Clothes
- Ross and T.J. Maxx
- Misc. clearance racks
- Consignment and thrift stores when I visit my sis (I haven’t had much luck with the ones in my area)

Shoes (aka my weakness)
- Ross and T.J. Maxx
- Occasionally Payless
- Misc. clearances racks

Food
- Publix for their generics
- Sams for bulk stuff like bags of flour and sugar
- A local grocery store that has great produce, grain bins, and health food
- Big Lots for stuff in jars and cans, plus Twinnings Green tea

DVDs
- My husband and I don’t really buy DVDs. Heck, we don’t really rent them, either.

Books
- Most of my books I read for free from the library or online
- About $50 twice a year at the library book sale
- Amazon.com for specific books that I really want

Computer Stuff
- My husband takes care of this as the resident computer expert.

Misc Stuff
- Amazon. I tend to research purchases a lot, so I often end up buying from Amazon so that I can get the specific item I want.
- Ross and T.J. Maxx for home purchases
- Sams, Walgreens, and Publix for toiletries
- Local specialty stores for just about everything else. This option is a lot cheaper than people might expect (at least in my area). I’ve gotten great deals at a local band supply store, and found the perfect set of storage containers at a very small kitchen supply store after being unimpressed with the selection at the big box stores.

I do occasionally make it into the mall, Target, and other big boxes, but not regularly.

Dont buy fast food…. not healthy and its more expensive than making it at home for the quantity you get.

I mean really. Is it even real food? Don’t even get me started on the conditions of its re-processing and handling…

Fast-food regardless of the “cheap” price is not a good value at all. You’re much better off running into a grocery store for a couple pieces of fruit and a bottle of water for half the price or less of a “value-meal”. At home, I can stir-fry an extremely healthy meal in the same time I could run to Jack-in-the-box a block away and return home.

Clothes

* Internet
* Clearance racks at Kohls and Target
* Shopping for the best deal wherever it’s at

Shoes

* Online and various shoe and dept stores

Food

* Stater Bros.
* Henry’s
* Vons
* Mimi’s

DVDs

* I’ve never bought a DVD in my life
* I’ve bought 1 CD in the last 10 years
* I’ve never paid for TV

Books

* http://books.google.com/

Computer Stuff

* Internet
* Fry’s

Misc Stuff

* Internet
* Target
* Wal-Mart

This computer Wal-Mart (which I try to avoid but $325 for a new laptop wasn’t bad, and cheaper than fixing my old one)

HEB for groceries

Don’t buy clothes, shoes, etc… if I do it’s Goodwill, Salvation Army

Target for household things.

I try to walk in town, or ride my bike. I drive enough to and from work.

Clothes: 1. Thrift stores. You can find so much great stuff for just a few bucks. 2. But I refuse to buy undies and such at thrift stores and thus hit up my local TJ Maxx or Marshalls (Again, if I lived near a Nordstrom Rack, I would go there too). 3. Two words: Outlet mall, particularly Banana Republic and Gap outlets.

Books, CDs, DVDs: One word: Library. If I must buy it, I go to half.com or amazon.com.

Shoes: Lately, amazon.com has had a lot of great sales with free shipping. I love free shipping. And free returns.

Other points:
1. craigslist.org – for buying and selling random things
2. kayak.com – to find the cheapest airline ticket, I use this so much (and I do not mind paying a little more to get frequent flier miles)
3. Regarding gas, I do not bother driving all over the county hoping to save a couple pennies per gallon. Also, if I have to drive (I try to bike, bus or walk as much as possible), I combine trips. I hate driving. With a passion.
4. Target. I am not a fan of Walmart, not so much for political reasons, but the people there simply annoy me. And as much as Costco and such are great, I do not need to buy bulk (this single gal does not need a gallon thing of soy sauce).

Thank you! And good night!

Shoes: Payless, Endless.com, Zappos.com

Food: Trader Joe’s, Target (for what TJ doesn’t have)

DVDs: I don’t buy, I Netflix or watch HBO/Showtime.

Books: Amazon.com

Computer Stuff: Newegg.com, Macsales.com, Fry’s Electronics (when I know exactly what I need and don’t want to wait for shipping)

Misc Stuff: Target, Amazon.com

And the number one place (as aggregated by Mint.com) where I “shop” is:
Starbucks :)

Clothes: Costco, Ross, Land’s End
Shoes: Costco, Sport Mart, Sears
Food: Albertson’s, 7/11 – junk food, Costco
DVDs: Only rent from Netflix
Books and magazines (my weakness): Amazon.com, Borders (magazines, Costco
Gadgets: Amazon.com, Miscellaneous

Cliff

For groceries, I prefer Vons or Vons.com to Albertsons – I save about $30 a week for the same things using Vons and their preferred club discounts with my card.

If things like lotion and shampoo are too pricey at Vons, I buy those at Walmart instead. Most general household goods are bought at Walmart and Target, like everyone else here seems to use. Walgreen’s has good weekly specials and sales, too – watch the mail circulars and newspaper.

Mrs. Micah: I don’t have them within a convenient driving location, so I have never visit either place (although I haven’t read too many good things about Goodwill stores — nothing on the goods in the stores, but more so on wacky employees hoarding the better products donated).

Crowman: Would frequent Marshalls more if there’s a close location. Actually I’m well aware that fast food isn’t cheap (both short and long term). The 9 trips to the grocery store averaged out to be about $3.58 per meal, almost 60% cheaper than a meal at a fast food joint’s average of $6.12 per meal. Short on time during that month to prepare food… but that’s a rather poor excuse. The waist-line, energy level, and not to mention health tells me to try harder for the rest of the year. We’ll see how it goes.

Shoes: Marshalls, MJM, Outlets

Food: Local Restaurants, Whole Foods, Costco

Almost Everything Else: Amazon.com

Amazon has good prices (although not always the best prices), and you can get free shipping on a lot of items. I love having a complete list of everything I buy that is non-essential. Also like their ordering process a lot and that it keeps me out of stores.

@Cap: Fast food only seems cheap. Unless you get really good health care free, consider cutting out the fast food a savings on multiple levels.