By Joseph Palumbo III
U.S. Labor Department statistics show the economy lost 263,000 jobs in September. It is no secret consumers have grown more cost-conscious and frugal. Excessive spending is no longer the thing to do, but we are not out of the recession yet. It is becoming fashionable to talk about value and what we saved on an item or a purchase. Now that saving money is in, let’s talk about how to go about that.
Something that never goes out of style is clipping coupons. Coupons are a terrific way to save money. You see what items are being offered and purchase them with money off. One Web site of interest is couponmom.com.
Some people try to haggle down a price. Haggling — or bargaining, as I call it — is a fantastic way to bring down a price for a good or service. There is nothing wrong with saying you want to shop around if you cannot do better on the price. But in these trying economic times, do not haggle because businesses are looking to retain your business.
While shopping with my wife and children last week, I noticed it is OK to price-compare when shopping. Looking at various labels at the supermarket or price tags at the department store, as well as looking for what is on sale, is a wonderful way to save money. Supermarkets and department stores are showcasing sales more than ever in an effort to sell more product and keep customers coming back.
So How’s Business regarding saving money? The money you save using the above tips will add up over time and save you money in the long run. If you calculate what you save in, say, quitting smoking or using coupons when you shop, you will be astounded at the thousands of dollars you save a year. In some cases you could substantiate a car payment on those savings. The one thing we have to understand as consumers is that the marketplace is changing and we can capitalize on some the of deals being offered because of it.
Contact Joe Palumbo at 516-297-4034 or jp@c21amhomes.com.
