Saving Money on Shopping!

According to a recent article on CNN Money, one survey says 65 percent of consumers would not complete a purchase if there was no deal involved. But how many of those 65 percent were willing to make that deal happen?

Surprisingly, it's not that hard. All it takes is a little time and, sometimes, a little nerve. Before you get overwhelmed with guilt or an over-riding sense of cheapness, remember that whether it's brick-and-mortar or an on-line store, they're in business to sell and if they don't, they won't stay in business.

AOL asked their readers: Do you search for coupon codes before you order online? Nearly 6 out of 10 of the 1430 voters said no. Leaving 4 out of 10 (and you bet I'm in that category) nodding their heads yes. And why not! (The exact numbers were: No 59%, Yes 41%)

You're already on line, so why not spend a couple of minutes doing a Google search for websites that'll do the work for you. Or just read on.

3 EZ Steps to Saving In Store or OnLine:
1) Find the best price on checking comparison sites like Pricegrabber.com, MySimon.com or PriceScan.com
2) Search for discounts and free shipping offers at coupon sharing site like CouponCabin.com, Couponcodes.com (get printable coupons too, at Printable-coupons.blogspot.com and Wow-coupons.com) and my recent favorite, RetailMeNot.com (who say they had 4 million visitors in May, up 260% from a year ago. Guess I'm not their only new visitor.)
3) Watch for future price drops with a price protection service like PriceProtectr.com. Plenty of retailers will refund the difference if the price of a product is reduced within a certain amount of time after the purchase.

Now when it comes to old-fashioned face to face haggling, nearly 6 out of 10 in that same AOL poll say they've never tried to negotiate the price of an item in a chain store.

That's just crazy! On behalf of the nearly 4 out of 10 of us who have, I can tell you that I've almost always gotten a better deal. Like your Momma always said "If you want you something, you've got to ask". Unless your mom never told you that, in which case you'll just have to take it from me. (exact results were No 56%, Yes 44%) So get up your nerve and try these:

Three steps to big savings in stores
1) Price Matching- Many big chains advertise extra savings against a lower advertised price. So easy. But if they don't, then it's up to you to try...

2) Haggling - once restricted to flea markets and car dealerships - has become acceptable in the retail marketplace. A good place to start is to speak with a manager and ask if the listed price is the best possible deal. Remember, he's there to help you buy!

3) Asking for a discount on slightly imperfect merchandise - Here's the least known shortcut to savings on items that have been on display or clothing that's missing a button. Electronics sold "out of the box" are also a source of great bargains, though they might be missing instructions, which you can find online.

Ultimately, everyone wins. You win because you've saved some moolah, the store wins because they've moved merchandise and the economy wins thanks to your selfless contribution. And it was so easy! Good going.

THE DARK SIDE OF "THE SECRET"

Oh Dear. Just back from a shopping trip at Marshall's (my very favorite store in the world... I'm planning the Marshall's World Tour someday but in the meantime, just trying to hit every location I can... but that's another story.)

Where was I? Oh, right... shopping.

So there I was in the dressing room, slipping on a couple of jeans (hmph, too snug. Surprising.) and a few tops (what's that bulging???) when it occurs to me that I'm witnessing a manifestation of "The Secret".

Maybe you heard about it on Oprah, or read the book yourself or watched the DVD or saw any of the pintillion articles written about it lately as the world slaps its head in a collective 'Doh!' as it takes in the concept of the Law of Attraction.

Based on everything in this world essentially being made of energy (don't believe me? Ask your science teacher) this "Secret" asserts that the universe will give you whatever you ask for. More than simple wish fulfillment, the theory is that by talking about or thinking about or imagining something, you create it in your own life. On the good side, if you picture yourself being happy and successful, the energy that creates that concept will attract or create the energy that makes it happen. Conversely, if you focus on being miserable, lonely and troubled... well, you will see that misery does indeed love company. Yours. Got it? And it works specifically- imagine a good day at work, finding the perfect pair of shoes and the universe will deliver.

So, let this serve as a warning to you. And a great reason to focus on the good stuff. Even karmically, I suppose, this serves as a lesson to be careful what you focus on and try to be sure it's mostly good and not evil.

This was my lesson and it was all driven home last night in the Marshall's dressing room. Ah yes, we're back to Marshall's.

Here's why.

Sometime ago, within the past year, I came across an article that coined the term 'muffin top' describing the rounded blob of fat spilling out over the top of a pair of jeans (particularly those slung too low). Well, I was highly amused having seen any number of women sporting the look and always wondering (cruelly, perhaps... okay. Just cruelly) 'What, no full length mirror?'. So I took the new word 'muffin top' and shared it, wrote about it, laughed about it and pretty much used it within an inch of it's unflattering little life.

Apparently The Universe was listening. So there I was last night standing slack jawed staring in the mirror and almost hearing the universal prankster snickering 'is this not what you asked for?'

Of course, having a hearty and healthy sense of humor I about doubled over laughing... and since I was shopping with Lain, we shared this cosmic joke and discussed a new style of dressing. We call it camouflage clothing (cause 'fat fashion' is just too harsh). A new wardrobe of flarey and flouncy, pouffy and very, very loose. Like revisiting maternity wear. Yes, we agreed, we could just eliminate fashions that fit and skim and hug and taper regarding them as evil purely designed to shame and depress you. Oh we were laughing so hard.

So now I have a choice. I can embrace the puffy look... or I can try to forget that Riverhead just got a new bakery, walk by the Entenmann's display, keep my hands at my side in the candy aisle. I could get a little (cough, cough) active... walk the dogs, rediscover yoga, or maybe just get up off the couch once in a while. Or maybe I can just imagine the fat melting off. (I can do that!) Whatever it is, I'm going to have to do something to make amends for the evil new silhouette that I have brought on myself.

"The Secret", it appears now, is to think thin. And never utter the words "muffin top" again.