52 Money Save Ways: Week 20: Always Compare Prices
Can you believe we are already into week 20 of the Money Save Ways tips series? It seems like just yesterday the year started! This series is to supplement the 52 Week Money Challenge as a way to help you not only stay on track with it but do a total spending make-over in your daily habits to help you save even more money! If you are following along with the 52 Week Money Challenge, you should deposit $20 into your savings or $33 if you are doing it in reverse.
52 Money Save Ways: Week 20: Always Compare Prices
It goes without saying that there are as many prices for the same product as there are stores, but did you know that comparison shopping is one of the best ways you can save money and is totally worth the time you put into it? Here are some tips for comparison shopping.
Don’t just look in-store. Looking online can be a great way to get a vast majority of prices that are often cheaper than the traditional store front is. This is true for many products but especially true for electronics, clothing, media, beauty products and auto parts. If you are worried about paying for shipping from online retailers, why not sign up for Amazon Prime which allows you to get free 2-day shipping on a great majority of products found on Amazon?
Know that some things may seem like the same price across the board, but often are not. A great example of this is prescription drugs. Did you know that pharmacies make their own prices on these drugs? One store can sell something for much lower and with the price of prescriptions these days, it is important to save where you can.
Keep your smart phone handy. If you are out shopping for something, keep your phone available for looking at prices at other stores so you don’t have to spend all day driving from store to store. Additionally, many stores will price match competitors so this can be very handy in haggling for the best deal around.
Compare “outside the box”. Don’t just shop specialty stores for something you are looking for. Make sure to check out outlet stores, department stores and even thrift stores. I can’t tell you how many times I was close to buying something when I thought I had found the right price only to be glad I didn’t when just a couple days later, I found a used one at a thrift store for a fraction of the price.
Combine good deals with coupons. When you find the best deal on something, whether it be a new TV or groceries, try to seek out coupons to save even more. You can often find these online. And in the case of groceries, it might be a good idea to have a price book so you can keep an eye out when prices change.
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