From Lnscommunityradio
Ingenuity, resourcefulness, and sometimes a little boldness: That’s what a great bargain hunter is made of. Do you have what it takes to seek and secure sales and steals? Read on for the rules bargain hunters live by.
1. Nothing Is A Bargain If You Don't Need It
Consider whether you actually need and will use the item you are about to buy, even if you’re parting with only a dollar or two. You’ve come across a beautiful set of antique andirons for next to nothing at a flea market? Wonderful, but remember, you don’t have a fireplace. So you’re not really getting a bargain at all—in fact, you’re throwing away your hard-earned money.
2. It Pays To Think Outside The Box
A little creativity can save you an awful lot of money. You know those handy disinfectant wipes you use around the house? You pay about $0.13 apiece for them. Not a fortune, to be sure, but you can make your own simply by soaking paper towels with Lysol—for about $0.03. Do the math: You’re saving $0.10 a wipe, and that adds up quickly, especially if you’re a good housekeeper who enjoys having a house that sparkles.
3. Get In Touch With Your “Master Negotiator”
When you are bargaining, you don’t always have to haggle like a camel driver, but a little crafty negotiating can save you lots of money. If you’ve ever bought a car, you’ve probably already earned your stripes matching wits with some of the craftiest sales folks on earth, and you probably didn’t think twice about offering less than the asking price of your house. The same willingness to wheel and deal can come in handy in many other situations.
4. Sometimes It Pays To Be A Risk-Taker
Not that you should ever be reckless with your insurance protection and other tools that help keep you financially solvent, but sometimes you can save money in the long run by choosing what might seem to be the riskier option.For example: If you’ve never had an accident and only drive to church on Sundays, you may be better off opting for a higher deductible and lower monthly rates on your auto insurance. Increasing your deductible from $200 to $1,000 can slash the cost for collision and comprehensive coverage by up to 40 percent or more. Raising the deductible on a homeowners policy from $250 to $2,500 can cut premiums by 30 percent.
5. Fools Rush In, And You Won’t Save If You Are One
Remember the andirons in Rule 1? Those would fall into the category of an impulse buy, snapped up without much thought about whether you really need it. If you make rash buying decisions, the consequences could be a lot more dire than a set of superfluous andirons. You could end up with features on a new car that you don’t need and can’t really afford, or an interest rate on a home loan that’s much higher than your budget allows. That’s why you should never simply hand over the cash or sign on the dotted line if you’re feeling rushed or less than 100 percent sure of what you’re doing.
