What to stay away from when shopping

This debt free article is designed to help you with your shopping smarts year around, but now that the holiday shopping season is in full swing – you will want to be especially sure to read the following information about what not to do when shopping – period!

No matter where you shop or when you shop, there will always be something to watch out for. Here are some great tips on whet you will want to be on the watch out for:

-         Be on the lookout and steer clear of deals that sound too good to be true, especially those deals that have you spending very little and getting a whole bunch of extras. If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is. After all, when was the last time any vendor gave you anything free and clear not strings attached?

-         Free trial offers are usually a way for stores or vendors to rope you into a permanent billing cycle of some sort. From the skin care products being hocked on TV to the free magazine issues, free trials are the vendors way of gambling that you will forget to either cancel the free trial (oh yeah – don’t for get to cancel these offers – that’s how they get you), or you for got to return the trial item on time. Never use a free trail as a way to get anything free people – its not free after the trial is up. Hidden membership fees and other billing fess may exist to be aware.

-         Buy now, pay later. Seriously, the fact that you are reading a debt free article may be because you fell for this more than once. Be aware of buy now pay later offers. Deferring billing means you will be slapped with a big interest accrual or bill later – not that you will never be billed at all. Prolonging your debt is never a good idea.

-         Be aware of bait and switch tactics. This is a big time holiday issue too. Many stores will advertise an item at a very low cost to get you in the store. When you get there, they have none left and no rain checks. Then, you end up buying something similar at a more expensive price (or even ten things not even related to reason you went to the store). Most retailers have done away with rain checks and in fact, several stores will stock a very low inventory of that sale item on purpose. Just be aware of the circumstances here.

-         Watch out for new fangled time saving items that will save you a few minutes while costing a lot more money while giving you more aggravation. Figure out which time saving items are right for you and leave the others on the shelf. One of my favorites is the need for an electric can opener. Why. Do you open so many cans at your house that you just have to get one mounted up underneath your kitchen cabinet? You know who you are. If you think a family member wants one fro Christmas or Hanukah or their wedding – you are wrong.

-         Some times, hard to assemble items just end up in the garage, so be sure you have things under control before you buy anything like this for yourself or a gift.

As long as you have the above tips in mind when you waltz through the door of the next store on your shopping list this holiday season or any other time of the year, you will be a step ahead of the game. You will be more likely to keep your debt under control too.

(622)

Back to News Updates