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The Best Times to Buy, From Clothes to Cars
The best times to make a purchase aren't reserved for the moments when you need a little retail therapy. Sales and special promotions might seem sporadic to most of us, but retailers are relatively systematic operations. Mark these months on your calendar for the best time to buy everything, from clothes to cars.
Definition: Transumer
The marketing world loves buzzwords, and the latest refers to consumers who prefer to rent than buy. Trendwatching, an Amsterdam-based market-research firm coined the term transumer, and according Reinier Evers of Trendwatching, it's a lifestyle "that's less about treasure and more about pleasure."
The motivation behind renting instead of buying could be convenience, cost, or space limitations, and consumers are borrowing everything from handbags and sunglasses to cars and DVDs.
What to Buy at a Discount This Fall
Smart shopping is a year-round thing and each season usually comes with its own discounted items. There's no denying Fall is here with Halloween around the corner, so pounce on the predictably slashed prices before all the good stuff is gone. See if anything on your list of needs and wants appears among the items typically discounted during Fall.
7 Small Ways to Save Big When You Eat Out
People are definitely eating differently thanks to the recession. But cutting food costs doesn't mean you still can't enjoy eating out. Tough times for consumers means empty tables at restaurants — and to fill them, restaurants are making menu changes and slashing prices, or offering discounts.
5 Things You Should Consider Renting
Friends and neighbors can be helpful when you need to borrow something, but asking to use an expensive possession is much different than requesting a cup of sugar. Aside from avoiding stepping on questionable boundaries, renting certain items can be smarter than buying if its cost-per-use ratio isn't favorable to your budget. Your money might be better spent by renting these five things instead of purchasing them.
How-to: Save by Spending on Select Days
Making a calculated effort to snip your expenses isn't easy. While there are things you can do to ease the pain of cutting back, tracking spending requires daily budgeting and discipline. Clearly, some days are better than others.
Reader Tip: Stock Up Your Pantry For Winter
Over time we each develop a unique saving style, which is why I appreciate the Thrifty Tips — Getting The Most Out of Life group in the SavvySugar Community. It offers a place for you to preach your tips to other SavvySugar readers trying to turn a little into a lot and learn from fellow savers.
Beachwalker shares her seasonal saving suggestion:
I love buying fresh from the market in season.
10 Time-of-Day Discounts, From A.M to P.M
Timing is everything. Money saving opportunities can be found all day long — if you arrive at the right time. Consumer Reports tapped its secret shoppers for intel on timely bargains and shared the tips in the magazine's July issue.
Are You Already Preparing For Holiday Shopping?
Usually when October hits, I'm in a panic just trying to get my Halloween costume together. But this year, as retailers start to gear up for the holiday shopping season, I'm wondering, why not follow suit?
According to recent Wal-Mart research, 70 percent of the store's customers plan to start shopping for holiday items before Halloween, so it's no wonder that the company has already announced its holiday spending incentive — a deal that offers a list of 100 toys for just $10 each.
How People Are Spending and Where They're Cutting Back
We don't need surveys to tell us that Americans have cut back significantly on spending, but there are plenty of sources if anyone's looking for proof. A new survey by IBM found that more people have been shopping at a variety of stores to find the best deals, and shoppers are focusing on quality and value almost as much as price. Guy Blissett, consumer products leader for IBM Institute For Business Value, commented, "I think it's a much more sophisticated approach to shopping."
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