Some stores certainly don’t make saving money easy, despite what they claim. Often the best bargains are really hard to find and even harder to get. The patient shopper, however, will be rewarded with savings. Take your time when you shop, put in a little extra effort and use the following tips to save money on all of your purchases. Isn’t it a pain to find items on clearance? They are usually somewhere off in the back, the signs are confusing (was that 30 percent off or 50 percent off on the other side of the rack), and clothing items … Continue reading →

When you know how manufacturers price items and use that to your advantage, you can come out ahead on major purchases. What is MAP pricing? MAP stands for Minimally Advertised Price. Certain manufacturers don’t want their products sold for less than a standard price, because lower prices might cheapen the brand. This generally applies for electronics and larger purchases, such as appliances. The retail store is under obligation not to put that particular product on sale for less than the minimum amount designated by the manufacturer. For example, take the Nintendo Wii video game. No matter where you go to … Continue reading →

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that retailers are really hoping that you, the consumer, will be suffering from frugal fatigue this holiday season, and they will be doing everything they can in order to encourage you to let go of frugal habits and spend this season. The holidays are usually a time to spend and indulge, so it really a danger zone when it comes to falling off of the frugal wagon. If you aren’t careful, you may wind up spending more than you planned. If you have solid financial goals, such as to pay down debt, to save … Continue reading →

Did you ever notice how dollar signs are going away on menus and price tags? There is a good reason for it, and if you know the trick you can avoid some impulse purchases and get the best value for your, well, dollar. The other day, I was shopping for a dress for an important upcoming wedding we would be attending. As I was looking around, I spotted a dress that was a bit more than I wanted to spend. Still I considered it. Until, that is, I used a little trick on myself. I mentally drew a dollar sign … Continue reading →

Grocery stores aren’t the only ones that have invested dollars and years into figuring out how to make you buy, buy, buy! There is a lot of marketing that is done to figure out how to make your part with your money, even if you weren’t planning to do so. This is why many people complain that they go into the store for one thing and come out with a bunch more. Think about the Target store. How many of us really go in there and come out with the one, and only the one, thing that we came to … Continue reading →