By MAD21
An article written by Amy Fontinelle called, "Five Money-Saving Shopping Tips" gives some great advice when it comes to aquiring things. Usually, once we find we need something, the first thing we think of is to just jump into the car and head to the store. Amy suggests we do a few other things first:
1. Make the store your last choice. Ask yourself, "Can I get it for free?" and/or "Can I borrow it from someone?"
2. Negotiate when possible. Ask, "Can I negotiate a lower price?" and/or "Can I barter?"
3. Time your purchase. Ask, "When will the item go on sale?" "Are there any coupons?" and "Can I get a better price somewhere else?"
4. Substitute. Ask, "Is there something that doesn't cost as much, but can do the job I need it to?" and "Do I really want this?"
5. Expand your shopping universe. Ask, "Is someone personally selling what I need?" and "Does it make sense to buy this item in bulk?"
Go check out Amy's article. She gives some good specific advice and details for each of these recommendations. Whether it's a one time purchase, big or small, or something you will buy often. It's not a bad idea to ask yourself these questions. Not only will it save you your hard earned money, it will save you a whole lot of time down the road.