With all of the talk being batted around about living the frugal life, you could easily start thinking that the most inexpensive option is always the best option. But is that really true? Are there any instances where it would benefit you to choose a higher-priced option?
Hint: It Does Not Always Mean Cheap
You bet there are. Although a tight budget requires that you carefully consider any major purchases, being frugal is not the same as being cheap. Occasionally, you will encounter cases where it is wiser to spend a little more money on your purchase in order to obtain a higher quality or additional features.
For instance, imagine that your family is shopping for a humidifier for cough. You might spot a small, inexpensive table that leaves room for you, your husband, and your two children. It’s not very well made, but it will provide for your immediate needs. As you shop you try to squelch your thoughts about how much you like to entertain and the fact that this smaller table will not allow you to have any dinner guests.
In another store you find a more costly table that catches your eye. This table is approximately the same size as the first one, but has the added benefit of having a leaf that can be inserted to increase the size of the table. You also notice that this table is made from solid wood rather than a laminated product.
If pressed for the truth, you know that the more expensive table is better for you and your family. It leaves room for your family to grow and to do the things that you enjoy like entertaining. And with its stronger construction you can rest assured that this table will serve your family for years to come.
However, you may be sorely tempted to buy the cheaper table. After all it’s better to spend as little money as possible, right? This scenario would be a classic example of a false economy. Sure the cheaper alternative could save a little money in the short run, but if you just have to upgrade to another new table in a few years, you’ll end up spending more money in the long run.
Tips for Finding Great Deals
I love finding great deals during garage sale shopping. I like the excitement of searching for hidden treasures and even getting to talk to other garage sale shoppers. For me, the experience is as enjoyable as the savings we reap by shopping at garage sales.
However, my main point of shopping at garage sales is scoring great deals. Over my years of hanging out at neighborhood garage sales and talking to other frugal moms about what can and can’t be found in them, I’ve developed some pretty basic techniques to finding those elusive deals. Here are some of my favorites:
Don’t push that checkout button just yet! Did you first do a simple Google search to find out if there were any active coupons? Take a few extra minutes to scour the web for instant discounts on your favorite shopping sites. 10% or any discount is a nice bonus for something you were planning on purchasing anyways. We just bought some paintings online and found a 30% discount code and it worked like a charm!
While you may not find anything free, take a gander at eBay. Very often you’ll find out that companies will send out discounts via mailing lists. Many people decide they will never use it and will list them on eBay for pennies on the dollar. A few years back I paid $1.99 for a stackable Dell coupon which I use to purchase my laptop…an additional $200 off. Now that is a lot of cents!
Look for gift cards on eBay, Craigslist or gift card exchange. While the discounts won’t be as great and you’ll have to wait for the seller to ship (unless they send the code via e-mail or you meet them), I still recommend entertaining the thought. Again, if you are going to spend the money, why not save a few bucks? Recently, I purchased a $100 Melting Pot gift card for $75 on eBay. I couldn’t pass up the deal as my wife and I love eating there. We only go on special occasions, so this will be a rare treat.
Check out your favorite company websites for special offers. Most have mailing lists you can subscribe to and they often will send you special deals and discounts. Yes, it could get annoying with all that spam, but you could setup an separate e-mail account to receive any and all offers. To a point I have noticed the deals coming in less frequently, but I still get those coupons!
Shop early. Admittedly, this tip is easy for me. The old adage about the early bird really is true when it comes to garage sales. You have to get there early if you want to find the really good bargains. Forget straggling in at noon, you need to start your bargain hunting by 8 AM.
Visit community garage sales. The more merchandise that is offered at a garage sale, the larger your chances of finding the items you need are. For this reason, my favorite garage sales are the ones that include lots of people. Looking for neighborhood garage sales is a great start. My favorite sale, though, is a semi-annual one hosted by my friend’s parenting club. Her club consists of parents of multiples (you know: twins, triplets, and so on), and those ladies know how to put on a heck of a garage sale. Look for sales hosted by groups in your neck of the woods; multiple families’ items will make for much more diverse shopping.
Bring a measuring tape. If you’re looking for something of a certain size, you need to be prepared to measure the items you’re considering. Don’t forget to make sure your purchases will fit into your house, by the way. If you found a deal on a dining room table, you won’t appreciate having to cut its legs off to get it into the dining room.
Carry cash. I know this tip should go without saying, but I always see someone trying to write a check at a garage sale. Although I like to believe that everyone is basically honest, the reality is that asking a stranger to take a check is asking them to take a pretty big leap of faith. The seller will likely just sell your item to another customer who has cash in his hands.
Negotiate on prices. At garage sales, almost no price is set in stone. Simply ask the person working the sale if the price on the tag is the best price available. They can respond with a polite “yes” if they really don’t want to haggle on the price. Otherwise, you’ll get an instant discount and be even happier with your purchase.
Whenever you’re planning a major purchase, be careful to consider the needs of you and your family. Don’t just consider your immediate needs; evaluate how those needs may change in the next few years. Once you’ve committed to the idea that a purchase is necessary, you’ll want to make sure you get as much value for your money as possible. Making purchases with the intent to use an item for a long time rather than making several less expensive purchases is the key to being frugal instead of cheap.
