No one likes to know they’ve overpaid, but we’ve all done it. There are money wasters all around us. Here are ten money saving tips that I know actually work because they’ve worked for me:
1. Return shopping mistakes. I am guilty of overspending, but if I keep my purchases for a few days I’m likely to be o.k. with returning a few. This past month, I returned a purse, two pairs of shoes, and a blouse.
2. Avoid late fees. By using auto-pay for all my utilities, I never worry about missing a payment and being charged a late fee.
3. Compromise on brand loyalty. I recently bought laundry detergent at the Dollar Store (even though I usually prefer another brand). I have to say, I haven’t noticed a big difference.
4. Curb impulse crafting. I chose a fill-in-the-blank baby book instead of the mega-scrapbook kit. I’m still patting myself on the back for this one!
5. Take advantage of promotions. I signed up for a promotional cable package and now save $35/month.
6. Reduce services. Since my DH and I both have cell phones, but still wanted the convenience of our landline, we canceled our caller i.d., long distance, and call waiting.
7. Comparison shop. When I purchased my minivan, I was able to negotiate a lower price because I found it advertised at another dealership.
8. Avoid buying from ads on t.v. I was really tempted to by a vacuum cleaner that I saw on an infomercial. I Googled the item and found several reviews stating that it was not as great as they claimed.
9. Overdraft protection. Paying bank fees is a huge money waster. Be sure to protect yourself with overdraft protection. I use a credit union that covers my minor infractions and even gives me a personal phone call if I’m about to overdraw.
10. Return broken items. I admit, I could be better at this. It takes energy to trek back to the store and explain why you need a refund, but it’s usually worth it. I had a CD alarm clock that broke and Radio Shack replaced it for free.
photo by Tracy O
How do you avoid overpaying?
