If your budget is really tight, you need to save money in whatever way possible. If you shop often, you will notice that products sold under a famous brand name are usually high prices. Similar products under a lesser-known brand, generic products, and gently used items are usually cheaper. This following read this article how to avoid paying high prices and help you evaluate some retail alternatives for buying the things that you need.
How To Avoid Paying High Prices for Food
Food items under a brand name can be very expensive. When you shop in the supermarket, you have probably noticed many products labeled with the market’s own store brand. These products are generally priced lower than the name brands. That is because the store makes a better margin selling store brands to customers, and it passes the savings along to you. The quality of the products are often just as good as the store brands. However, it really depends on the type of product that you are buying. Try a store brand next time, and judge for yourself if the quality is worth the high prices.
Be aware that some store-brand products are actually manufactured by a famous name-brand manufacturer. Only the agreement between the store and the manufacturer requires the manufacturer’s name to not be disclosed in association with the store-brand. Major food manufacturers go into this type of agreement as an additional channel of sales without diluting their own brand identity. That means you, as the consumer, can get high-quality food items at a lower price.
Thrift shops and consignment centers can offer great deals on gently used items. You can often find genuine brand-name items that are still in great condition but slightly used. Clothing for special occasions is especially popular because people tend to only wear it only once or twice before they sell it. That means you can find a beautiful gown or a formal suit at just a fraction of the retail price. Items sold at these stores are often screened and checked for damage by store personnel, but you should do a thorough check yourself before you make the purchase.
Flea markets also offer a great opportunity for deals. However, you need to take precautions. Be careful of buying things like electronics, because if you purchase an item and you have problems with it after you get it home, you probably won’t be able to track down the the seller of that item. So, avoid these items altogether. Clothing and decorative items are usually safer bets because you can examine quality on the spot.
Craigslist offers another venue for great sales. You do need to screen the seller carefully, however, especially for electronic items. When you examine an item, test it out thoroughly. Look for signs of wear and tear. Ask the seller about how it was used. Go with your intuition when you are talking to the seller. If you feel confident about the honesty of the seller, and he is offering it to you at a good price, then you should go for it.
Yard sales and estate sales can turn up great deals as well. Check your classifieds for upcoming sales in your neighborhood. Sometimes this information can be found online too. Craiglist is a good place to find these sales.
These retail channels are great options for saving you money. Try a couple of these next time, and you may find you will never go back to name brands again!
