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What picture comes to mind when you hear the word “millionaire”?

Often we think of fancy cars, pin-striped suits, a mansion and luxury vacations. But in the book “The Millionaire Next Door,” authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko conclude that the vast majority of millionaires:

• Focus on saving and investing rather than luxury items
• Create and live by a budget
• Prefer value over status symbols
• Live simple lives below their means.

That’s not to say they don’t enjoy nice things; on the contrary, they simply know how to prioritize true value.

Sometimes we can forget that there are other ways to spend money than simply going to the local retailer and loading up a shopping cart with new items.

Consider these alternative methods of saving money without sacrificing practical value.

Auctions

Maybe it’s seen as old-fashioned from the days of an auctioneer standing at the head of a crowd, hyping up an item and speaking so fast that you only can one in every ten words. But the art of the auction is a forgotten gem. It gives you a fantastic opportunity to score some major deals on unique items.

Consider using AuctionZip.com, where you can search by zip code for auctions in your area. Many auctions these days are online. Simple and easy!

You can also use HiBid.com for the same purpose. Just click “Auctions Near Me,” and off you go.

And, of course, let’s not forget eBay, which needs no introduction!

Yard Sales

Here’s another lost art that I totally enjoyed as a kid. Shopping at yard sales is like a treasure hunt to find a diamond in the rough. Plus, you also have the opportunity to negotiate if you think a price is too high.

Instead of browsing the newspaper like we used to do back in the 90’s, all you have to do now is check out websites such as Yard Sale Search, Garage Sale Finder, and gsalr.com.

You never know what you might find. Anything’s possible!

Estate Sales

Sometimes you can get an even better selection of items and deals from estate sales, since everything has to go.

Check out EstateSales.org and EstateSales.net to find these opportunities in your area.

Flea Markets

If you’re looking to browse multiple vendors in one location, you may enjoy the thrill of visiting a flea market from time to time. These are generally events where local vendors set up stalls in an open-air setting, accompanied by a lively and energetic atmosphere.

Because flea markets open on a less frequent basis (for example, once a week or once a month), they often attract larger crowds on the days when they are operating.

Check out the local flea markets in your area and put the dates on your calendar!

You can start with these directories: Flea Market Zone and Fleamarketmalls.com.

Bartering

Thought bartering was a thing of the past? Think again! Bartering is alive and well today, and an exciting way to exchange your unneeded items for something novel and valuable!

Ever heard of a swap meet? These are events where anyone can set up a stall of goods they’d like to trade for something else. There is usually a small fee, or even no fee, to set up a stall. It can be fun to see what people will be willing to give for the items you no longer need!

These websites can help locate swap meets in your area: Flea Market Zone and Swapmadness.com.

Want to expand your options and do this online? Then try TradeMade, which allows you to post an item or collection of items, while proposing a trade with anyone else for an item that you want.

What if you didn’t even need to trade, but just accept free stuff being given away from neighbors? For that, check out Buynothingproject.org and freecycle.org.

Online Marketplaces

Maybe you can’t find what you’re looking for being given away or bartered, but you can find it for a major discount at Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

A few others that offer excellent value are OfferUp, Nextdoor, and eBay Classifieds.

The possibilities are endless with these popular online marketplaces.

Coupons

You might be thinking of the typical junk mail when you hear the word “coupons.”

But while coupon clipping is still an excellent way to save a little bit on a lot of items, you can also proactively seek out these deals in such places as RetailMeNot that partners with over 30,000 stores and businesses while also offering cash back on some purchases.

At Coupons.com, you can shop online at multiple stores and apply discounts to your purchases.

Conclusion

It’s fun to shop for new stuff.

But it’s adventurous to hunt for treasure! And the human spirit loves to answer the call to adventure.

When we’re adhering to a budget, there are opportunities everywhere to acquire highly practical goods and services for a major discount if we just have the energy (and a smidge of humility) to look.

You’d be amazed at what a written budget, combined with these alternative methods of shopping, can do for your cash flow’s bottom line.

Small positive habits today can serve up a surplus that allows you to pay off debt, save an emergency fund, and invest for a better tomorrow.

You won’t be sacrificing practical value on a smaller budget, and you might even improve your lifestyle by discovering these treasures in unusual places!