Four Tips for Saving Savvy

Here is some advice that you may not have heard before. Whenever you make a purchase, always ask for a discount. This is just one of several tips will help you become a savvy shopper.

Now that the holiday season has arrived fine- tuned shopping skills are very important. At this time of year, it’s very important to take advantage of all the deals you can possibly find. This concept involves more than just showing up to camp out at Wal-Mart late on Thanksgiving night!

You have to look way beyond hot Cyber Monday or Black Friday deals. Here are four tips that will help you become a very savvy shopper whenever shopping for gifts or making everyday purchases.

1. Do Internet Research

I have a strict rule that I follow when buying anything over £50. I always research prices first online. This does two things. First you do not have to go to two or more stores at a time to price items. You can do your research from the comfort of home. Second, you know you have found the best price when you have done your investigating across all the major price sites such as PriceGrabber, Google Shopping, or Nextag.

2. Think Twice Before You Buy

Before you pull the purchase trigger think carefully. You want to ask yourself the following questions:
Is the item a necessity?
Can I truly afford it?
Have I done everything to be sure I am paying the lowest price for it?
Will the recipient really enjoy it?

When holiday shopping I make it a rule to steer clear from gag gifts. Instead, buy family and friends items that you know they will really use or that they really need. Of course, if someone on your holiday shopping list enjoys novelty gifts you can go ahead and buy them something unique but not without doing research first for great deals. If you don’t know what to buy them ask them for a list of things they really want to receive. You can also ask family and friends what other family and friends might want or need.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle

Believe it or not, you can often negotiate the price of any item you would like to buy even at national chains. As a matter of fact, the higher an item costs the more likely the retailer will be happy to negotiate the price with you. Even if they don’t, it never hurts to ask for discounts. You might have more negotiating success at mom-and-pop shops. But even if you can’t negotiate a discount you might be able to get a coupon or some other discount for the purchase.

4. Subscribe to Bargain-Hunting Websites

Another great way to find deals on just about everything is by subscribing to so-called bargain-hunting websites like SlickDeals or FatWallet. These websites are driven by members who participate in online communities. These members share information they gather about the hottest deals available on clothes, toys, electronics and other items. Members post information that you really cannot find anywhere else about special deals or hard-to-find offers. Essentially other members help each other do additional research to find the absolute lowest prices on items everyone wants to buy.

I have found that savvy shopping can really save lots of time and money. Whether you need groceries, holiday gifts or other items for around the house or for yourself, doing research negotiating prices and taking advantage of hard-to-find offers can really improve your entire shopping experience.

It is easy to put these tips into practice. They are relatively simple to follow, too. Although they require some effort, you will find that being a savvy shopper really pays off. Click here how your kids can eat for free.