Wasting money is almost as American as baseball or apple pie. But just because everybody is doing it doesn’t make it alright. Money-wasting purchases are a part of everyday life, but with a little knowhow, you can be sure to stop depleting your bank account and using a cash loan to pay every unexpected bill with these tips from MainStreet.com.
Compare Prices
One of the most important rules to saving money when you go shopping is to compare and contrast price tags of similar products and services. In the age of the internet, it has never been easier to check the price of different products from different stores. In fact, there are even smartphone apps that allow you to scan the barcode of a product in a brick-and-mortar store and it will give you the price of the same product at different stores in your area.
However, comparing the price of the exact same product isn’t always the answer. Instead, compare the cost of a name brand product you love to its generic counterpart. By reading the labels and examining how much you get from each package, you could be quick to discover that you have been spending too much for the exact same thing for years.
Buying Just Because It’s On Sale
If you pride yourself on being a savvy shopper just because you only buy items when they are on sale, you could benefit from curbing this habit, says the website. After a while, your could find yourself buying things just because they are on sale, and this can really start to add up, no matter how much you’re saving. Instead, stop and think before lunging at a markdown. If the item was not on sale, would you still buy it? Most likely the answer is no, so don’t let what you think is a strategy turn into a financial pitfall.
Do You Have The Time?
Before buying a product or service that will require a considerable amount of time, stop and think if you’re willing to set aside a chunk of your day to make the purchase worthwhile. For example, while buying a gym membership is your firm step to living a healthier lifestyle, there is often a major rift between talking the talk and walking the walk. Signing up for a gym membership that you never use is a waste of money, so make sure you’re committed prior to forking over any cash.…
Most recently, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce released a report outlining these implications, but determined that more research is needed before an official stance on the issue can be reached.