Welcome back, fellow parent

Happy 4th of July!

It's a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends...and scoop up some great shopping deals.

Whether you're hoping to snag some new tech or finally upgrade your grill or kitchen appliances, you can expect to find savings at most retailers this weekend.

Why? As a marketer, I can attest that holiday shopping discounts are a very effective pricing strategy. Customers expect it, and retailers know they can easily draw in business.

One thing to keep in mind: even though something is on discount, doesn't mean it's a good deal.

Many brands will raise the base price before "putting it on sale," protecting their bottom lines while using time-sensitive pricing to rope you in. It's consumer behavior 101.

Let's jump into how to find the best deals this weekend.

Create Your Shopping List

Just like you should never grocery shop when hungry, make a list of what you need ahead of time. This will help you to resist all of the marketing tactics being thrown your way this weekend.

Remember, these brands have teams dedicated solely to the art of getting you to buy more.

Here are two tips when building your list:

Tip #1: Assess Your Needs

Do you know what's cheaper than getting buying something on sale? Buying nothing at all. Take a moment to think about what you truly need. Depending on what's on your list, consider waiting until Black Friday deals. It's just around the corner and you may be able to snag an even better price for waiting.

Tip #2: Set a Budget

This one is pretty straightforward. Set a budget before you start shopping, and stick with it! I'm biased but believe you should keep your expenses low, pay off any debt, and invest the rest. Your future self will thank you.

How to Find a Genuine Deal

While the internet is full of hot nonsense nowadays, there are still a few tools out there that may make a positive impact on your life.

I did a deep dive and found a few that are pretty well-known to help you find discounts:

• Honey: This is a FREE browser extension that can help you find coupon and promo codes online, along with price history. Plus, it's backed by PayPal which gives users a bit more peace of mind.

• Slickdeals: Showcases deals found across countless retailers on the web. One really cool aspect of Slickdeals is it is very community-focused. Fellow shoppers will share discount findings in real-time and will upvote and comment on deals to help others know if it's actually a good deal or not.

• Camelcamelcamel: One of the oldest Amazon price trackers on the market, it will show you item price history to give you a better sense of if a deal is an actual deal.

• Ibotta and Rakuten: These are two very popular cashback apps that can save you hundreds of dollars per year at retailers in-person and online. If you want to give Ibotta a try, feel free to use my referral code at signup - KFKDXDX - and we'll both get $5 after you start earning cashback. It's part of Ibotta's refer-a-friend program. Disclaimer: The Ibotta link may fall under the rules of an affiliate program. All this means is that we'll both receive a small commission using the link, with no extra cost to you.

• RetailMeNot: this is a very popular online aggregator for both coupons and promo codes.

How to Leverage Retailer Marketing to Your Advantage

Retailers love to use various tactics to retain customers. Tap into their strategies to save money on products you were already planning to buy.

Here's how:

• Sign up for retailer email newsletters to receive notice of any upcoming sales. Retailers know that price is important to their customers and will keep their loyal following up-to-date on upcoming sales. Plus, as a subscriber, you may receive an exclusive discount from time to time.

• Along with newsletters, most retailers now offer loyalty programs, where you can earn rewards. Usually, these are points to use at their store, but sometimes rewards can include cashback or swag. Two of my favorites are Target and Chipotle. Target offers discounts and early access to sales, and Chipotle offers points for food and swag (nothing beats a "free" burrito).

• Most of the largest retailers (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.) have price-match policies. While these are not always the easiest to navigate, in theory, they're simple. Find a lower price elsewhere on the same product, and they'll match it.

While the best way to truly save money this weekend isn't to shop at all, the second best is to focus on items you need and buy them at a discount. Holidays are a great time to tap into discounts.

A quick shameless plug. I’ve slashed my budget spreadsheet price to only $5 for the month of July. If you’re in the market for an easy-to-use spreadsheet, click below to take a peak at what we put together.

We’re a bit biased but think it’s pretty great. Plus, it’s helped fellow parents save money and make a plan for their financial future.

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Thank You for Reading

Thanks again for reading. Drop me a note with what’s on your mind, I’m here to help.

Talk soon,

The Dollar Dad

P.S. If you’re considering starting a newsletter or blog this year, I’d highly recommend Beehiiv (use my link for 20% off any paid plan for 3 months). Drop me a note if you need help getting started or growing your business.

P.S.S. As a heads up, the above link for Beehiiv is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase using the above link, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you.