| 7 Shopping Secrets Revealed |
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| Written by Riche Goldmann |
| Thursday, 11 June 2009 11:36 |
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Everyone in America is very much aware of the current state of the economy. Unemployment is taking its toll on many people across the nation. This has increased the number of wise shoppers, those looking to get the biggest bang for the smallest buck. If you want to become one of those wise shoppers, then read the following secrets to thrifty shopping.
Everyone in America is very much aware of the current state of the economy. Unemployment is taking its toll on many people across the nation. This has increased the number of wise shoppers, those looking to get the biggest bang for the smallest buck. If you want to become one of those wise shoppers, then read the following secrets to thrifty shopping. Write a List This may sound like an obvious thing to do, but many people simply don't do it. They rely on a mental list to remember what they need to buy. However, it is extremely important to make a written list to avoid those impulse, unplanned purchases. Impulse buys are the kind of purchases that are unplanned, and usually occur near the end of your shopping trip. They are also the items that usually end up in a junk drawer and are never used. If you want to know where all your money goes, just look in your junk drawer. The bottom line is that you don't want to leave home without a list, and you must stick to that list. Comparison Shopping Were you aware that many stores will honor comparison ads from their competitors? Wal-Mart agrees to honor comp ads from any store within a 30-mile radius of their store. The only restrictions on this are buy one get one free and percentage off sales. Everything else is fair game. Therefore, while you are making your list you might want to look at the grocery ads from your local paper and get the best deal available. You will probably want to take the ad with you to the store in case the associate needs to verify pricing. Search for Coupons There are people that turn their noses up to the idea of coupons; nevertheless, if you use them, you can save hundreds of dollars a year on groceries and other items. You wouldnt refuse $5 if somebody offered it to you, so don't refuse to use coupons. Family Size Do not be fooled by thinking you can save money automatically by purchasing family size. Many times, you do get a better deal when buying in bulk but be sure to check and make sure before purchasing 100 gallons of dish detergent. Some stores provide the per ounce break down on the shelf tag; this is the easiest way to compare prices, however you may need to carry a calculator for the stores that do not offer these tags. Shop with ShopNBC.com ShopNBC.com is one of the best-hidden jewels on the internet. The website offers a plethora of deals on every kind of product imaginable, and many of these deals cannot be found anywhere else. They offer special prices on Egyptian cotton sheets, which would ordinarily be ridiculously expensive in any other retail store. Auctions The online auction craze swept the country a few years ago and made the creators of eBay quite wealthy. The buzz has died down somewhat but that does not mean it is a bad choice for shopping deals. You can even find household goods like bulk toilet paper on sale for much less than your local retailer, however watch shipping charges they can quickly add up and negate any savings. Major Purchases Take your time when making major purchases. Do not be in a rush to buy them. Save your money and keep a list of those items you really want like a new piece of furniture or a new television. Cut out pictures from magazines of what you want and really take the time to comparison shop. However, let a few months pass before buying these items; either you will realize that you really don't need it or it will be on sale. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. |