Gift For You

Never pay for shipping.

Even if you're doing your shopping online, make sure that you're not paying for shipping. You should either buy enough to qualify for free shipping, or you should purchase your items online and pick them up in the store—free of charge.

Wait 30 days to make purchases.

Whenever you see something at the store that you feel like you absolutely need, force yourself to wait 30 days before making a decision about buying it. "If, at the end of a month, the urge is still there, then consider purchasing it," writes J. D. Roth, creator of the website Get Rich Slowly. "You aren't actually denying yourself—you're simply denying gratification."

Bring your own bags.

In cities like Los Angeles and New York, stores are required to charge a monetary fee when customers request a paper or plastic bag. Throughout the course of a year, these charges can seriously add up.

Not only is using a reusable bag a small but significant move in the fight against climate change, but some stores will reward you for doing so. When you bring your own bag to Trader Joe's, for example, you're entitled to fill out a raffle ticket for a daily or weekly drawing to win a gift card.