Shopping
Superstar Savers Share Their Secrets
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Do you find it tough to save money? Money Magazine and CNN recently profiled some super savers, and they offer great lessons for all of us. Ed Haskell and Debbie Chasteen save a whopping 50 percent of their after-tax income. How do they do it? They have a clear, compelling goal of retiring before age ... [Read more]
The Complaint Department is Open
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Got a complaint about something you bought? Or are you thinking about buying something but wondering how well the product worked for previous buyers? There are numerous complaint Web sites. However, as with the items criticized on the sites, some of the sites are better than others. According to a report by the Consumer Federation ... [Read more]
Saying, “I Do,” Without The Debt
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Call it a benefit of the Great Recession: the average cost of a wedding has dropped 30 percent from a high of $29,000 in 2007 to today’s mere $20,000, according to The Wedding Report. If you or someone you know is headed down the aisle sometime soon, here’s how to save even more. According to ... [Read more]
The 80/20 Closet
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule – that 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes. There are all sorts of places where this rule is at work. For example, at many companies 80 percent of their sales come from 20 percent of their customers. Recently, popular personal finance blogger ... [Read more]
The Great Cyberspace Marketplace
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
Looking to buy or sell something online? There are more sites to consider than just eBay or Craigslist. Mainstreet.com recently highlighted 14 niche marketplace sites. Bonanzle is for buyers and sellers of “Everything but the ordinary,” including vintage toys, artwork, and more. To buy or sell homemade jewelry, handbags, or other crafts, try Etsy. Glyde ... [Read more]
The Good That Credit Cards Can Do
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Some say that no one should have a credit card. They argue that charging purchases puts people on the path to financial ruin. To be sure, there are people who would be better off without credit cards. However, just because some people get into car accidents doesn’t mean no one should own a car. Used ... [Read more]
Sites That Save
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Everyone loves a bargain, and there are plenty to be had if you know where to look. A recent Mainstreet article highlighted some of its favorite money saving web sites, including Groupon (offers a new deal every day in about 50 cities), where I recently got a coupon for a great deal at the restaurant ... [Read more]
Defensive Spending
Monday, February 8th, 2010
It’s a financial jungle out there, so an essential part of wise money management is being vigilant about ferreting out shady deals. That’s the message of Bob Sullivan’s new book, Stop Getting Ripped Off. As summarized by MSN, one common ploy he warns against is the bait and switch, in which companies lure us in ... [Read more]
Christmas Sanity
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
December is right around the corner, and if you don’t plan ahead one of the most meaningful holidays could easily turn into one of the most stressful and costly times of year. Fortunately, lots of holiday-smart articles are filling the blogosphere these days, offering good reminders like the importance of setting and sticking to a ... [Read more]
One-Stop Deal Shopping
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
An ever-expanding number of web sites offer coupons, coupons codes, and other ways to get the best deals. Now, the company behind the Ask.com search engine has rolled out a deal aggregator called Ask Deals. The one-stop shop for deal seekers taps 40 coupon sites, online promotions, store circulars, message boards, blogs, and more. To ... [Read more]
The Wisdom of Waiting
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before him.”
- Psalm 37:7 Have you ever seen an advertisement that included these words: “Think about it for a while before making a decision to buy this item”? Or, “Sleep on it and come back when you’re good and ready to make a wise decision.” Of course ... [Read more]
How Warranties Really Work
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
An ABC News article highlighted the importance of reading the fine print on product warranties. Think a “lifetime warranty” refers to your lifetime? Think again. Some companies define “lifetime” as the amount of time they think their product should reasonably last. The better news is that you may be covered by an unwritten warranty guaranteed ... [Read more]
Dollar Store Hits and Misses
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Have you ever shopped in a dollar store? Consumer Reports recently made some helpful recommendations about what to buy and what to avoid in such stores. It said that dollar store prices on aluminum foil, gift wrap, and party supplies can’t be beat. However, it recommended taking a pass on electrical products (they may carry ... [Read more]
Thriving After the Recession
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
While a lot of people are still deeply impacted by the recession, a number of post-recession articles are starting to emerge, including one from US News & World Report that suggested 10 ways to “thrive” after the recession. It described the new “evolved consumer” who “shops with more discipline and focuses on buying products with ... [Read more]
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Paper or plastic? At first, it was polite of grocery store cashiers to ask which sort of bag we’d prefer. But today, the question often sounds like, “Environmentalist or Polluter?” Everyone knows that paper is the best choice for protecting the planet. Or is it? A recent Wall Street Journal article noted, “There is growing ... [Read more]
A Shopping Alternative
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Retail sales have taken a hit because of the recession. But shoppers haven’t disappeared altogether; some have turned into swappers. As reported on Mainstreet.com, clothing swap groups have become popular on Meetup.com, a site that helps users organize or find meetings based on common interests. Everyone who brings something to the swap event may take ... [Read more]
Top Money Web Sites
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
The Internet is filled with lots of good web sites about money. But which ones are worth a visit? One of the web’s best personal finance journalists, MSN’s Liz Pulliam Weston, recently named her 100 favorites. That may sound overwhelming, but she has them organized by subject. Just in case 100 sites aren’t enough, here ... [Read more]
Don’t Touch, Don’t Buy
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
A recent Time magazine article summarized the latest findings from the increasingly sophisticated science of retailing. Researchers have found that touching a product in a store increases a shopper’s sense of ownership (the “endowment effect”), and that increases the likelihood that he or she will buy the product. One retailer that maximizes this approach to ... [Read more]
Your Terms of Our Times
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
In the last issue of this eNewsletter, I summarized a story highlighting several new words and phrases that have come into popular use during the recession. I then asked you to submit your favorite recession-related words that have a positive connotation. Among the suggestions: Pam wrote in with recessionables, which pertains to clothing found on ... [Read more]
Thrift Stores Thriving
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
While numerous retail chains are closing stores or putting expansion plans on hold, second hand shop sales are booming. A Chicago Tribune article explained that the recession has turned fashionistas into frugalistas. Goodwill, whose sales of donated items help fund job training for homeless and disabled people, is working hard to capitalize on the trend ... [Read more]
Of Calories and Cash
Monday, February 9th, 2009
There are a number of parallels between the worlds of nutrition and finance. On the negative side, people tend to describe a budget in the same terms they use to describe a diet – it’s something one goes on, as in, “Poor Brian, he’s on a budget.” However, as was pointed out in a New ... [Read more]
Living Well on $44k
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
How did you do on finding holiday gift deals this year? Can you beat this: 27 gifts for $90? As reported on TODAY, that’s just the latest in a long list of amazing money moves executed by Steve and Annette Economides, who have turned smart shopping into an extreme sport. The Arizona couple, along with ... [Read more]
Save on Everything – Part Two
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
In the last issue of this eNewsletter I steered you to a blog post with links to some of the best money-saving ideas from around the blogosphere. Now, here’s a collection of some of the best holiday-related money saving ideas from various blogs. And, with an assist from a reader named Mary Ellen, here’s a ... [Read more]
Penny Wise and Artichoke Foolish
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Like many of us, a grocery shopper named Jill is paying more attention to the cost of food these days. So, as described in a New York Times article, when one store’s price on cauliflower seemed too high, she went to another store, and then another. Finally, she found a good price, only to discover ... [Read more]
Save on Everything
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
Suggesting ways to save money is the core mission of most personal finance writers. Now a personal finance blogger has compiled over 1,000 of the best money-saving ideas from across the blogosphere, all linked to their original sources. With a list this large there are bound to be some obvious ideas (“bring your lunch to ... [Read more]
More Gift Giving Tips
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
If you have a child on your gift list this year, buy them something that doesn’t require batteries. Such gifts usually require more imagination on the child’s part and less ongoing cost for the child’s parents. Also, do as much of your shopping as possible online. Whenever I’m shopping online I open three Internet windows–one ... [Read more]
When Smart Shopping Becomes Disturbing
Friday, October 24th, 2008
A new study of Wal-Mart shoppers (and that’s 9 out of 10 of us) shows that the economy is reshaping how we shop. As reported by USA TODAY, Wal-Mart has seen a double-digit decline in credit card use, a noticeable shift from the sale of discretionary products to necessary products, twice as many private label ... [Read more]
Learning From Marketers’ Playbooks
Friday, October 24th, 2008
Some of the best insights about shopping smart come from marketers. The trick is to learn their strategies for separating us from our money, and then play defense. That was the focus of a great post on the Get Rich Slowly blog, which reviewed the book, “Why We Buy.” For example, retailers do what they ... [Read more]
Stay Away From Layaway
Friday, October 24th, 2008
Buying “on layaway” is making a comeback. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Depression-era retail practice of letting shoppers put items away while they pay for them a little at a time is coming back in fashion. Analysts cite our rough economy, which has limited people’s access to credit. Kmart has even made ... [Read more]
Economizing Now and Forever
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
In the last issue of this eNewsletter, in an article about changes people are making in response to our tough economy, I asked what changes you’ve made that you believe will be permanent. Among those who wrote, Maria says she’s been taking a bus to work instead of driving. She’s saving money by doing so, ... [Read more]
The Incredible Shrinking Package
Monday, August 18th, 2008
Does it seem as though the packages lining grocery store aisles are getting smaller? They are. It’s a strategy some packaged goods manufacturers are using to pass along their higher costs. Instead of raising the price on a normal sized container, they are shrinking the container but charging what they used to charge for the ... [Read more]
Changing Our Money Ways
Monday, August 18th, 2008
With our tough economy leading people to eat out less often, switch from SUVs to gas sippers, and generally spend less, an MSN columnist recently wondered what would happen if we all suddenly got and stayed money-smart? That is, what if we paid our credit cards in full each month (46 percent of households carry ... [Read more]
Price Check in Aisle Two
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
You’re in a store looking at TVs or T-shirts or tea bags. The price looks good, but is it really? The answer may be a quick text message away. As noted in a Real Simple article, send a text message to Google at 466453 (“Google” on most devices), type “price,” and then enter the name ... [Read more]
Rebates Made Easy
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Ever heard of Ebates? I found out about the web site from the blog Gather Little by Little. A quick online registration process gives you access to rebates from hundreds of merchants. The rebates are typically about two to five percent of the purchase price, but can go higher. For items you’re planning to buy ... [Read more]
Overspend, Overspend-Me-Not
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
A recent Businessweek.com story mentioned a coupon site I had never heard of before that turns out to be unusually good: RetailMeNot.com. Enter the name of an online store where you’re planning to do some shopping and it’ll give you a coupon code, if available. I figured the site would have coupons for all of ... [Read more]
Multiplying Your Tax Rebate
Thursday, April 24th, 2008
With rebate checks soon to start showing up in people’s mailboxes, retailers are eager to see us spend the money in their stores. For a limited time, several are offering to add 10 percent to the value of your tax rebate if you use the full amount to purchase gift cards at their stores. The ... [Read more]
Price Matching
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Savvy shoppers know that many retailers have either formal or informal price-matching policies, so it pays to do some comparison-shopping. For example, at Circuit City, if you find a lower advertised price at another local store, the retailer promises to beat the price by 10 percent of the difference. Or, if you buy something from ... [Read more]
Help for Hagglers
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
In a recent post, a story about haggling generated several reader tips such as the following: Ask for a price match. Miriam found that the office supply store Staples “didn’t quibble a bit” when asked to match a competitor’s price. Ask for more than a match. Dan discovered that Best Buy would not only match ... [Read more]
Name Your Price
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
Haggling has long been an assumed part of the home- and car-buying experience. But in a down economy more and more retailers, including Best Buy and Home Depot, are going along when people ask for a better price. And not just on big-ticket items. One clothing store shopper profiled in a New York Times article ... [Read more]
