11 Costly Mistakes People Make Shopping at Home Depot

Home Depot is the place to go for household essentials, home repair materials, and many other fun purchases for your home. But there are some surprising financial mistakes many people make while shopping there that could be costing them money.

Before your next Home Depot shopping trip, learn more about these costly mistakes to avoid.

Buying tools is fine if you plan on using them often, but if you only need to use something once or twice, it’s likely better to rent them.

Home Depot has many tools and equipment available to rent, so you won't have to spend big bucks on something you won’t use often that’ll just gather dust sitting around.

If a product is cheaper at another store but you’re shopping at Home Depot, using their price-matching policy is the way to go. Home Depot has a low price guarantee stating they'll honor it if you can prove a lower price somewhere else.

You shouldn’t spend more than you have to, so get the lowest price possible by asking for it.

Coupons are one of the easiest ways to save money, but many shoppers don’t know they can use them at Home Depot.

One Home Depot hack not everyone knows is that the store offers coupons on its website. The savings center tab on the website has discounts, deals, and coupon codes to help shoppers save more money.

Some Home Depot items have rebates, enticing shoppers to buy them with the idea of getting money back. The rebates sound great and offer heavy savings, but many customers forget or choose not to submit them.

Take the time to do this as soon as you get home with your purchase to ensure you’re not leaving money sitting on the table.

Home Depot staff typically know what materials and equipment are necessary for each project. Not asking them questions or taking advantage of the store’s free resources could cost you time and money.

Do you ever purchase something and then find it on sale soon after? Instead of being frustrated, go back and get a price adjustment to get some money back.

All you have to do is take your receipt to Home Depot customer service within 30 days.

When scanning the Home Depot aisles, pay attention to the meaning of different numbers in their pricing.

Anything ending in .06 is likely to have a lower price in six weeks, while those with .03 will have a price reduction or get donated to charity in three weeks, likely also meaning it’s the best price you’ll see on that item.

If any perennials, trees, roses, or shrubs at Home Depot die within one year, you can return it. Not everyone wants to dig up a dead plant, but if you cared for it properly and it didn’t thrive, you can get your money back.

If it dies before you even plant it, it's all the more reason to exchange it or get a refund. Other plants not in those categories are returnable within 90 days.

If customers don’t end up buying the paint they requested or return it because it wasn’t the color they had in mind, Home Depot puts it in a bargain area.

The paints in this area are steeply discounted, so you can save money on your next DIY paint project.

Home renovations often come with pre-planning, so you often know ahead of time what you’ll need down the line. While you wait to make a large purchase, looking for price changes could save you money.

Home Depot often has flash sales and unexpected price reductions. If you regularly watch for sales on what you need, there’s a good chance you could catch it at a lower price.

If you or your spouse served in the military, Home Depot offers a 10% discount. Active military personnel, veterans, and their spouses can utilize it.

You can follow a link on the Home Depot website to register your military status. Then, scan your virtual ID or enter your phone number to receive your discount at the register.

Keep these money-saving Home Depot hacks in mind next time you’re there so you can make the right moves financially.

You can save even more while shopping at Home Depot and other stores by using a credit card with rewards to get some money back. 

It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid wasting money in retirement—as long as you make sure to pay off the balance in full right away.