Big Lots is one of many stores I shop at to keep the cost of groceries and household items as low as possible for our family.
For a list of 52 different websites, apps, and stores our thrifty family uses to help us keep our expenses low, click here
10 Things To Buy At Big Lots: Plus How To Increase Your Savings
(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See my disclosure page for more information)
5 Ways To Save Even More At Big Lots
1. Join Their Buzz Club
Membership to the Buzz Club is free and you will get the heads up through email that an exclusive 20% off day for members is coming up as well as other exclusive deals.
Joining loyalty programs and downloading loyalty apps can lead to significant savings. Here is a list of over 50 restaurants that offer such programs.
2. Take Advantage Of Special 20% Off Days
Buzz Club will also allow you to shop at exclusive member’s only events where you will receive 20% off your entire purchase.
3. Hit The Clearance Aisle
All Big Lots have a clearance aisle that contains merchandise marked down even lower than the already low Big Lots price.
I have saved so much by shopping clearance racks over the years. Here are my favorite tips for finding them and tips on how to lower the prices further when you do.
4. Keep Your Eyes Open For The Grocery Clear Out Carts
Often you will find a grocery cart full of food close to its expiration date at the front door area of Big Lots. I have seen boxes of Oreo cookies in this cart for as low as $0.25 a box.
5. Visit Regularly
Big Lots changes its stock regularly. Deals differ from week to week. If you have the time and you have Big Lots in a convenient location near you, try adding Big Lots to your weekly errand route. Of course, you shouldn’t buy items just because they are an unbelievable low price. Always repeat this thrifty question to yourself before you put any item in your cart.
10 Things My Thrifty Family Loves To Buy At Big Lots
(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See my disclosure page for more information)
1. Organic Foods
I have found organic food items at Big Lots for lower than the sale price in my local grocery store. What is available is a bit of a hit and miss, but when I find it, I grab it.
Here is a list of 20 websites and apps you can use to save money on organic foods.
2. Paint Supplies
Before we paint any room, our thrifty family always heads to Big Lots first for rollers, paintbrushes, paint trays, tarps, anything but painter’s tape (believe me; it pays to buy the expensive brand of painter tape–we prefer this brand).
Here is are all the thrifty ways we save money renovating homes, including the one we bought for ourselves that cost just $10,000.
3. Underwear
I find name brand underwear at Big Lots cheaper than big box store prices and that is before buying them during one of the 20% off days for Buzz Club members.
4. Socks
Just like underwear, Big Lots often have name brand socks for sale at lower prices than I can find anywhere else.
5. Name Brand Shoes
For several years I bought our family Crocs at Big Lots for just $10 to $15 a pair.
6. Patio Furniture
The supply is limited and it tends to sell out fast, but the prices are much less than in other stores.
Go here to read all the ways we save money on landscaping.
7. Books
My husband has a fantastic collection of how-to books on anything to do with renovation–all from Big Lots. My favorite beginner’s crochet book is also from Big Lots.
For 17 thrifty ways to save money on books read this post.
8. Cooking Utensils
I have bought several top quality stainless steel kitchen utensils at extremely low prices at Big Lots. I have also bought numerous Pyrex containers to fill with my handmade items and give as wedding gifts.
And speaking of Pyrex, did you know you can get replacement lids for your Pyrex containers on Amazon? This discovery made my thrifty heart leap!
For a list of my favorite thrifty kitchen items, check out this post.
9. Electronic Cases and Accessories
The case for my iPad and various phone charges our family owns all were purchased from Big Lots. Plus we have bought many pairs of earbuds and headphones over the years from Big Lots.
10. Curtains and Rods
I get compliments all the time on my curtain rods and curtains and most people’s eyes go big when I tell them I got them at Big Lots.
Take a peek at my favorite thrifty decorating tips here.
One More Way To Save Money At Big Lots!
Since writing this post, I discovered one more way to save money at Big Lots: Apps.
Here Are Two Apps That Pay You To Upload Your Receipts From Big Lots.
- CoinOut: Go here to sign up for CoinOut and then download the app (visit this guide to learn all about Coinout).
- Receipt Hog: Go here to sign up for Receipt Hog. Use the code YECT1667 during sign-up to earn free spins (Visit this guide to learn all about Receipt Hog).
And If You Shop On The Big Lots Website, make sure you are signed up for Honey and have their website browser installed as Honey could be able to apply a discount code for you that will save you even more money.
Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon–get your copy here!
Become A Snail Pacer
Receive a monthly newsletter full of tips for making life changes at a realistic pace.
My husband is a huge Big Lots fan. We have purcahsed many, many things from there.
Thanks for linking up your list of ways to save and sharing it on my site. You made the best mom advice list! You can read about it here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2013/05/best-mom-advice-52013/
I am a big knitting fan and sometimes I like to play around with the trendy yarn of the day. Big Lots always has it for really cheap. It isn’t high quality, but it is a nice way to play with yarn trends that will be over soon anyhow.
I love to knit too! I knit mostly dish cloths.
I buy all of my cleaning and laundry supplies at Big Lots!
I go to Big Lots for my dryer sheets! I get the 100ct box of Cuddle Soft for $2! I can’t find dryer sheets cheaper than that ANYWHERE!
They have cute home decorating items and kitchen stuff actually…framed artwork, kitchen towels, decorative boxes, etc. I bought a framed art piece (rectangular piece about 6 x 12) for $6!
I love Big Lots! I mostly buy organic food there, but I also stock up on Asian and Indian ingredients that are normally impossible to find in my area (rice noodles, panko, and sesame oil at rock bottom prices).
Awesome post! I love Big Lots!
Pinning now!
~L
I LOVE Big Lots! 🙂 I get a lot of awesome makeup deals there. I got my current pillow there that was even lower in price than it is at Costco or even at Kohl’s on sale with a coupon code.
Here in Southern California I buy my bread at Big Lots. They carry Sara Lee breads, buns, and bagels, and Nature’s Own products. The great thing is that everything is $1.40 each and many time the expiration date is days away. I buy up as much as I can and freeze them. They will not tell me what days are delivery days, but I always fins something I can use.
Not sure if you have 99 cent stores in yr area but you can get bread for a dollar when they have it
I’ve bought yarn and scrapbooking paper at Big Lots. We recently bought a sectional couch from them- best deal we found in town!
They have nice home decor too and specialty foods at a cheaper price.
Yes I have gotten yarn at Big Lots before too! Thanks for adding your deals to the list.
I love to buy baby food! So cheap! We also buy diapers on 20% off days.
Stocking up on diapers on the 20% off day is an excellent tip!
Furniture! My sister purchased sectional at an expensive furniture store in our town – after two years it was broken and they had to jerry rig a fix after finding out the store couldn’t do anything for them. Our sectional – purchased at Big Lots the same year – still going strong and looking great!
Yes we have bar stools that we got for our kitchen at Big Lots I think 7 years ago and they are still going strong.
I bought a Sharp vacuum last week Big Lots normal price was $99.99– even in Ollie’s Bargains it is $129.00
Then Big Lots had a sale on vacuums last week and it was marked $79.99. Then on Saturday when they had 20% off it was $16. cheaper– final price $63.99. Love Big Lots.
Great deal!
I buy lots of items from Big Lots, but mostly its for baby food (or squeezable pouches). I get them for about $.33/pouch or $.20/jar.
Big Lots is great, so many deals & their new updated rewards program make saving even better (surprise savings often in their newsletter). Unfortunately our Big Lots stopped carrying books & been noticing less variety (sometimes you land better deals at the dollar store & they do coupons). I have another favorite store to suggest (we don’t go often its a drive) but if you live close enough check out Ollie’s Outlet (they also have a saver program Ollie’s Army).
A neighboring town has an Ollie’s Outlet. I was impressed by their merchandise.
I bought 2 pairs of winter gloves there for the same price as one pair anywhere else.
I love Big Lots! But, I can’t go hungry or I buy all sorts of snack foods that I shouldn’t. It’ss like catnip to me
I love Big Lots!they have a large selection of organic foods,furniture,curtains,cleaning supplies,and laundry items that are hard to find.it is also my first choice because in our area the store is not overcrowded,and there is typically a short checkout time,unlike Walmart,which can be a nightmare! Love Big Lots!!!
I like to stock up on all sorts of cards at Big Lots. I have a large extended family, so I tend to buy a lot of birthday & anniversary cards in particular. The one here has a good selection and the prices are always at MOST, 60% of their original price. I also always check for E.l.f. products in the makeup aisle so I might get whatever else looks interesting – usually nail, hair, or jewelry related and I like to check out their DVDs. (Seriously, $3 for a DVD? Umm, okay!) That’s of course, in addition to foodstuffs, possibly interesting tech stuff, possibly interesting automotive stuff, and/or toys if a friend or family member’s child is having a birthday.
Thanks for adding the tip about the greeting cards. I hadn’t thought of that.
Love big lots, I wish there was one here in rural Utah. However when I did live in Salt lake county, I used to go all the time! Fun fact: big lots has actually been around for at least almost 40 years? But they weren’t always big lots, before Big lots, they were Macfrugals, then before that, they were called Pic NSave. In fact, my grandmother lived just down the street from one, and that’s where she got all her Christmas decor, and all us grandkids presents. This was about 25 years ago now. Also, another fun fact is that a lot of those clothing is mostly mall leftovers (whatever malls are still around anyway). Awesome post.
Thanks for adding the history! I had no idea.
I recently bought a couch set, my new queen size mattress and box spring, along with a new comforter set there for $1,000! I managed to get there on a day when they happened to be having a 20% off the entire store day, so I scored a killer deal. All the furniture was high quality Simmons. It was a great deal. I noticed they also have great cookware and it’s a good place to look for other home accessories on the cheap. I’m going to have to shop there more often. I just don’t think about it much.
I find that beauty care products are among the best things to buy at Big Lots. I have bought lots of great nail polishes there (ie: Sephora brand and gel polishes) for $1-2. Name brand hair care supplies, expensive razors, etc are all some of the best things to save on there!
Also, shelf liner/contact paper is something that they regularly stock and they have some really great styles at about a fifth of the cost anywhere else (and it can be used to line shelves, cover boxes/metal filing cabinets, decorate dorm rooms, etc).
Thanks for adding these great tips.
Years ago I loved Big Lots. I always found great prices on virtually everything in the store. Unfortunately, the location near us has only a few items that are worth buying there and none of it is stuff we need to buy regularly. The only things I’ve found worth buying there are things like cookwear and food storage containers (got a lot of nice Anchor Hocking there).
The store near us actually has HIGHER prices on most of the items we buy when compared to our local grocery stores. It’s funny because I was just thinking, “Oh, I should check the dollar store for dog food” until I realized dog food at the dollar store is $1 per can. At my local grocery store it’s less than 70-cents. Just because a store claims to be a bargain store or liquidator or whatever doesn’t always mean it’s the best place to shop.
I miss the Big Lots in the previous city I lived in. It truly had great prices compared to the other local shops. Sigh….
I noticed these changes at our Big Lots. You have to be careful!
We have bought two Serta mattress sets from Big Lots and saved a bundle. They have served very well in our guest rooms. (The actual beds are brass style beds we bought online from Overstock.com.)
Yes! Mattresses are another great item to buy at Big Lots. We have bought all our children’s mattresses there.
Big Lots actually got its start as Odd Lots in Columbus, Ohio. They were a part of Consoladated Industries. CI would buy out the inventories of defunct companies and sell the items at the Odd Lots stores. Best story: In the 70’s, Delorean (yes, as in Back to The Future) went bankrupt and CI bought out all the cars and parts. They held a sweepstakes at one of the stores to win a gold plated Delorean. Everytime I drove down that road, I would pull in and enter . No , I didn’t win but it was fun to think about drving a gold Delorean around town. I believe that CI still owns all the parts for Deloreans for repair.
This is a cool story! Thanks for taking the time to add it. I love learning about the history behind stores.
I bought a gazebo at Big Lots and I love it. We spend many hours in it and the screens keep out mosquitos. I also buy lots of my gardening supplies, gloves, orchid baskets there.
I love their garden supplies!
Hustle on down to Big Lots immediately after Christmas. I scored some gorgeous holiday decorations and cute gift items at (wait for it) 90% off the original good price. Our neighborhood does a Secret Santa gift exchange every year and I’m all ready for under $5.00. The all weather decorations are destined for our front porch.
Now all I have to do is remember next December where I stored everything. Don’t wait too long. The place was mobbed when the doors opened.
Great tip!
We have a big lots in the plaza where I grocery shop. For some reason my eyes always sort of bounced over it without registering it was even there but all these comments have definitely inspired me! Especially because groceries are so expensive relative to the cost if living here, anything helps!