Everyone is well aware that the economy is not what it used to be. Job losses are taking a toll on many people from coast to coast. This has led to a rise in thrifty spenders and those who want to learn the secrets of getting more for less. You have come to the right place; check out these seven tips before your next shopping trip.

Write a List This may sound like an obvious thing to do, but many people simply don’t do it. They rely on a mental list to remember what they need to buy. However, it is extremely important to make a written list to avoid those impulse, unplanned purchases. Impulse buys are the kind of purchases that are unplanned, and usually occur near the end of your shopping trip. They are also the items that usually end up in a junk drawer and are never used. If you want to know where all your money goes, just look in your junk drawer. The bottom line is that you don’t want to leave home without a list, and you must stick to that list.

Comparison Shopping Were you aware that many stores will honor comparison ads from their competitors? Wal-Mart agrees to honor comp ads from any store within a 30-mile radius of their store. The only restrictions on this are buy one get one free and percentage off sales. Everything else is fair game. Therefore, while you are making your list you might want to look at the grocery ads from your local paper and get the best deal available. You will probably want to take the ad with you to the store in case the associate needs to verify pricing.

Look for Coupons Many people look down on the use of coupons, but even the rich use them; nevertheless, using coupons can help you save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill. No one would refuse a twenty dollar bill if offered it, so don’t refuse to use coupons.

Family Size Do not be fooled by thinking you can save money automatically by purchasing family size. Many times, you do get a better deal when buying in bulk but be sure to check and make sure before purchasing 100 gallons of dish detergent. Some stores provide the per ounce break down on the shelf tag; this is the easiest way to compare prices, however you may need to carry a calculator for the stores that do not offer these tags.

Shop with ShopNBC.com ShopNBC.com is one of the best-hidden jewels on the internet. The website offers a plethora of deals on every kind of product imaginable, and many of these deals cannot be found anywhere else. They offer special prices on Egyptian cotton sheets, which would ordinarily be ridiculously expensive in any other retail store.

Auctions Several years ago, the online auction craze took the country by storm, making eBay founders very wealthy. While the excitement surrounding online auctions has died down, there are still great deals to be had. You can acquire everything from household goods to apparel and accessories. But do be careful because shipping charges can quickly add up, reversing the effect of the discounts you are receiving.

Major Purchases Take your time when making major purchases. Do not be in a rush to buy them. Save your money and keep a list of those items you really want like a new piece of furniture or a new television. Cut out pictures from magazines of what you want and really take the time to comparison shop. However, let a few months pass before buying these items; either you will realize that you really don’t need it or it will be on sale.