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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Surprising Ways to Save Money

disclaimer:  The information posted below was not written by us.  It is a sponsored post by chameleonjohn.com.  We are receiving compensation in exchange for this post but only post things we think our readers will find useful.


 
 
Frugal Living: Surprising Ways to Save Money

Every frugal living connoisseur knows the basics when it comes to saving some green: clipping coupons, using online coupon codes, shopping sales. For the savvy shopper, though, there are even more tips and tricks you can use to get your money to stretch as far as possible. Most of these methods are dependent on the kindness of sales associates, so always be sure to be polite and understanding (plus, as anyone who has worked in retail knows, all too often salespeople are seen as something other than a human, so being polite is also just the right thing to do). If you are unable to get a discount, be sure to thank whoever helped you for their time and effort.

  1. Software renewals

The key to getting discounts on software renewals is to be patient. As the expiration date nears, many companies will send you reminder emails, often containing coupon codes for as much as 80% off your renewal. Keep in mind that offers will probably start at 20% off—you need to hold out for the big price cuts to be given. Of course, it is unwise to wait until the very last moment for critical software; I usually take the coupon code given to me or take it from ChameleonJohn about one week before the expiration date.



  1. Sales

This tip is primarily useful for smaller stores, although sometimes works in big company-run stores as well. Of course as a smart shopper, you already know to always be on the lookout for sales, but sometimes even the sale price is still higher than your budget. To get an even lower price, don’t hesitate to ask a sales associate if the item will be discounted even further in the future. If it will be, salespeople will often go ahead and give you the deeper discount price. Even if the price isn’t scheduled to be lowered any more, sometimes the cashier can go ahead and give you a couple of dollars off. Of course, the magic to this method is to be unfailingly polite.



  1. Special Discounts

Many stores offer discounts for specific sections of the population, including students, seniors, military personnel and AAA members. Even if you don’t see a special discount advertised, don’t hesitate to ask. Even if the store doesn’t usually, sometimes cashiers can find a different way to give you a reduced price, if you are polite. Probably the best example of this (and one of the areas you can save the most) is student discounts in the electronics department. Around the time school starts, lots of stores start offering amazingly valuable deals, especially on laptops and computer accessories. You can literally shave hundreds of dollars off your bill at this point—some of the most popular companies offer free Microsoft Office suites for four years to students, as well as reduced price access to premium technical support and laptop protection.



  1. Manufacturer Freebies

One of the best kept secrets on the internet is how many freebies and online coupons are offered every day. One of the best sources for name-brand freebies is manufacturer websites, particularly for personal care items (think Proctor and Gamble) and nonperishable food (like General Mills cereal). Especially if the company has recently released a new product, they often will send you a sample size or coupon code for a travel size at no charge. And as an added bonus, great coupons and online coupon codes are often included with your shipment.



  1. Product testing

Before products go to market, they must be tested by real consumers in the real world. There are lots of sites to sign up to become a product tester—all you need to do is search Google for “(type of product you want to test) product tester.” Companies offer monetary compensation, free products or both.

With these simple tips and tricks, you will be saving money in no time. And always be on the lookout for your own creative ways to save!

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