits. When I make a pot of beans, rice, or polenta, I make enough for three or four meals and freeze in meal-size portions."

—Pearl York

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35. And finally, "Share with friends. You can save by buying in bulk at warehouse stores or at sale prices. You can go a step further and share these bargains with friends. If I buy a three-pack of toothpaste at Costco, I sometimes arrange to share the cost with my children. I do the same with other bulk items. My wife and I have friends over for dinner often and our friends invite us for dinner too. Cooking for a larger group is cheaper, and eating with friends is fun."

What do you do to save money on groceries? Share your favorite tip or trick in the comments!