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Use Your Brain And Save Your Wallet
by Anonymous
Use Your Brain And Save Your Wallet
While Labor Day began in 1882 as a celebration of the American workforce, nowadays it’s viewed chiefly as a paean to the end of summer. But while you’re being tempted by all those Labor Day sales and events, consider that the fruits of your labors—those dollars in your wallet—come with a hefty price tag attached: hours and hours of your own hard efforts.
So wouldn’t it be wise to use your brain instead of your brawn to make the most of that hard-earned money? “Buying smart is one of the best ways available to stretch your finances,” says Art Beroff, coauthor of The Bargain Hunter’s & Smart Consumer’s Field Guide (Avebury Books 2003, available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com), “especially as the fall season—with all those electronics sales—looms near. Beroff offers these bargain-hunting tips:
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Don’t be afraid to ask for a deal. From small merchants to major chains, retailers are generally surprisingly eager to haggle. If you’re friendly, courteous, and honest, you’ll come away with a bargain more often than you’d imagine. Sample opener: “I’m looking for a first computer for my grade-school son. Do you have any demos or returns that you can give me a good deal on?” (Note: Demos and returns usually come with full warranties; be sure to ask.)
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Don’t get attached. If you stand there gazing lustfully at that big-screen TV, you lose your bargaining edge. The salesperson is not going to say, “I see you love that television; why don’t take $100 off it for you?” Go for nonchalance instead. Sample opener: “I wouldn’t mind having that TV but it’s over my price range. Is there anything you can do?”
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Do your homework and shop around. You can’t know what is a good deal versus what isn’t if you don’t know the product and its average retail price. Before you go to actually purchase a big-ticket item, comparison-shop stores and brands for features and prices.
“Bargain hunting is a terrific way to stretch your purchasing dollar and save time as well as money,” Beroff says. “Every dollar you save—or ten dollars or one hundred or one thousand dollars—by shopping smart is a dollar in your bank account you wouldn’t otherwise have, a dollar you’d have to spend extra time and effort to earn (and then pay income tax on).”
This article courtesy of http://www.cardwalletonline.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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