After the holidays many stores will hold sales to get rid of unsold stock or to draw in customers during the typical post-Christmas slump. Smart shoppers will save some of their money for these incredible bargains—and, at the same time, spend the money well. You’re in a great position to choose from the different offers and pay only for the best prices and products. Here are some ways to do just that.
Pay with cash
This helps you buy only what you can afford, and also prevents you from paying through your nose on credit card charges. Those shoes that were 50% off may end up costing you more than double their original price if you end up paying interest rates on your purchases for a long time. (Read more money saving tips in this article on how to use your credit card correctly.)
Have a product in mind
It’s not a bargain if you spend money on something you weren’t planning to buy, anyway—or wouldn’t buy if it were at its original price. So instead of wandering aimlessly in a store, a ready victim for all those enticing red tag prices, shop with a particular product in mind. For example: ‘I really need to replace my food processor’ or ‘I need a good coat that I can wear to work.’ Find the particular brand or item that you’re interested in and then compare the prices from different stores.
Look for online coupons
Go online to look for coupons that will give you discounts. Many websites offer coupons on anything from toys to beauty products. It may take some time to find them and print them but think of it this way—it’s like printing yourself dollar bills, because you get to keep more of your cash!
File the receipts
What do you do when something you bought full price suddenly goes on sale? If you kept the receipt some stores will adjust the price if you bought it within one or two weeks of the start of the sale.
Look for the coupon code
if you are buying through the internet, find out if there are any promotional codes (sometimes called coupon codes) that can entitle you to additional discounts or even free shipping.
Get those rebates
Many people don’t take advantage of sales rebates. All you need to get your money back is to mail the original receipt, the UPC code and any other documents the manufacturer may require.
Photo from ronmartin.net
[…] Many stores start offering their sales on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But many stores will offer even bigger discounts starting the first week of December. A lot of it is due to savvy marketing: they know people are in the mood to buy, and that they’re competing against dozens of other stores for your money. So, they do a hook and bait approach: offering some items at a crazy bargain, hoping that you’ll also buy their new stock. If you’re panic-buying and eager to escape the holiday crowds, you probably will. But if you’ve been following our calendar then you’ve got your Christmas list covered, and you have the freedom to compare prices and get only what you want for the best possible price. (Read more tips on how to get the best bargains at Boxing Day sales.) […]