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Each of us has a
different tolerance level when it comes to saving money. What we're willing to
do to save a dime depends on our interests, our time and other factors. Some people
will make their own hot chocolate but refuse to change their own oil, for example.
So we asked experts to provide a simple tip that will
easily save money (good), another tip that might take a little more
time or effort but which will save more money (better), and a more
extreme tip that will help readers save the most -- but which would
require the most thought or effort (best). This way, you can pick
tips that match your needs and your tolerance for frugality.
Car
buying
Your old clunker just gave out. Before you venture into the lion's
den, also known as the car dealership, consider these money-saving
options:
 Good: Use a market guide such as Edmunds.com to learn the
invoice pricing (what the dealer pays for the car) and the true
market value (what people actually are paying for the car), says
Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com.
Better: Research financing rates and get pre-approved. This
puts you in a much stronger negotiating position, Reed says.
Best: Play dealerships off each other. Call or fax all of
the dealerships in your area and ask for a written price quote.
Such quotes shows salespeople you are not coming up with numbers
out of thin air, Reed says. Remember, the greatest ability you have
is to not buy a car. The dealer needs to sell cars, but you don't
have to buy from him.
Bonus tip: Never decide based on the
monthly payment. Focus only on the overall price of the car.
Clothing
Your
wardrobe is looking a little shabby. Time to brighten it up with a few new (or
at least new-to-you) pieces.
Good: Keep it simple. One woman built a wardrobe by buying two pairs of great-looking
black pants and then shopping for good quality colorful tops, tunics and jackets.
This keeps your shoe wardrobe simple and inexpensive too -- a pair of black boots
in winter, black pumps the rest of the year. Now everything in your wardrobe goes
with everything else, and you just need a few pieces every year to keep it fresh.
Better: Become a frequent buyer.
By getting to know the policies and practices of a few stores, you can save a
bundle. Couple insider knowledge gleaned from salesclerks along with loyalty programs
and coupons, often generated by signing up for mailing lists. Take advantage of
in-store promotions, such as applying for store credit cards when they offer an
immediate discount on purchases.
Best: Shop everywhere -- and don't buy until you know you're
getting the best deal. One woman who had never shopped for clothes
at a discount store bought a blouse at Wal-Mart out of sheer desperation.
It cost less than $25 and, two years later, still looked as good
as new. Other places to shop include thrift stores and consignment
shops, other people's closets (when a friend purges her wardrobe),
even the grocery store (where T-shirts can go for $5!)
Groceries
Next to your rent or mortgage payment, your food bill is probably
the biggest expense you have each month. Ellie Kay, author of "The
Debt Diet" and "Half-Price Living," offers these
tips:
Good: Shop sales. Look
in the Sunday or Tuesday paper (depends on your area) and see what's on sale,
advises Kay. Stock up on, and eat, items that are on sale that week.
Better: Sign up for a store card (sometimes called a clipless coupon). Shelf tags
and sale ads show the "store card" price as compared to the regular
price of the item. Some of these specials are unadvertised. All you have to do
is show your store card at the cash register when you check out.
Best: "Get into couponing,"
says Kay. "Go to a double-coupon store to maximize savings."
Use a file box to alphabetize and store your coupons. "Combine
couponing with the purchase of sale items," says Kay. "And
use your store card. If you make that the way you buy, you've paid
the least price possible for the item." To make the most of
this strategy, let your pantry dictate the menu. You purchase everything
you ordinarily use on sale and with coupons. "Then when you
need rice, you've already purchased it for 9 cents a box,"
says Kay. "Plan your meals around what you have. That's a different
way of shopping."
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