Bargain Hunters’ Resource Guide
Common Wealth Charlotte
(Uncommon Financial Solutions for Low Income Families) www.CommonWealthCharlotte.org (under construction)
1900 Commonwealth Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205
Index
1.
Clothing Bargain Guide
Page 3
2.
Food Bargain Guide
Page 5
3.
Furniture Bargain Guide
Page 6
4.
Cell Phone Saving Tips
Page 7
5.
Auto Insurance Saving Tips
Page 8
6.
Entertainment Saving Tips
Page 9
7.
Saving at Home
Page 11
CLOTHING
Crisis Assistance Ministry
Free Store
Hours of Operation Monday -‐ Friday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Address 500-‐A Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206 Phone: 704-‐371-‐3001
Website www.crisisassistance.org
Note Clothes are provided free of charge. What to bring: Picture ID of the head of household, Social security documentation for all household members. You must also be able to provide proof of your address, as well as basic information about each member of your household: age, gender, and race.
Goodwill Industries Thrift Stores
Hours of Operation Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Selected Stores 2901-‐A Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208 Phone: 704-‐372-‐3434 1909 Sardis Road North, Charlotte, NC 28270 Phone: 704-‐841-‐8600 9305 Albemarle Road, Charlotte, NC 28227 Phone: 704-‐567-‐9474 6607 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28217 Phone: 704-‐552-‐2878 3710 W. W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269 Phone: 704-‐597-‐1776
Website www.goodwillsp.org
Note New and gently used clothing / household items available at minimal cost. Money paid for clothing is used to fund Goodwill’s job training and career development programs.
Salvation Army Thrift Stores
Hours of Operation Varies due to store location
Selected Stores 1011 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 4020 Freedom Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208
8500 Pineville Matthews Rd., Charlotte, NC 28226
Website www.satruck.org
Assistance League of Charlotte Thrift Store
Hours of Operation Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Address 3405 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28217 Phone: 704-‐525-‐5000
Website www.charlotte.assistanceleague.org/ps.thriftshop
Note Proceeds from Thrift Shop help fund Assistance League of Charlotte philanthropic programs.
Dress for Success Charlotte
Store Location 202 E. Woodlawn Rd., Suite 104, Charlotte, NC 28217 Phone: 704-‐525-‐
7706
Website www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate
Note Agency can help people transition into the workforce by offering them free professional work attire. Career counseling is offered too. Services offered include one new suit for a job interview and a second suit when the client gets the job. Some other items offered include skirt suits, undergarments, pantsuits, blouses, scarves, unworn pantyhose, and purses/briefcases.
Bargain Hunters’ Thrift Store
Store Location 7020 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte, NC Phone: 704-‐566-‐8295
Note Carries clothing, furniture, books, electronics
FOOD
Loaves and Fishes
Loaves & Fishes provides a week's worth of nutritious groceries to individuals and families in a short-‐term crisis.
Hours of Operation Varies depending on location
Address Multiple food pantries across the state
Notes Families must have a referral from the church or social worker in order
to receive assistance. Families can receive assistance once every 45-‐ days.
Website www.loavesandfishes.org
Information needed Name, Birthdate, Social Security Number and Gender for all household members. Address and Phone Number of head of the household. Employment information for any members of the household
OneHarvest Food Ministries
OneHarvest is a non-‐denominational, faith-‐based organization that offers affordable, pre-‐ packaged, high quality food boxes which can be ordered online. They accept EBT cards.
Pick-‐up location New Hope Missionary Church at 1303 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
To Order www.shop.oneharvest.com
ALDI Discount Grocery Stores
Hours of Operation Monday-‐ Friday 9am -‐ 8pm Saturday 9am -‐ 8pm Sunday 11am -‐ 7pm
Selected Stores 2526 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208 6454 Albemarle Road, Charlotte, NC 28212 4120 Sunset Road, Charlotte, NC 28216
10710 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28273
Website www.aldius.com
Printable Grocery Coupons / Food Deals
Website www.charlotteonthecheap.com/hundreds-‐of-‐free-‐printable-‐grocery-‐ coupons-‐4/
www.charlotteonthecheap.com/4-‐food-‐freebies-‐deals-‐week/
Note Website will prompt you to install coupon-‐printing application. Great daily deals including “free” activities for kids and adults around town.
FURNITURE
Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Furniture Bank
Address 333 Dalton Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28206 Phone: 704-‐522-‐4978
Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Website: www.crisisassistance.org
Note To receive free furniture, a referring partner must screen and qualify your family and submit a referral form. Households must be referred by a house of faith or social service agency and provide their own pick-‐up transportation. No walk-‐ins are permitted. Households may visit once per calendar year.
Beds For Kids
Address 2519 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 Phone: 980-‐422-‐1192 Hours of Operation Varies
Website www.bedsforkids.org
Note To receive free furniture, a referring partner must screen and qualify your family and submit a referral form. For a nominal charge, BFKs will deliver the furniture to your apartment.
Habitat ReStore
Hours of Operation Tues-‐Fri 10AM-‐6PM | Sat 9AM-‐5PM
Store Locations 1133 N Wendover Rd., Charlotte NC 28211, Phone: 704-‐716-‐7044 3326 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte NC 28208, Phone: 704-‐295-‐4495 | 704-‐ 392-‐3295
Website www.charlotterestore.org/
Note New and gently used furniture and household items available at a
minimal cost. Note that minimal money paid for furniture is used to fund affordable homes built by Habitat.
Assistance League of Charlotte Thrift Store
Note: See above. Gently used items such as furniture, clothing, books, toys, jewelry, household items, electronics, computers, shoes, sports equipment and baby items.
Hidden Treasures
Store location 4035 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC Phone: 704-‐651-‐5997
Note Thrift store, upholstery shop, and snack shop on site. Carries vintage and
used clothing, appliances, used furniture, electronics, and home
Cell Phones
Tips on getting the cheapest phones and contracts
Start with cell phone company comparison web sites listed below. These allow you to choose the services you want; phone type (if needed), number of minutes, number of messages, number of lines, amount of data, and contract terms. The plans available are listed with the price. • Wirefly.com • Whistleout.com • Phonedog.com **Beware**
• “Free” phones are not free. They are included in the price of the contract. You are
making monthly payments until the contract is up.
• “Can you hear me now?” Will you have coverage with the company you plan to use?
Because we spend most of our day at work and home, ask neighbors and coworkers if their service is good. Check coverage maps for the companies that you are considering.
• Gigabyte usage. Videos and music can quickly use up your gigabytes and slow your
device down dramatically. For most, your cell phone is used every day for important matters, such as staying in touch with children and work. Having this technology is so important, so choosing the amount of data you need and how you use it can make a huge difference.
Consider these things
• Trade in your old phone. Services like Gazelle and Amazon will buy your old cell phone,
which helps defray the cost of the new one.
• Pay-‐as-‐you-‐go-‐plan. If you do not use a cell phone frequently or want to avoid roaming
charges when travelling, this may be a better option
• Lifeline Program. If you or a relative earn less than 135% of the poverty level, you may
be eligible for a low-‐cost cell phone plan. Check it out at www.fcc.gov/lifeline.
• When buying a phone, check the web site of the provider you have chosen for online-‐
only deals. These are typically cheaper than if you purchase them from a store or kiosk.
Best researched deals
• Wal-‐Mart-‐ Since Straight Talk Wireless customers pay just $45 a month, the difference
amounts to more than $600 a year in savings. Even taking into account the cost of a new, unsubsidized smartphone, you would still break even just 10 months after having switched to Straight Talk.
Auto Insurance
Tips on getting the cheapest auto insurance
• Research all of your options. Many agencies will offer lower rates than you have.
• Bundle all types of insurance with one company for discounts.
• Raise your deductibles. Huge savings can be gained by raising your deductibles.
• Compare insurance rates before buying a car. A more expensive car = more expensive
insurance rates.
• Talk to your insurance agent about dropping collision on a car that is very old and not
very valuable. You are not required by law to carry collision if the car is deemed to be of less value than the policy.
• Special safety features on some cars can bring discounts. Make sure your agent knows if
you have air bags or anti-‐theft devices.
• Whenever possible, don’t pay in installments. You pay a premium for each installment.
• Don’t call about a potential claim, unless you are going to actually file a claim. Records
of inquiries may be used by insurers to raise rates.
• Remember that, as with most things, good credit improves your rates.
RECREATION and ENTERTAINMENT
Tips On Finding Recreation And Entertainment Opportunities That Are Either
Free Or Low-‐Cost
Movies
• Rent a RedBox movie at Harris Teeter and CVS locations for less than $2.00 per night.
The latest movies are usually available.
• Join NetFlix for less than $10.00 a month for unlimited movie or TV show streaming.
You can get DVDs by mail for a low monthly fee, and no postage due.
• Be on the lookout for free outdoor movie nights in the summer. Several venues exist for
free children’s movies. Google it!
• The public library has a great selection of movies for free.
Museums
• Take your family to a museum. Many museums have one day a month where they offer
free admission.
• Discovery Place and Discovery Place Kids now offers $1 admission to families who
qualify (WIC or EBT card required).
Holiday
• Drive around town or to McAdenville to see stunning holiday light displays. No charge. • Go to one of the many malls in the area and see beautiful decorations and listen to
holiday music.
Games
• Free online games for the whole family can be found on iTunes and other formats. • Trade games with friends and neighbors to get a better variety of entertainment.
Library
• Charlotte Mecklenburg has one of the best library systems around. Visit for free movie
rentals, books, books-‐on-‐tape, and music.
Music
• Go to your local library.
• Pandora streams free music. You can choose your stations.
Education
• There are lots of iPhone apps for educational products, such as math, spelling, Spanish,
etc.
• Many universities have free online courses, including Harvard.
Dining
• Some restaurants allow children to eat for free on certain nights. Find out which ones,
and target those places for meals out. • Drink water instead of other beverages.
Sporting Events
• Check out your local high school or community college/university for low-‐cost sporting
events.
Theatre
• Colleges and sometimes high schools offer live theatre at a very low cost.
Freecycle
• Go to www.freecycle .com to find free products and give away unused products.
Barter
• If you have a talent to share, trade with someone else who has a different talent.
Ways to Save at Home
Laundry
• Wash clothes in cold water • Only run full loads of laundry.
Cooking/Meals
• Home cooking is generally healthier and is always less expensive than eating out. • Homemade snacks are healthier and less expensive than junk food. Try a few
favorites.
• Pre-‐plan meals and grocery shop only once a week.
• Buy store brands. They are usually as good as name brands and are sometimes
packaged by the name brand companies.
Heating and Cooling
• Turn down your thermostat in the winter and up in the summer.
• Add extra insulation to your home and find ways to weatherproof around doors,
windows and attics.
• Ask your local electric or gas utility for a free or low-‐cost home energy audit.
• Close your curtains in summer where heat gets trapped inside, and open them to
allow the sun in during winter months.
Electricity
• Turn off lights as you leave a room, and ask your family members to do so too. • Turn down the thermostat in winter and raise it in the summer.
Dishwasher
• Forgo the heated drying cycle. • Run loads only when full.
Water
• Limit the time you shower.
• Don’t leave water running while you brush your teeth.
Buying and Selling
• Have a yard sale. Make extra cash selling unused clothes, household items,
furniture, or other home goods.
• Buy at yard sales. You can often pick up needed items for pennies on the dollar. • Buy or sell on eBay or Craigslist.
• Negotiate prices. Many retailers allow price reductions for the asking. If any item is
in less than perfect condition, definitely ask for a discount.
• Don’t buy warranty plans with major purchases. These plans are pure moneymakers
for businesses.
Vacation
• Take a Staycation, the new trend in vacations. Stay in town and take advantage of
free or low-‐cost entertainment, but treat the day/weekend as if you were away. Don’t do chores around the house. Relax.
Money
• Have a “no spending” month to see how much you can bank by not spending on
anything except essentials. You might be shocked by how much you can save. At the end of the month, put all but 10% into savings, and enjoy a treat with the rest.
• Save your change. It can really add up over the course of a year. Save all of it! • Try to avoid keeping cash on hand. It’s so easy to spend, and if you are not tracking
cash expenses, it can be costly. Track cash expenses for 1 week to find out how much you spend. You may be surprised.
Medical
• Ask your doctor if generic drugs can be substituted for name brand. They are
considerably less expensive.
• Price shop drug stores. Prices vary widely between different chains.
• Eat healthy and exercise for better health and less medical costs. Walking is free
and provides many health benefits.
Gas
• Save gas by combining trips and/or carpool.
• Use the GasBuddy app to find the cheapest gas near you.
• You will get better gas mileage if you keep your car well maintained. • You get better gas mileage if you avoid fast starts ups and quick stops.
Home
• Downsize if you have outgrown your house or apartment.
• Try to live near your workplace. You can save transportation costs.
Social
• Organize potluck dinners with friends and/or family for a low cost fun evening. • Organize game night with family and friends.
Gifts
• Plan ahead. Shop post-‐season for deep discounts. • Agree on a spending cap with family and friends. • Re-‐gift.
• If you knit or crochet or make crafts, give a hand-‐made gift.
Clothing
• Shop at the end of each season. Clothing is discounted up to 75% at season’s end.
You can find great bargains.
• If you dry clean your clothes, check pricing. A small amount can save a lot of money
over time, if you regularly clean items.
Taxes
• Don’t pay for tax refund checks in advance. Plan ahead and wait for your return
through normal channels.
• Federal income taxes can be filed online for free! If you set up direct deposit, the
turnaround time is fairly short. Go to freetax.usa. Turbo tax has free federal and state, if you qualify. Go to turbotax.com. H & R Block also has a free Federal filling. Go to hrblock.com.
Purchases
• It’s tempting, but don’t buy on impulse. We are all prone to fall for great sales
pitches, but think carefully for 24 hours before making major purchases. Only purchase items that you can afford to pay for.
