Consider whether you actually need and will use the item you are about to buy, even if you are paying only a small amount such as a dollar or two.
You’ve come across a beautiful antique armoire for next to nothing at a flea market? That’s great but remember, what if your entire house is decorated in a contemporary style and you really don’t have anyplace to put it without being a huge eye sore. Bad move to save a buck.
The lesson here is simple. If you’re not really getting a bargain at all—in fact, then you’re throwing away your hard-earned money.
Grocery shopping is an endless list of choices. In your visits to the supermarket have you noticed that a gallon jar of mayonnaise costs only a little more than a quarter jar? Seems like a bargain, doesn’t it?
You are on the right track because buying in bulk is often a great way to save money. But if you live alone and that mayo’s going to go bad before you have a chance to use it all up,then you you really haven’t saved any moneyat all. In fact, you actually wasted some.
You need to be especially cautious whenever you buy anything in bulk, because the low-cost-per-item-come-on that many stores are using these days to lure you in use can be especially deceptive. Ten legal-size writing pads aren’t a bargain if deep down you know that the day will come soon enough, when you end up tossing them out during your spring cleaning ritual.
You are far better off getting a true bargain if you buy something you actually need at a good price, or find it for free—like $1 off the price of a box of breakfast cereal, or some free samples of shampoo and conditioner, or a loan guaranty that allows you to buy a house without a down payment.
You might not be as likely to show off a specialty T-shirt you got for half price as you will be to showcase that antique armoire. In fact, you’ll be much more proud of the shirt because you needed it and you saved money buying it, so that’s a true bargain.
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