Are you thrifty with new stuff, too?

[Zed Simon]

I think somehow all this thrifting I've done at thrift stores is spilling over into other places. A friend and I do dinner evey couple weeks, and it's rare now that we go to a place we don't have a coupon or special deal for. For groceries, I won't buy it unless it's on sale (or I'm really desperate for it). The computer I'm using right now is a refurb, which was an extra 10% off the refurb price since it was used as a display unit for a week at the factory outlet I got it from.

And I just cheaped out on some great software for it: I found an older version of a creative suite. The newer version (by one generation, to be exact), is identical except for the video editing program. I was going to upgrade eventually, but I got word that the upgrade was $15 off for the next day or so. So I grabbed it. Result: my software is now the exact same program I'd have paid $180 for at retail...only I paid $85 for it - AFTER the upgrade.

Getting away cheap on new things is becoming just as much a habit as thrift stores with me. How about you?

[Jay2TheRescue]

I'm always trying to score a deal on whatever I'm buying.

[brianrhc]

With the poor economy, many folks (including me) are looking for deals, coupons, etc. My latest thing is buying at auctions. A little research, and you can get great prices.

[Big Daddy Audio]

Always looking for the best deal - sometimes to a fault.  My desire for a phenomenal deal sometimes prevents me from pulling the trigger on deals that are, in fact, great deals in and of themselves.

It comes from not having pockets full of cash.

[stewardmmj]

Most definitely.  The tight economy has made me realize my spending mistakes.  My new habits will continue when the economy improves.   

[FleaQueen]

VERY.

The only thing I don't generally do is clip grocery coupons, because I've found that store brands are generally as good, and often better than, the name brands. 

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[valleythriftshopper]

The only thing I buy new in general is food, health & beauty and cleaning supplies.  The one thing I get reamed on is pet food because my cat is super picky, but I coupon and also have a really good discount food store in town that gets good buy outs.  The Dollar Tree store is good for cleaning supplies and some health & beauty.  When I go through the Stop & Shop self-check out line I scan the wastebasket for discarded coupons that come out of the automatic feeder in addition to keeping my own.  I think people throw them away without looking at them because I see ones like "free milk" or "$2.00 off your next order" etc which is like cash in the trash.  Today I got a free box of trash bags and free bottle of dish soap with such coupons. 

[Sir Thrift-A-Lot]

I used to be really big into entering contests & getting free stuff. I haven't paid for a razor in 5 years. I haven't paid for shampoo in 4 years.

When I was entering contests I won $200, concert tickets, movie tickets, a laptop, a skiing vacation, dinners, tickets to parties at open bars, food, gift cards, mp3 player, cds, dvds $2500 in Via Rail gift cards & probably much more I can't even recall!

Picking up coke rewards codes from pop bottles & entering them.

Not too into it anymore & I do spend money more freely..