Ordering from all these amazing companies….how can you afford to do it?

I order from companies that have sample sizes and reasonable shipping, so that I can try a lot of different teas without breaking the bank. I also often wait for sales.

Swaps and stash sales are also a great way to sample lots of different companies without spending a lot.

And I also just spend too much money on tea. But I could be spending more :P

I used to just do bigger orders to meet the free shipping thresholds, but with Steepster I just keep finding more companies I want to try! So I tend to wait for sales and free shipping promotions so I can make smaller orders from more companies. A great way to do that is to sign up for the mailing lists of companies you’re interested in ordering from, or checking the Miscellaneous Sales thread here on the forums.

I also tend to do my buying in spurts, like when I’ve just sold a bunch of stuff online and have money in my Paypal, or during Black Friday when there are a lot of sales. Then I have a full cupboard so it’s easier to be stern with myself about not buying anymore for awhile.

Sample sizes!
Zen tea has great sample prices, and Den’s Tea green tea sampler is a MUST! Verdant still does their AMAZING $5 deal for first time customers…so you’ve gotta do that. (really, you’ve GOT TO! haha)
Butiki is closing on the 31st of this month, so if you’re thinking about ordering from there, you should most definitely go there first. I know some people don’t like the idea of ordering a tea you can’t ever get again, but if you want to taste Butiki, I say go for it! (I know that wasn’t the topic of this thread, but just saying… lol).
Swaps are a REALLY great way to try new tea.
I was worried when I swapped at first because my stash isn’t very extensive, but I quickly learned that it doesn’t really matter when you’re only trading a couple kinds of tea.
But, to answer your question in my very roundabout way, I usually order from one place at a time for budget reasons. I’d love to place a ton of orders, but I just can’t do that. I keep an eye out for sales (Harney and Son’s has coupons quite a bit), and also really pay attention to shipping costs.
Also, comparing loose leaf tea to what I’d pay for bagged at the grocery store was a real eye opener for me… Some teas I can resteep multiple times (drinking ALL day, on occasion), and that’s just not something you can do with a tea bag. I’ve realized that some teas, while more expensive up front, are actually cost effective in the long run.

Yup, ordering from many places at once will end up being expensive. And it tends to be the shipping costs that will kill you. I aim to order multiple teas and/or teaware from a single place to save on shipping. That sometimes means waiting until I’m running low on several teas before replenishing.

There’s also a good selection of tea on Amazon. If you have Prime, you can take advantage of their free 2-day shipping.

Like Sarasonator said, SSSO

“Sales, samples, swaps, and overspending”

Oh, and group orders can save you money on shipping or find you people to split tea and also the cost of the tea with.

And a small amount of fit-pitching and self-pity when I just flat can’t afford to take advantage of a good sale. :)

“I’ve got a pretty solid idea of what kind of teas I like”
IMHO I think that’s where you need to start – start where your tastes/interests are.
52teas and Yunnan Sourcing are two very different companies. If you are interested (or your cupboard is low) in fun flavored teas then you should be looking at 52teas, Davids, Teavana, Della Terra etc. If you are looking to explore straight teas then you should be looking at Mandala, Verdant, Teavivre, Yunnan Sourcing etc. Buy the type of tea you are looking for from a source that specializes in that style.
Divide and conquer is what I’m trying to say. I agree with all the comments – sample sizes, small orders, swaps will all help you explore more companies and more teas. You need to find which companies YOU love.
Welcome to Steepster – good luck with your journey – and yes it probably will be expensive. :))

Samples and swaps. This community is about the best you can find on having others share and swap with. No disappointments around here for the most part.

Swaps, samples, sales, and I spent just over $60/month last year on tea and swap shipping. Since I mostly cut out the expensive coffees and I pack my lunch every day (usually including teas!), I look at it that I’m saving money and improving my health. ;)

Tea is the only drink I buy, so the money is allocated to only tea.

I know others who blow similar (or more) on what I spend on tea on wine. I have buddies that’ll spend similar hitting the bar every weekend. I had many coworkers that spend at least $3 a day at the coffee shop, that’s $90 a month. $90 worth of tea a month? That’s a lot of tea or a good amount of really nice tea.

Also I blog about tea, so I “work” for the tea samples.

I have a monthly budget for tea. Since I’m the only one in my household who drinks a significant amount of tea, it’s only $30 per month. Last year I focused on buying from a few companies to figure out my interests and build up my collection. This year I’m aiming to try a variety of companies. Companies that have sample sizes get priority for me as well. I haven’t really done any swapping yet, but I have participated in some traveling tea boxes, and those are a terrific way to try lots of new teas.