Ask for discounts on goods such as whitegoods and furniture: You will be surprised how willing stores are to negotiate a price on goods. A common method is to shop around and then come back to the original store to have them try and match the price. Most stores are willing to participate in the process.
Buy your Christmas presents at the January sales: The January sales are usually the time at which the prices are at their best. It is possible to plan ahead and buy your Christmas presents at this time and have the satisfaction of a cheap price as well as not having to fight the Christmas shopping crowds.
Buy generic or unbranded items: I have difficulty distinguishing the quality and taste of the product that goes under a generic brand from one that is branded. In a number of cases the manufacturer is usually the same but does not wish to go through the process of labelling and branding and is happier to have goods sold as an unbranded product.
Give up smoking: Aside from the possibility of a longer life expectancy, breaking this habit could save an enormous amount of money. On average, a packet of cigarettes costs around $7.50. If you smoked a packet every two days this would amount to a cost annually of around $1,300.
Shop around for travel requirements: If you are travelling overseas it is possible that there are courier flights or other similar charter type flights looking for passengers at a substantially discounted price. Shop around and you may be surprised.
If readers have suggestions for money-saving tips, email them to sureshra@advisernet.com.au
