5 Top Ways To Save Money
Table of Contents
1) How to save on furniture
2)How to save on clothing
3)How to save on groceries
4)How to save on vacations
5)How to save on prescription drugs
How to save on furniture
Tips On How To
Save On Purchasing Your Furniture Saving money on purchasing your furniture for
your home
doesn't
necessarily mean sacrificing the quality of the product. Of course, you want
only the best worth for your very own home. The following are keys and tips
that you can follow to save an awful lot of money when you procure your dream
furniture:
1. Look for Furniture on SALE!
More often than not, the best
deal on Furniture on Sale comes
every January and
July. And if you’re looking for outdoor furniture, August is the best time
ever! Also, most of the furniture companies have their furniture set on very
low prices every end of the month for sole purpose of their clearance.
Majority of the retail furniture companies function on monthly basis,
computing their sales, releasing their promotions and introducing new
furniture.
This means that at the end of the month, there will be certain pieces of
furniture that won't be offered the following month, thus these lines of
products will be offered at a very low price. Another reason will be because
most of the furniture companies hire sales people and pay them by commission.
These people will definitely have their own bills to pay so would be a little
more desperate to make the sale, hence, could be giving a better deal for your
most wanted furniture. You can definitely take advantage of their eagerness.
2. Visit your Favorite
Furniture Stores
Check all the possible Furniture Shops first and find the best deal
before finally purchasing your piece. Most regional and national furniture
retailers have outlet shops where suspended, distressed and returned
merchandise is being sold at low prices.
Form a habit of checking these shops frequently —you never know when the
right furniture is going to be waiting for you at its best deal!
3. Apply for the Credit Card
being offered by the Furniture Shop
Some wholesale furniture shops
offer in-store credit cards.
These credit
cards normally give you the best discounts on the furniture inside that
furniture center. All you have to do is apply for this credit card and you can
get discounts for your desired piece of fixture.
Then, you may pay for your credit card bill the following day using the
money that you have allotted for the furniture; this will save you the finance
charge that the credit card company may cost you.
4. Search the World Wide Web
After seeing a certain piece of furniture either at the store near you or
in a certain magazine, check the Net for this certain product. Just enter the
manufacturer’s name and if that piece has its name as well. Use the famous
search engines like Google and Yahoo.
There are some Online Shops that may offer your certain furniture at a
very good discount. However, it is imperative to check the shipping rates and
taxes that may be applied with the product.
Please don't
just rely on the price that is posted on the initial site for it may mislead
you on possible additional charges.
5. Go Directly To The Manufacturer
If you live within a few miles of a furniture manufacturer, it is
strongly suggested that you visit their shops for you may get the lowest
possible price for your preferred furniture.
6. Buy Used Furniture
One of the best ways of saving your hard-earned money is by going to
Second Hand shops for certain furniture. You may opt to have your fixture
reupholstered or refinished by your favorite carpenter to put the touch of your
individuality and giving it the smell of novelty.
More often than not, the total price of your furniture plus the cost of
the repair is still a lot cheaper than buying a totally new piece. Stores
selling used furniture are almost everywhere especially in major cities.
How to save on clothing
Saving Guide on Clothing
Don't buy in Season clothes – different line of clothes come every
season. And more often than not, they normally release new clothes at very high
prices and normally they go down after a few months. Key is just patience to
wait.
For example, when winter comes, coats and sweaters are released, however,
after a month, normal Sale or bargain prices will now be tagged on these
clothes. If you were smart enough to wait, you can still wear these clothes
during the remaining days of winter and the coming fall.
·
Wait for Factory Sales – when Factories put out their sale season, clothes can be cut from
40%-90% off the original price. Imagine how big this saving is! Also, going
directly to the
Manufacturer’s store is a
helpful tip on getting a good deal on clothes.
·
Garage Sales – these are very popular stores and
places where you can get your clothes at really, really low prices. Find garage
sales that are put up by families, in this way, chances of getting quality
clothes are much higher than those garage sales that have been put up for
commercial purposes already.
However, it is important to remember and avoid buying clothes just
because the prices are really low, you might not even wear the clothes, and the
concept of saving is put to waste.
·
Bargain – always visit your favorite store and
befriend the sales people there.
You can then ask for the possible dates of SALE and bargain wherein you can
save at a minimum of 20% off the original price of your desired clothes.
·
Buy two different sizes and two different colors – If
you have kids, it is very advisable to actually get two sizes, since children
grow up really fast. Also, buying two colors to have variety, only if the clothes are already at their reduced rates.
·
Shop Online – nowadays, there are many clothing stores
online. And, most of the clothing lines have their own websites where you can online shop.
Like the regular stores, the online shops have their season for SALE and
BARGAINS as well. Just make a habit of checking regularly your favorite
clothing line to wait for these awaited bargains.
·
Sign up for your Favorite Boutique’s mailing list – be
sure to sign up for your favorite clothing store’s mailing list, newsletter and
catalogs. In this way, you will be updated and be the first one to know of the
upcoming On Sale Items and the new releases of the trendy clothes as well.
·
Coupon Codes and Coupon Cards – if shopping online is
your thing, there are many coupon codes that can be found online that could give you a cut off of the
original price of your favorite online store. Some of the coupon code sites are
the www.couponcabin.com and www.keycode.com.
All you have to do is look for the “apparel” category code and you will
be given your choices of retailers. You can also put the “online coupon” or
“coupon code” in your favorite search engines such as Google and you will be
given a list of sites that could provide you best deals for your retailers.
·
In-Store Credit Cards – many boutiques nowadays, offer
in-store credit cards. All you need to do is apply for a credit card of your
own, especially if you have a favorite store where you frequently buy your
clothes. Normally, these credit cards give good discounts on
clothes being sold in that
particular boutique.
Also, the cardholders normally get special coupons, birthday discounts
and other relative discounts every holiday and often you can get a minimum of
5% up to 15% discounts.
Another benefit of these is free shipping, being updated of the new
arrival of clothes and rebates. However, this tactic only is beneficial if you
plan to pay your credit card bill a day after you have purchased the product.
This is because credit card companies charge an awful lot of finance fees and
interests. It may not even counterbalance the savings you intentionally wanted
in applying for the credit card.
·
Get a part-time job at your favorite store – a lot of
shoppers apply and get part time jobs on their favorite boutique. This will
give them extra money for their job and employee’s discounts on the clothes
being sold in that particular store.
How to save on groceries
Save Money on Your Grocery
Shopping
One of the basic necessities is your stock of groceries. And your budget
for the groceries could make or break your budget for your weekly funds that
should be allotted on other things. This is how flexible the budget for the
groceries could be. This flexibility should be handled properly.
Here are tips on how you can save
money for your groceries:
·
Make sure you aren't hungry before you go to the
Grocery Store – studies have shown that shoppers tend to buy more in the
grocery stores when they are hungry. This is the reason why some grocery shops
have their bakery along the entrance of the
store.
The smell of the freshly baked breads and cakes could really make you
hungry. And this could make you shop and spend more than what you intended.
The best way to handle this is to make sure your
stomach is not empty, if no food can
be taken; drink at least a glass or two of water. Shopping when you’re full
will help you combat the temptations of the
mouth-watering smells inside the
grocery store.
·
Try to look up and down on the shelves – make sure
that you search the higher and lower shelves. The more expensive brands are
normally located on the shelves on your chest level. The cheaper or generic
brands are either located below or higher than your average sight.
·
Shop alone – try to find time to go to the grocery
store by yourself. When you ask for helpers, they tend to increase your bill.
·
Go to the store at the early time of the day – when
you go to the grocery store early in
the morning, you tend to finish with your list a little faster, thus avoiding
the need to roam around and get attracted to unnecessary expenses.
·
Shop when you are in a good mood – when you shop and
you feel tired, you tend to buy more sweets, chocolates and high- carbohydrates.
And when you are mad, you tend to buy more junk food.
Don't buy non-grocery items –
grocery stores normally sell some
non-grocery items
like contact lens and painkillers. These products normally cost more at the
grocery stores.
·
Always bring your calculator – make sure to shop with
your calculator. In this way, you can easily compute how much you save when buying in-packs or
individually wrapped items.
·
Check your receipts after shopping, mistakes can happen no matter how much you avoid
them. Remember that every cent counts.
Buy foods that are fresh, cheap and seasoned. With fewer dealers
involved, the cheaper, fresher and better quality of food that you can get for
your family.
Make sure to double-check the weights of the pre-packed goodies that you
buy. Sometimes they lack a little pound or weigh less than what they normally
should. Make it a point that you get all your hard-earned money’s worth.
When you specifically went to your favorite grocery shop for a definite
item on sale and suddenly knowing that it’s no longer
available. Make sure that you make a rain check and ask for the next
stocks to arrive. So that you’ll be early the next time the stocks reach the
store.
·
Check the ends and edges of the grocery store. More
often than not, the healthy and fresher foods are located at the ends of the
grocery shops. Fruits, vegetables, Dairy products and meats are examples of these.
Avoid walking thru the main areas, since these regions are normally where
the products are very expensive and cost more.
It’s important to focus on the price of the item. Make sure to check the
other brands to be certain of getting the best deal. Also, buy only what you
need. Sometimes, you get deceived when you get to buy things that are on sale
even if you don't need them. If this happens, you didn't get the bargain no
matter how cheap it seemed.
Don't be misled with the brilliant colored packaging of the grocery
shops. They normally pack certain items simply to attract. Focus on your list
and buy things that you need.
How to save on vacations
Save on your Vacations
It is true that after all saving and cutting down all
the expenses from other things like clothes, appliances and groceries, you and your family deserves a well planned
vacation at least once a year.
However, it is still imperative to save as much as you can while having
your vacation. Especially, while you are on vacation, more often than not, the
budget is a tough thing to keep.
Here are the ways on how you can
save on your vacations:
Save on Airfares – Make arrangements and book your flights ahead of time.
Airlines normally have promos if you purchase your tickets in advance. Also,
Airline tickets sell evening flights a little cheaper than those of the day
flights.
If you are purchasing your Airline tickets from the travel agencies in
your area, make sure to scout for the best deal for ticket prices. When buying
tickets for your family or for four or more
passengers, there
will be special discounts, be sure to ask for these opportunities to save.
·
If possible, plan your vacation during the off-peak seasons.
The travel
agency has its peak and off-peak seasons. Make sure to research these dates.
Every destination has its own determination of peak seasons. Airfares and hotel
accommodation are much cheaper during the lean seasons.
Make sure to bring packaged snacks that are purchased
at supermarkets. Eating and dining out in restaurants can be really expensive
especially if you are traveling in groups.
For road/land trips, as much as possible, bring your own car for your
tour. Car rentals can be really expensive and unnecessary. Don't forget an
auto-check up from your favorite and trusted mechanic before leaving for
vacation.
Don't forget to fill your gas tank. This will allow you to shop for cheap
gasoline stations and avoid unplanned stops along the way.
Don't pay for your vacation in
credit unless you are very certain
that you can pay
on time. Interests on such credit can be a burden especially after having fun
on your vacation.
Don't forget to turn off ongoing expenses while you’re away on vacation.
Discontinue your newspaper deliveries. Temporarily cancel your internet service
when on vacation for more than a month. Turn off your gas and electric heater
when you are away from home.
·
Planning in advance can help you save with your budget.
Prepare proper
clothes to bring for the destination. Buying emergency clothes for cold climate
can be really costly and should be avoided since you can pack all these from
home. In this way, you can spend your vacation money on other important things.
Always keep your receipts and track your records for all the expenses
during the vacation. These can help for future vacations and can also be
deductibles for taxes if you are on business trips.
·
Plan for your Accommodation – considering homes of
relatives or close friends can help you save on your vacation. You can also
choose paid accommodations with cooking facilities. This can help you save money from eating out at
restaurants. Take advantage of
special offers from hotels or
motels offering “family” rates.
Be sure to take advantage of free tourist attractions such as parks,
museums, free gardens and monuments.
·
Consider an adventure trip or “camping” vacation. This
is really cheap and fun. Some national parks and forest campgrounds only charge
you minimal fee for your stay, and some even let you rent your tents. The idea of marshmallows with hotdogs on your
bonfire can be really exiting.
Don't forget to budget your money
for your souvenir allowance.
Don't buy
unnecessary souvenir items that can only be sold at your garage sale the
following year. Buy something useful.
Be sure to have portable irons when traveling. Press jobs at the hotels
are really expensive.
Don't forget to bring your first aid kit that should contain, medicines,
alcohol, and stuffs that can heal minor bruises and cuts.
·
Leave and entrust your pets to your friends or families
instead of bringing them along.
How to save on prescription drugs
Save on your Prescription Drugs
There are many money-saving tips in purchasing prescription drugs and one
way to doing this is to go through all your resources and look into other
possibilities which will help you accomplish the task on saving.
A recent national study on prescription drugs show that most Americans
are using more prescription drugs at a younger age.
Oftentimes,
people resorted to ineffective medical products in favor of more potent yet
approved products by the government.
The study revealed that the Americans spending have increased to twenty
five percent annually between 1996 and 1999.
The same thing applies to seniors. It shows that more than fifty percent
of the senior citizens aren't covered by any insurance inclusive of medicine
benefits specifically for prescription drugs.
The following tips provides the best recommendations for saving on
prescription drugs and how one would be able to manage to keep them fresh and
save on future need of such drugs.
a)
Go for Generics - Don't forget to request the generic brand of the drug prescribed to you. Up
to fifty percent or more can be saved from the cost of the initially prescribed
medicine by your doctors.
Using the generic brand of medicine can help you save
on the average cost of each
medicine. Most pharmacies don't offer generic brands unless specifically asked.
b)
Make Comparisons - Make sure to compare the prices
from different pharmacies before finally purchasing. Values can really vary.
Some pharmacies can offer certain discounts on specific brands of medicines.
c)
Look for Discounts - Members of AARP can receive discounts
especially from mail-order pharmacy discounts. Check the Veterans
Administration to check if you are eligible for some veterans’ benefits.
d)
Keep Drugs Away from Sunlight. Make sure to store your
medicines and pills away from moisture and heat to ensure the optimal potency of these drugs. Most
drugs, when exposed to sunlight, tend to lose their potency.
This happens because the very chemical nature of the drug is destroyed
and thereby losing its original chemical effect on the body.
e)
Talk to your Doctor - It is definitely okay to ask and
inquire to your doctors about the medicines prescribed to you. You are still in
control of your own health. And most doctors even expect you to ask for less
expensive brands of the medicines written on your prescriptions.
You are the only one responsible for your health; it is necessary that
you are well informed of all the medicines and medications you are taking.
f)
Assess yourself - It is imperative to keeping a daily
”record” of
your physical health. It is really easy to research on your medical condition
over the Internet. Maximize your resources.
Comply with the treatment plan that you and your physician have designed
for your health. Carefully and specifically following this plan can help you
save money and avoid future recurrence of the existing illness.
g)
Double it Up - The fastest way to saving money is by
dividing the drug cost in half. One way to do this is through literally cutting a drug in half to attain
the exact dosage desired.
For example, if your doctor prescribed you a 40 mg dosage, you can buy
the 80 mg tablet and just split it in half. This is since there is a very
minimal difference on the price of the 40 mg to the 80 mg. You can save by doing
this technique.
h)
Ask for the samples. A lot of pharmaceutical companies
supply their pharmacies with more than enough of sample medicines. They are very eager to let people try their products.
All you have to do is ask your pharmacists. This can
be really safe for short-term illnesses, and could help you save money before
buying.
i)
Know what your medical insurance covers. Make sure
that you fully understand its coverage before signing up with the plan. Be
specific of the maximum amount of your co-payments will pay for the whole year.
More often than not, a health plan only approves for certain pre-approved drugs.
Don't forget to consult your family doctor before completely signing up for
the plan. Open formularies present more drugs but cost of the plan will
definitely vary.
It costs less to buy your medicine in bulk. However, make sure to discuss this with your physician, some medicines aren't advisable to be purchased in bulk.
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