It Is Only A Deal If You Save Money

August 11th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under • by trisha

Many of us are coupon clippers, hoping to save even a little bit of money on everyday needs. We also shop around for special-sale deals on different products, just in case we find a deal that seems like a steal. But sometimes these deals aren’t much of a deal at all. Here are a few tips to getting the most out of coupons and sales.

Buy One Get One Free: Depending on what you’re buying, buy one get one free may be a great deal. But don’t get caught up in the prospect of getting twice what you’re paying for least you spend money you didn’t need to spend. Sometimes the price of the item has been increased just so the company won’t lose much money on the deal. Be careful buying perishable items BOGO. Unless you plan on using them quickly, or need them in a larger quantity, you may be wasting money. If the item spoils before you ever get to use it, what was the point of getting it at a lower price?

Percentage Off: Usually these deals work out pretty well because they are straight forward. Sometimes though, you have to read the fine print. It may be 30% off, but only after you spend a certain amount of money. This may tempt you to buy more than you originally needed just to get the discount, but is it really worth it? Don’t push yourself to buy something just to get the sale price. You may spend more money in the long run by trying to justify deals than if you would pay the straight price for the item you actually need.

Clipping Coupons: If you want to save money with coupons, try clipping them for things that you know you will need, not just the cheapest things that you can find in the coupon list. You may also need to be careful with certain coupons, because they apply the same tactic as percentages off. It may be thirty cents for a can of olives after you buy three other cans. You will end up buying more of an item than you need or want just to meet the requirements set forth in the coupon.

Free Gift: Don’t buy something just because it comes with a free gift. Chances are this gift is something that you don’t really need, or it is not worth the cost of the product you bought. This may seem like a steal, but most times is not worth the paper on which the deal is printed. The one place that may be great for free gifts with is with the purchase of cosmetics in major retail stores.. In this case you may be able to secure a brand name product, either cosmetics or fragrances as a gift along with your purchase.

Don’t be suckered in with certain deals. Read the fine print, and shop wisely. When it comes to getting a good deal you could either save a lot of money or end up spending more than you originally planned or needed to in the first place.