7 simple ways to save more money at Big Lots
Attention savvy shoppers and bargain hunters: You already know that Big Lots is a great place to find big savings on closeout and overstocked merchandise. But are you aware that with a little extra effort, you can cut those prices by an additional 20 percent, 30 percent or more?
Following are seven simple ways to score even bigger savings at Big Lots.
1. Sign up for the Buzz Club
The Big Lots rewards program is called the Buzz Club. Sign up, and you’ll receive special offers and coupons.
For example, it’s not unusual for regular shoppers to receive coupons for $5 off any $15 purchase. That’s a savings of up to 33 percent on Big Lots’ already marked-down prices.
2. Use discount gift cards
Look for Big Lots gift cards priced below their face value on gift card marketplaces. Buy a $100 Big Lots gift card for $90, for example, and you’ll effectively save an additional 10 percent on every item you buy with the gift card.
Examples of gift card marketplaces include:
A comparison website called Gift Card Granny will tell you which of these marketplaces is selling a certain retailer’s gift cards for the lowest price at any given time. So, always visit Gift Card Granny before buying a discounted gift card.
To learn more about how gift card marketplaces work, check out “How Unwanted Gift Cards Saved Me $300 Last Year.”
3. Look at the clearance racks for big savings
Big Lots stores generally have areas where clearance items are grouped together. Find out where your local store displays these items and scour the shelves for incredible deals.
Online shoppers can also find clearance deals 24/7 on Big Lots’ website.
RELATED: If you choose to shop online instead, here are some hacks to save money:
4. Check key webpages
Wondering what’s on sale this week at Big Lots? Visit the retailer’s website and stop by the weekly ad page as well as the weekly deals page.
Want even more savings? Check the coupon page.
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5. Shop through a cash-back site
If you shop online — whether at Big Lots or elsewhere — be sure to go through a cash-back portal. Examples of this type of website include:
When you visit a cash-back portal before shopping online, you can receive money back on every purchase you make at retailers that partner with the cash-back portal. We detail how this process works in “3 Websites That Pay You to Go Shopping.”
Big Lots partners with all three of the portals listed above. Recently, they were offering 2 to 4 percent cash back on purchases from Big Lots’ website.
6. Wait to shop during 20 percent off weekends
Every so often, Big Lots will offer a weekend promotion that involves 20 percent off most everything you buy. Mary Hoover of the blog Mission to Save notes that on those weekends:
“These coupons are good for savings on your total purchase — with only a few exclusions (like dairy and gift cards). Typically, Buzz Club members will receive the discount when using their reward card on Saturday. Then, everyone can score the 20 percent savings using reward card or a printed coupon on Sunday.”
These events typically occur every couple of months, so keep your eyes peeled.
7. Be patient when buying seasonal items
Big Lots regularly discounts items at the end of the season. But if you see these items on sale, it can pay off to pause before purchasing, according to the blog Passion for Savings:
“The prices on the seasonal items drop pretty quickly. If you see an item you love in the seasonal department, wait! Head back to the department in a few days. Chances are, the price will already be lower. Visit the department at the end of the season, and prices are as much as 75 percent off.”
Lastly, note that you can find seasonal deals on Big Lots’ website.
Do you know of other ways to save at Big Lots? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
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