If you have read any of my articles, you know that I am all about saving as much as I can. Why pay full retail price if you don’t have to? If you don’t take control of your savings, nobody else will.
Here are a handful of ways to “Take Control”!
Haggle
I know we aren’t in the days of trading corn for building a barn, but there are still ways to haggle for a better price. If you go to a retailer that works on commission, HAGGLE! Let them know how much you are willing to spend, and be willing to walk away if they can’t make it happen. I have no problem walking away from something when money is involved. I like to leave them with my card, or number…”just in case something changes.” About 8/10 times, they call.
Online Auctions
You can save A LOT of money on sites like Ebay. You can also buy “hard to find” items. The trick to Ebay is, know what you are shopping for, and set your price before starting your search. This helps to avoid buying what you don’t really need, or overspending.
Do More Yourself
This one is HUGE! If you don’t know how to cook…learn to! If you sit and do the math, one dinner from a take out place, for a family of 4, could feed the entire family 3-4 dinners, easily. If you know that your dogs dirty the carpets often, buy a steam cleaner and do it yourself. This purchase will pay for itself after just one use. Think about the things you pay for, and think of creative ways to “do it yourself!” Keep track of your savings for one month. Can you believe how much you’ve saved?! It’s amazing! My steam cleaner was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. My carpet stays clean and I save tons of money. Start making your own cleaning products. They are very cheap to make, and in my opinion, work just as well. If you want that lemony smell. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the homemade cleaner.
Know When To Pay A Little More
If your car is having issues, and you aren’t a mechanic, take it in to be repaired. Sure…Johnny Be-Pop, down the road says he can fix it for a fraction of the price, BUT…can he guarantee his work, and replace the parts when something doesn’t go right? Not likely.
Now that you have a few ideas on how to “take control,” try implementing them. I’d love to hear just how much you save.
Image Credit: mpl.org