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Organized Shopping
Plan Ahead to Get the Best Deals
If you want to save money on almost anything you buy, you will save the most by planning ahead and strategizing. Here are some ways to use time to your advantage when it comes to looking for a great deal.
Know the Sales Patterns
It is not what you buy, but when you buy it. For example, traditionally, department stores have a ‘white sale’ in January for sheets and towels. Clothing stores have a predictable pattern too. Usually, at the end of each season you can find clearance savings for clothes. January is a good time to get other things for less too. The stores want to clear out their unsold holiday inventory.
If you are booking a trip, try to keep track of sale patterns as far in advance as possible. There are days and times that airline prices are lower. Same with rental vehicles. Do a little research and see if you can spot a trend on your preferred airline or with your favorite rental car company. Carve out a few minutes each week to update your results.
Book as soon as the price drops. Sometimes that will be the lowest rate you will ever see, but if not, often times you will be able to get a credit if the price drops even lower. One time I had booked a rental vehicle, and I kept checking back to see if the price dropped. It never did, but when I checked for the last time about a week before the trip, the price had gone up by almost $600.00!
Sign Up For Sale Notifications and Related Blogs
If you have a particular item in mind, sign up for blogs and consumer information sites which will notify you when sales are happening. Sometimes you can find an annual or semi-annual sale that will give you 50% off on your purchases.
Look for Sales at the Beginning
When a new product is introduced, there are often sales as an incentive to get it into as many hands as possible. If it’s something you really want, consider getting it as soon as it comes out before the price gets raised.
Plan to Shop on Certain Days
Everyone has heard of Black Friday. If you have planned out your holiday gift-giving lists, you can check the ads beforehand and plan your shopping strategy to get big savings. You can…
