Thoughts On Finance

In a struggling economy, more and more people are looking for ways to save money.  Many stores, however, are taking advantage of this market and are trying to convince you that they are running sales and specials, that are really no bargain at all.  The only way to really spot this out is to know your prices.  If a price is genuinely lower and bumped up for the sole purpose of discounting it and still making close to the same profit, then really it is just a scam to get you to spend your money.  That is why it is very important to be a wise shopper.

TIPS TO SHOPPING WISELY:

• Shop with a list.  This will keep you from being drawn to items that you don’t need just because they are “on sale”.
• Be sure to use flyers from stores as well as the internet to shop around.  Many times when a certain store in your area has a product on sale, you will find that other stores in your area will reduce the price on that item even more.
• Know the prices of the items that you regularly buy.  This can help you spot what is truly a good deal.
• Consider buying items that you use a lot in bulk.  Some of these items can actually be purchased online and shipped to you for less.
• Don’t impulse shop.  If you have a specific need, then look around before making a purchase, don’t fall into the trap of I need it right now.  This can allow you to fall victim to price gouging.
• Don’t be afraid to wait.  Many times we just buy what we need because it is there, but it is truly best to buy everything when it is at its lowest possible price.
• Ask around.  Many times when you are looking for a good deal on something, the people you know can be your biggest helpers.  So don’t be afraid to ask, they may just know a friend of a friend or a bargain basement store where you can get a better deal.

It is important to use all the resources available to get the best prices these days.  So don’t just buy the ads that the stores are running.  Do the comparison yourself and you will find this method can help you really save big.

I guess, with all the talk about money and finances in the forefront of everyone’s minds, you would think that more people would be taking action and cutting back and saving money now for the future.  This is really not the case because some people really don’t understand shopping wisely and saving money and all that stuff.  It seems pretty simple to me, maybe because I learned from my grandparents, who came from the Great Depression times and didn’t have much money even after they started a family.  Growing up I would hear my grandmother tell stories about wanting to buy a Christmas present for my aunt when she was a little girl and about how they could only afford a doll, but they couldn’t afford the clothes, so she made an outfit for the doll which was my aunt’s only Christmas gift.  I heard stories about adding water to stretch things and making lots of Koolaid to quench the thirst of friends who would come for a visit.  My grandparents now have money, but still do not spend.  My grandmother still recycles her tin foil and uses it again.  She shops a bargain whenever possible and will reuse items past the point of exhaustion.  Since they never really had money, when they did get it, they still continue to act as if they don’t.  This is how they were raised.  Many times when speaking to my grandmother and grandfather about my struggles with raising a family and about having no money, they share stories about wondering how they would pay for heating fuel and about the tough times.  I look at them now and hope that my future holds for me money in it, as they are a true testament to the power of pushing forward and going from have nots to haves.  A rags to riches story that even now, makes you think about how you are spending your money and what you are spending it on.  I am gradually learning how to cultivate my money and keep it going far past where it should.  I am cutting coupons and shopping sales, I am going to yard sales, I am cutting back.  My kids feel it and are hating it, but I can’t just blow money on their every desire, I keep trying to explain to them the difficult financial times that we are in, but I really don’t think they get it.  The time to cut back is now, so start making gifts for Christmas and thinking of ways to reduce costs where ever you can.  This is a time of “Economic Slowdown” so be ready because when things start to slow down, they eventually come to a stop.