Any frugal and savvy shopper has a Costco membership. This is because this successful warehouse store offers consumers the most significant discounts in the current market.

There is no doubt that Costco is one of the most customer-friendly retailers when it comes to savings and low prices. Aside from the massive discounts there are other ways you can save substantially.

In this brief but detailed article you will learn 7 simple yet brilliant ways to save more money at Costco.  

1. Always buy in bulk

Bulk purchases of essential items have large discounts at Costco. In fact it is way cheaper than buying from big box stores and regular grocery stores. If you have a small household, partner with a friend and then split the bulk purchases.

It is worth mentioning that Costco has unparalleled deals on bulk meat. By buying meat in bulk and freezing for later use you save a lot.  

2. Costco Coupons are your friend

Just because it is a discount stores doesn’t mean you can’t save more from using coupon deals. Sites such as Retailmenot.com provide Costco coupons and sometimes money-back deals for some products likes mattresses.

Confirm consistently whether a purchase you intend to make has discounts. To access the Costco monthly coupon book simply check out the Slickdeals.net website. Costco is committed to offering customers the best prices. This is why this warehouse store automatically adds any available discounts to the Costco membership card.  

3. Take advantage of the low prices offered at the end of weather seasons

Most Costco customers have no idea that the prices on seasonal items go way down when a season is approaching it end. For instance the price summer items such as pool toys and patio furniture is significantly decreased.

This is because the store is intentionally freeing up room for merchandise suited for the next season. This is the best time to get unparalleled deals. The good thing is that end-of-season deals are available all year long including after the Christmas season.  

4. Enjoy great travel deals at Costco

Apart from shopping Costco also offers travel deals. If want to save money when travelling for work or leisure check the Costco travel offerings first. Members can get great deals on vacation packages, rental cars and cruise by taking advantage of Costco Travel.

For instance, people travelling to Maui can save more than $200 on a car trip. If you are travelling by flight you can include a flight in the Costco travel package or choose to book airfare independently.  

5. Take advantage of the deals on returned items.

Any returned item at Costco costs significantly less the brand new one. Since Costco has one of the most generous return policies in the market, it is very common for people to return gentle used items to the store.

It is easy to spot returned items because Costco has a few shelves dedicated to returned items. The markdowns on returned items are unbelievable! Returned items are stored near the sporting goods, household and automotive sections of the store.  

6. If you want to save more at Costco avoid the ‘Action Alley’

So what is action alley? Simple! Just as the name implies, this is the section in the store with the most action (foot traffic). Since this area gets the best traffic in the whole store, most distributors pay more to locate their products here.

Additionally, in this section the advertising is eye catching and very convincing. Don’t be fooled! The flashy and attractive adverts can be very deceptive. Keep in mind that the action alley is where most items are highly priced and low bargains.

There is also the added advantage that on the less crowded alleys you will have the peace and comfort of low traffic.  

7. Substantially reduce car maintenance expenses by buying tires at Costco

The initial cost of buying tires at Costco can be a tad bit expensive. However, you can save a lot by purchasing a brand new set from Costco. Unknown to most people Costco offers tire maintenance services such as pressure checking, tire rotation, flat repair and everything else.

The post 7 Simple Ways to Save More Money at Costco first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

eBay was one of the first ways the internet was able to justify its own existence. eBay provides an online marketplace for the sales of goods and services, online payment services as well as online communication offerings to a diverse community of individuals along with businesses not only in the United States but also internationally.

Like it or not, eBay is the biggest auction website and often has some excellent deals. But it also has loads of competition from other buyers. Here are the top 8 secrets of finding the best deals on eBay.  

1. Search smarter  

This is one of the strategies and techniques of being successful while dealing with eBay. If you’re using the same search strategies or techniques on eBay that everyone else is using, then you’re just going to be finding the same items as everyone else.

eBay is as much a search engine as it is a marketplace. You need to think outside of the box. Improving and simplifying the process of searching will deliver accurate results. Quickly filter your results with the advanced search tool by product description and buying format.  

2. Search Misspelled Words  

Plenty of sellers manage to misspell the name of the item to the point they don’t show up in standard searches. A common misspelling of items and brands are a little-known way of finding what you want on eBay often for a lower price.

It’s evident that a misspelling can translate into a significant saving for you and there are even entire misspelled auction search engines that will generate eBay listings from alternative spellings and misspellings of your search term.

For instance, BargainChecker.com will list soon-to-end auctions first, with links to each product. TypoBay, on the other hand, will direct you to an eBay search results page that lists products based on common spellings of the term entered and the search of alternative version.  

3. Search for abbreviations in the title  

Search for abbreviations in the title is another little-known trick for finding secret deals. Given that eBay only allows 80 characters per title, many folks prefer to use abbreviations when possible.

For example, “SS” is of stainless steel, “KT” for karat, “NBW” for never been worn, “SCR” for scratch just to name but a few. Therefore, think about abbreviations when searching for an item and try a few abbreviations that you believe could be used in the description.  

4. Save your favorite searches  

If you’re trying all sorts of abbreviations and misspellings, you may find yourself getting tired of always searching for the same thing, and you’re hoping to score a deal on a particular item, eBay will do the work for you by saving your favorite searches.

Hit the save search after you find an item and eBay will notify you when new items are listed. Substantially, eBay will ensure you will never miss a new listing and an excellent resource for finding deals just because it offers this tool.  

5. Finding Good Deals  

eBay Deals is eBay’s version of a daily deals site. It’s evident that eBay sells both new and used items. Opting for used items can help you to save a lot but be careful when buying costly items as they will not have a warranty. Finding good deals on eBay basically require the following tricks;  

– Be sure to include postal charges in your search

– Search descriptions and titles using advanced tool to find the item you want

– Follow your search so that eBay will then alert you when the item you are looking for is for sale

– Look for things that are pick-up only because these items are only available to those in a restricted area and they usually get fewer bids.

– Watch for products sold by inexperienced sellers because this is the great way to find cheap items

– Look for auctions that are about to close with no bids or low bids    

6. Buy From and Create Collections  

With social commerce entirely inbuilt, eBay allows users to interact with and create custom collections. Collections are excellent for keeping track of hard-to-find brands and introduce you to curators who can help you find more products as well as brands.

This typically works by adding products on the site to a new collection. Given that all pictures are products and all images in your collections have items, they are actually attainable.  

7. Set Up Automatic Bidding  

Try setting up automatic bidding if at all you can’t regularly monitor the bids you place. Enter your maximum bid and eBay confidently. It will bid for you in gradual increments every time someone else places a bid until your maximum bid amount is reached.

Central to such an endeavor, eBay will notify you via email if other bids surpass your maximum and you can manually place a higher bid. In reserve price auctions, it’s important to note that when a minimum price for the item is set by the seller, the system will automatically increase your bid to meet the reserve price.  

8. Understand Second Chance Offers  

Vendors may make second-chance offers if the seller has additional inventory of the same product.

This is because eBay allows sellers to offer Second Chance Offers to buyers after bidding on an item ends. It’s important for sellers to note that if you don’t win an item doesn’t mean you won’t get a shot at it. In this way, you may be able to get an item for less than it was listed purely because the seller is now willing to compromise.    

In conclusion, the popularity of eBay has made it harder and harder to find bargains. Taking advantage of these tips by using a little eBay savvy, you can come up with a great deal.

Use these steps to find appropriate deals that will enable you to pay a low price as well as winning the bid. Combine these tips, and you will get the best idea given that the more unique they become, the more likely your chances of getting a super deal.

Therefore, learn these tips and buy items on the world’s largest auction.

The post How to Find the Best Deals on eBay first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

The E-commerce sector globally is booming like never before. Figuring out the best time to buy great things requires constant watch over ever-fluctuating online prices and some information about how prices have changed in the past.

Dynamic pricing technology has actually enabled people to save money online since prices fluctuate from moment to moment.

There’s an entire suite of tools in the market today for price tracking that makes this process simple. Most of these tools will not only track products on Amazon but also on retail shops.

You can also get alerts when the cost drops to the level you want and find out historical pricing as well the price you want could reasonably happen. Therefore, here are the top five great tools that can help you save a significant amount of money.  

1. CamelCamelCamel  

This is one of the favorite tools to get discounts along with track prices on Amazon products. This tool can be accessed by installing the browser extension. This will enable you to access the features of the site without leaving Amazon or in other words you can put in the URL while searching.

From there you can then keep track of the prices and be alerted on price drops as well see historical pricing data for the product. If you sign up for a free account, you can set up alerts so that the site can alert you by electronic mail when the value of the product drops to a certain amount.    

2. Slick Deals Price Tracker  

This price tracking tool is famous for bringing you great coupons, up-to-minute discounts and other deals to the web. Their web-based tracker play a vital role in watching prices on Amazon and several other favorite shopping sites such as GameStop, Newegg, Buy.com just to name but a few.

This tool opens the door to track by making sure you’re receiving the top deal even if you don’t pay money for your product at Amazon and not relying on a single retailer. For that reason, this tool doesn’t give detailed price history, but it will track the cost of your item from when you generate the alert going forward as well send you an email if the value drops below a threshold that you set.

From there you can log in to your account and observe all of your tracked products on the same screen.  

3. CheapShark  

CheapShark is a great option for gamers looking to save money on video games as compared to most of the other tools that focus on a broad range of consumer products. This tool covers all the obvious choices such as Green Man Gaming, GoG, GameStop, the Humble Bundle, and Amazon.

Apparently, when you are searching for a particular game, this tool tells you what the cheapest-ever price was and when you hit that price, it gives you a choice to either go ahead and purchase it or sign up for a price notice if it drops again.  

4. Invisible Hand  

InvisibleHand has been around for a long time. This tool is different as compared to other tools discussed above just because it doesn’t track the prices for you or show you a price record.

But, InviableHand can tell you whether the item you’re shopping is cheaper somewhere else on the web, the cost of the product, and helps you find discounts on various things you desire to pay money for right now.

This tool works with numerous online retailers such as NewEgg, Amazon, Best Buy and even some US airlines. It also works with Google searches because when searching for a product name, it will ideally show you where in particular you can find the greatest deals for that item.

The post Best Price Tracking Tools first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

Searching for deals on Craigslist is a lot like wandering about a huge flea market. You could spend all day searching for a total steal but end up totally empty-handed.

Good thing there are several ways in minimizing that risk of zeroing out. Here are 7 ways to get the best deals on Craigslist:  

1. Make The Most Of Each Search Inquiry

There are many ways to describe a particular item for sale. For example, an antique bench can also be listed as a used outdoor chair. So what you can do is insert a “|” in between. Hit the enter key and the list would come up for both search terms.

You’d also want to play with elimination in case you’re looking for something more specific than an antique bench. For example, you’d want a wooden one. So you insert a “-“, and “metal” in between. Hit enter and the list will be devoid of benches that are made of metal.  

2. Be Really Specific

Going to a flea market with nothing particular in mind could be fine, but it won’t work if you’re scrounging about in Craigslist. In order to be successful in hunting bargains, you’d need to have something very specific in mind.

Ask yourself- “what coffee table will I need for my new apartment?” The size, the make, the function, aesthetics and of course, the price must be appealing. It can take several months for that exact item to surface, but when it does you’ll be prepared and ready for it.  

3. Send A Complete Inquiry

So maybe you’ve found a good deal on Craigslist. The price is right, the location is just a few miles and everything looks good so far. But like a wise buyer, you should send an inquiry to make a better informed decision. How does one send a good inquiry?

That will depend on the item in question. Excellent starting inquiries include asking if the seller is the first owner, what year is the make and what other items or accessories will be thrown in. If you’re uncertain about the condition, do ask for a clear picture.

Don’t forget to include your cell number or email address so the seller can get back to you. Use complete sentences and begin the initial offer with a much lower figure than your target price.  

4. Inspect Before Buying

Take it slow. Go over the item carefully and see if what was advertised is the same as the presented item. Do a quality test and run it through the paces. Open each drawer, look under, bounce on it, lie down on it or thump it for good measure.

Don’t just fork over your money- make sure it’s what you want. You’ll still have the buyer’s right to walk away if the goods don’t meet your expectations.  

5. Look For Scam Signals

If a listed item for sale is too good to be true, it probably is. Does the item have pictures, but the pictures themselves look like they came from a stock photo site? Too many typo errors? Check the responder’s email address for any negative reviews, scam flags or fraud by doing a Google search.

Minimize the risk of losing money by going for a meetup. That means no shipping, money order or fund transfers until you come face to face and determine that the item’s truly legit. Moreover, choose to meet in a public place that has plenty of people. Bring a companion if the location is a private home.  

6. Put In Extensions

Surfing Craigslist with your Chrome browser? Make everything easier by installing extensions such as Craigslist Peek, which shows image previews of posts, or Popup Notifications, which informs you that there’s a new listing for a set search parameter.  

7. Don’t Give Up

It’s not a perfect world. There will be the seller who won’t ever respond to your inquiries. For every good deal you come across, there’s one that’s already taken. There will be scams and long droughts.

The key is not to give up and continue to look for items you may need. Just be patient and keep searching away on Craigslist. There are thousands of new postings everyday, so the deal you’re looking for just might very well appear tomorrow.

Be diligent and you’ll be finely rewarded with awesome deals on Craigslist!

The post How to Get the Best Deals on Craigslist first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

We all want to save money wherever we can when shopping and thanks to the internet, it’s now easier than ever. Being able to compare prices and find the best deal sites means that you can make your money stretch that little bit further.

Let’s take a look at the 7 best deal sites out there, meaning no matter what you are looking to purchase – you don’t have to worry about it being too much off a strain on your bank balance.  

1. DealNews.com

This site will always show you the best deals on electronics, computer equipment, clothes and a whole lot more. The site is really easy to navigate, you can simply search what product you are looking for and a whole backlog of deals will appear to browse at your convenience.

Dealnews get lots of offers that are exclusive to them, meaning you will find them nowhere else on the internet. In addition to daily savings, they will also show you the hottest deals that are available on holidays, black Friday and so on!  

2. NewEgg.com

If you are a geek who just loves the latest and greatest in computers and other gadgets, this is the right site for you. NewEgg has awesome prices on technology and promises to always show you the best deals currently available.

The website is easy to browse on a standard computer/laptop and you can also get the app to make things even easier.  

3. SlickDeals.net

This is one of the most popular deal websites for all the right reasons. You can find offers on pretty much anything including computers, other electronics, travel packages and stores that are local to you.

New deals appear but sadly also expire on SlickDeals every single day, so it’s important that you check the site regularly. The best thing about this site in my opinion is that it’s made up of a community of people just like you, who share coupon codes and deals that are available on different websites.

It’s super active with lots of members who just want to help each other grab a bargain.  

4. Woot.com

This is one of the first daily deal sites that existed online and it has only continued to grow, since Amazon purchased the franchise in 2010. While it only used to have a list of the best technology deals online – it’s now expanded to wine, clothing, apparel, toys and more.

Deals Woot is a community of like-minded people sharing deals that you might be interested in, there deals can do “down” or “up” voted according to if they are still active. This is a really handy site that helps to save you as much money as possible.  

5. FatWallet.com

This is a classic deals website, it’s simple but to the point. It is jammed packed full of coupon codes that can help save you money on certain websites. One thing I find useful with this website is that they cover big websites but also smaller ones that you might not be aware of.

They have product deals that you might not be able to find on other sites including categories like cosmetics and jewelry. Whether you are just looking for the best deals on the front page or you want to get more in depth in the forums, just enjoy what’s available!  

6. Passwird.com

This is a deal site that isn’t as packed as others because it’s run by one person single handedly. While there are not THOUSANDS of deals, the ones that are there are quality ones that are updated regularly. Check this site out today and you might just find a hidden gem or two.  

7. BradsDeals.com

BradsDeals is great for finding products that we all need to use on a daily basis such as razors, toiletries, cosmetics and clothing – in addition to bigger deals like electronics of course.

You can find price alerts, coupon codes and the latest discounts on all your favorite items on a daily basis. In addition to codes that you can use online, BradsDeals also has the back to basics coupons that you can print out and use in many stores. This is a great site that is well worth adding to your bookmarks!  

Now that you know the best deal sites, it’s time to shop with no regret! Some of these websites work in different ways but they are all designed to help you get amazing prices on some really good products. So make the most of the resources around you and shop smart.

The post 7 Best Sites to Find Deals first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

Cyber Monday is coming up on after thanksgiving and everyone is getting ready for the best deals of the year. If you’re like me, then you value your deals a lot and you want Cyber Monday to count.

No doubt, you won’t be the only shopper scrambling for those precious discounts and there will be a lot of competition. The stores don’t help either by being subtle with all the best deals.

To get a head of the competition, you’ll have to know some neat hacks. Here they are!

Safety First

You probably think all of the hacks to do with Cyber Monday are about finding the best available deals. However, just as important is your safety. As you surf the internet, chances are you’ll stumble upon a Cyber Monday deal that will seem too good to be true.

Well, if it seems so then it probably is. If you’re seeing deals on websites you’re not familiar with, be careful. Preferably, avoid websites you’ve never seen or heard of before altogether. Another thing to watch out for is the barrage of spam you’re likely to receive in your email.

If your spam filter isn’t working too well, now is a great time to fix it. Otherwise, never ever click on links you know nothing about that come in your email.  

Make sure you’re always using a secure data connection when you surf the internet with the intention of making an online payment at some point.

That means you shouldn’t be shopping on airport or coffee house Wi-Fi. Ever. Also, stick to your credit card when making payments. It has enough layers of security that you’re less likely to be robbed via that avenue.

Do Your Due Diligence  

Every year, retailers release ads on their deals earlier and earlier. So if you want to catch the best deals, you’ll have to look out for the ads much earlier.

Remember, Cyber Monday comes just after Thanksgiving, meaning that whatever deals relate to Cyber Monday were probably bundled up with Black Friday deals. Do your research early and figure out what you want.

Find the best deal and then bide your time. When the deals go live, you won’t waste any time pouncing on them.

It All Starts on Black Friday

Black Friday comes just before Cyber Monday. Have you ever been curious which one offers the better deals? We went and did an analysis of the past few years for both and found a few patterns.

First off, high end electronics have better deals on Cyber Monday. Whether you’re looking for a high quality gaming system, a HD TV, or a powerful laptops, these have the best deals on Cyber Monday. Budget electronics typically have the better deal on Black Friday so you’ll have to hold your horses if you’re looking for something with a little more power.

Second, home goods and Christmas toys also traditionally have better deals on Cyber Monday. Walmart and Target are notorious for giving great deals and never fail to disappoint. If you’re looking to buy a vacuum cleaner, then Cyber Monday is your best bet. There’s probably a connection between the fact that it’s called Cyber Monday’ and the fact that you get the best deals on electronics on this day.

Get Your Browser Ready  

So you’ve done your hunting and you’ve found exactly what you want. Now you just need to wait for the material day to arrive. Well, what if the day comes and everything happens too fast?

What if you can’t fill in your credit card information fast enough and the outlet runs out of stock? This is where your browser comes in. Make sure you have it all prepped up for the big day.

First, bookmark all the outlets where you’ll be doing your shopping. That way, finding them on D-Day will be much easier.

Second, fill your shopping carts up with everything you plan to buy come Monday. You could even fill in credit card and shipping information so that, on Monday, all you have to is click your mouse a few times and the sale is done! Make sure you also install browser add-ons to prevent you from entering erroneous financial information. Can’t afford to overspend on such a day.    

The Power of the Coupon  

Just because the retailers are already offering you deals, doesn’t mean you should forget about coupon codes altogether! Make sure you stack up a supply of coupons to use on the material day.

There are lots of sites where you can find coupons with great savings. Some of these include CouponSherpa.com, Groupon and Cardpool.com. You could easily shave off an extra 5-13% on the price of your goods using coupon codes.    

Be a Purposeful Shopper

Just because it’s Cyber Monday, doesn’t mean everything is going to be a good deal. If you go for everything, you’ll probably end up with nothing at the end of the day.

Make sure you have a list of all the best deals at your favorite outlets handy so you know what to focus on. When the day comes, go for the best deals, looking to focus on free shipping deals first and working your way from there.

Typically, electronics and cookers offer the best deals on Cyber Monday. Things like Christmas toys will just be a waste of your money. There are days in the year when great deals are offered on everything and you can buy anything and still get a sweet deal. Unfortunately, Cyber Monday isn’t one of those days.    

Have Fun!  

Cyber Monday isn’t meant to be the gory struggle between consumers that it’s made out to be. It’s a day to get great deals and still have fun while shopping. If you don’t have fun, then you’ve probably wasted your Cyber Monday.

There are lots of opportunities on Cyber Monday to get a dream product at an incredible price. Some of these will pan out and some won’t, that’s the way things just are. However, if you’re diligent enough and take into consideration all the tips you just read, you’re likely to get multiple good deals.

The post Cyber Monday Shopping Guide – How to Get a Great Deal first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

Black Friday is a common event in most shoppers’ calendars, it’s the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas where people make bulk purchases of items.

In fact, it’s estimated that Black Friday accounts for almost 30% of yearly retail sales. Nowadays, many people prefer shopping online during this period due to the many benefits it offers. Some of which include:  

1. Discount bargains start earlier online  

Many major retailers kick off their online sales hours before opening the brick-and-mortar stores. This provides an opportunity for people to do their shopping earlier, and enjoy great deals which are only available for virtual buyers.

Additionally, shoppers will be able to buy their favorite items in good time before they run out of the stores due to huge demand.  

2. You can compare prices and coupon codes from different stores  

Online buying makes it easier for people to compare prices offered by different stores, simply browse through the websites of various retailers to see how the deals stack up on various items.

Moreover, before completing any purchase you can look up the Web for relevant voucher codes. You can enjoy price discounts on top of the already subsidized prices.  

3. Some online stores provide free shipping on Black Friday  

While in the past making purchases online was a drawback due to shipping costs, nowadays many retailers are providing free seasonal delivery for those who buy items on Black Friday.

There are online stores that have free standard shipping offers on eligible products, with no minimal buying amount required.  

4. It can help curb impulse purchases  

Studies show that people who buy items online are less likely to spend money on products that they do not need. Similarly, on Black Friday nearly 45 pct of smartphone users employ their devices to not only complete their purchases, but also to research buys.

As a buyer, if you’re able to tell more clearly the best deals that are available online through comparisons, you won’t be easily swayed by the fear of missing out on great deals. Online shopping allows you to make purchases in peace and quiet, at your own terms and without any pressure.  

5. It’s fast and reliable  

Online shopping saves you time that would have otherwise been wasted driving to-and-from a brick & motor store. You can complete a checkout with only a few clicks, plus some online retailers also offer one-touch ordering on Black Friday.

Additionally, online stores can also recommend products to you based on your previous browsing or purchase history. Some big retailers also have apps that are specifically dedicated to Black Friday shopping. They allow you to do various things such as pulling up digital flyers, selecting items straight from the flyer and making purchases. These apps allow you to do your shopping on the go, so as not to spend your precious time shoving through the mall.    

In conclusion, shopping online on Black Friday is much better than brick-and-motor shopping. The process is easier, convenient and very cost effective. Not to mention that there are no aisles around to distract your shopping experience.

The post 5 Reasons to Shop Online on Black Friday first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

With the economy in the doldrums, and unemployment reaching highs not seen in decades, people are hurting all over the country. With reduced incomes comes the necessity to cut back and get by with less, to reduce, re-use and recycle the things we have.

While getting by with less is great, you don’t have to completely do away with everything. There are many simple ways to reduce your spending, and save money every month.

Today we’ve put together a nice long list of easy ways to save money every month on recurring expenses, on money leaks and on just about everything else. So let’s get started.  

Record your expenses.  

The first step to saving money is to figure out how much you spend. Keep track of all your expenses—that means every coffee, newspaper and snack you buy. Ideally, you can account for every penny.

Once you have your data, organize the numbers by categories, such as gas, groceries and mortgage, and total each amount. Consider using your credit card or bank statements to help you with this. If you bank online, you may be able to filter your statements to easily break down your spending.  

Budget.

It’s hard to tell where you’re headed if you haven’t mapped out where you are! The word ‘budget’ gets a bad rap — but it’s not about depriving yourself or taking things away — it’s about adding freedom to your life.

When you take control of your spending and saving, you give yourself the freedom to make certain choices when you want to make them.

Bottom line: budgeting isn’t as scary or as difficult as it sounds — it’s just about making sure your money goes where you want it to go.  

Save On Recurring Expenses.

One place people should be looking to save money are on the big recurring expenses that we all have every month. Let’s look at a few places you can save.

• Cell phone bill: JD Powers reports that the average annual wireless phone bill is $1,152, or about $96 a month. Why pay that much when you can get a great smartphone via a pre-paid wireless provider for hundreds less every year.

• Home phone: Some people will cancel their home phone service altogether in favor of either cell phone service only, resulting in savings of hundreds per year. Of course if you still need a phone you can go with internet telephone service instead, which often costs much less.

If you need to have a land-line for a home security system or something along those lines, consider canceling extra options on your phone like voicemail, call waiting and caller id to save on things you don’t need or use.

• Internet service: Try switching your internet service to another provider in order to take advantage of new subscriber deals or promotions.

Switch from one internet type to another – DSL to cable or fiber-optic internet. Switching can often get you great initial deals, and then you can hop providers to get another great deal when the promotion ends. Also consider bundling your services like phone, internet and TV to save.

• TV and entertainment: there are a variety of ways to save on your TV and entertainment costs. First, you can switch cable providers from one to the other to get in on a promotional offer.

If that doesn’t work you can always cut the cord altogether, and save a ton by setting up a home entertainment system using streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and other free content providers.

• Gym membership: Have you heard the one about the guy who in 1997, joined a pay-as-you-go gym and never went? Over those 14 years, it’s cost absolutely nothing. Yet plenty of people are happy to shell out £40 or £50 a month by direct debit to a gym they never go to. £50 a month for 14 years is £8,400 and that doesn’t include the crisps you have to buy from the vending machine after each visit.

If you use the gym three times a week, great. If not, cancel your membership immediately. You’ll soon save enough to buy your own bike and, if you’re so inclined, a rowing machine. And if you can still afford it, a crisps vending machine. Consider running home from work three times a week. It’s free.    

Clear your credit card debt.

One of the golden rules of financial planning is to clear your most expensive debts first, in other words your credit cards. OK, credit cards offer a convenient way to pay for goods and services but if you can’t clear the balance every month, consider a low-cost loan as an alternative.

Do the sums: a credit card debt (APR 16.8%) of £2,500 over five years will cost £1,212 in interest. A loan at 7.8% will cost £527. A saving of £685.  

Negotiate prices.

Did you know that you can negotiate in almost any kind of purchasing situation?

Though you might have previously thought negotiation was only for the bigger purchases such as home buying or car shopping, you can also negotiate at retail stores and online too.

You can even negotiate to lower your bills!  

Slash excess spending.

Every so often, it’s a good idea to track your purchasing history to see where your money is going. An easy way to do this is by using budget apps like Mint.com or BillGuard.com.

Then, once you see where your money is going, you can make adjustments where necessary. Do you really need to buy that new iPhone or Android device ever time a new one comes out?  

Make coffee at home.

Spending $4 to $5 on coffee every day definitely adds up. So and allow yourself a few days a week to buy coffee at cafés, and make it at home the rest of the time.  

For heaven’s sake, quit smoking.

If you’re still a smoker, you have to know by now that your habit is not only expensive, but potentially deadly as well. If you want to add years to your life and save a boatload of money, the easiest thing to do is to stop smoking altogether.

You can quit cold turkey, try some of the many anti-smoking products that are out there, or switch to an electronic cigarette to buy some time. Whichever path you choose, you will be much better off.  

Install a programmable thermostat.

Installing a programmable thermostat is a no-brainer if you want to cut down on energy usage while you’re not at home, or simply regulate the temperature in your home.

By setting it to heat or cool your home at certain times, you can ensure that your utilities aren’t being wasted while you’re at work or asleep – and save money in the process.  

Buy used when you can.

You can often find the exact item you want with a bit of clever shopping at used equipment stores, used game stores, consignment shops, and so on. Just make these shops a part of your normal routine – go there first when looking for potential items and you will save money.

Clothes, for example, often cost pennies on the dollar when bought used – even if they were only worn once. By buying used most of the time, you can save a ton of cash.  

Look for Free Events.

Going out doesn’t to socialize with friends doesn’t have to be costly. Many areas run free events that are open to everyone. Check notice boards and your local newspaper for things that might appeal.

Some of these events will even provide food and drink!  

Trade down your car.

So, you bought an American sports utility vehicle (SUV) that nets 15 miles to the gallon on a whim. Obviously we’re all very impressed – especially by the personalised number plate and the way you can Tweet while negotiating narrow lanes outside schools.

But can you honestly justify the ongoing expense? If not, get rid of it. Then visit a car supermarket, where you can choose from thousands of cars at knock-down prices. If you’re a true money saver, consider an ex-rental model which you can pick up for a fraction of the cost of a new one.  

Make your own gifts instead of buying stuff from the store.

If you want to save money while also giving generously, creating your own homemade gifts is one way to accomplish both goals. You can make food mixes, candles, fresh-baked bread or cookies, soap, and all kinds of other things at home quite easily and inexpensively.

These make spectacular gifts for others because they involve your personal touch — something you can’t buy from a store — and quite often they’re consumable, meaning they don’t wind up filling someone’s closet with junk. Even better – include a personal handwritten note with the gift.  

Avoid extended warranties.

Electrical goods are more reliable than ever. If your new radio won’t last three years perhaps it’s not worth buying in the first place. Think about it: how many times has your fridge broken down in the last five years?

And do you really need the hassle of claiming for repairs to a £10 toaster? The truth is, there are many ways to save money. Find the ways that work for you, and slowly start incorporating the strategies into your life.

The post Simple Tricks to Save Money Every Month first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

In order to take advantage of Black Friday deals, you need to have sufficient money. Sufficient here is subjective and depends on an individual.

If you do not save up enough money, you will pass up on offers that will haunt you. You should consider a two-way approach: reduce your expenses and raise your income. Here are ways to save up for black Friday:  

1. Reduce expenses  

– Stick to a budget

Budgets help people keep their expenses in check. Though different finance professionals recommend different spending percentages on different expenses, they all agree that a budget is necessary to keep finances in check.

A budget should be made to include everything that you usually spend on. Entertainment should be part of the budget. After the income is allocated, the figures should be stuck to no matter what.

The beauty of budgeting is that you can always set aside a portion of your income for Black Friday purchases. That way, you will have money sitting and will not have to run up and down to look for money to buy that item you have always wanted.  

– Reduce bank and card charges

Bank charges can be ridiculously high if you are not careful. Card fees charged by banks are typically on a percentage of the amount being billed for example at a mall. Different accounts from different banks have different charges.

You should ask upfront about a bank’s bank and card charges. The goal is to look for a bank that gives you the most value at the lowest price possible. Also, it is advisable to do bulk payments at a go rather than multiple small payments.  

– Save up on phone expenses

Expenditure on phone services is unavoidable. That does not however mean that it cannot be minimized. How much of the service you have paid for do you actually use?

As a guide, unlimited bundles are usually costly compared to set bundles. Figure out how much call time you need, text messages you send and internet you use and pay for just that.

What is the point of paying for an unlimited phone package that costs a fortune yet you barely use it enough to warrant the spending?  

– Cut out unnecessary snacking

Sweet tooth syndrome is a big challenge for many. Do you see that cupcake and all over sudden you are craving something sweet? Well, you should know that marketers are out to get you! They will position advertisements and displays in strategic areas to get you to spend your money.

That is what they are paid for so you should not blame them. However, you should be smart. Snacking much as it may be smart is completely unnecessary. Half the time, snacking is usually on unhealthy stuff anyway so what is the point?

The few dollars you save on snacking today, tomorrow and the day after will accumulate to a handsome amount that you can then use to buy something tangible during Black Friday.  

– Avoid paying for services you do not need

Services you do not need depend on an individual. There are those who have cable TV for example yet are barely home to watch TV to begin with. What is the point of paying for such a service if you will barely ever use it?

In popular terms, you should cut the cable cord. Rather than spending money on such a service, would you rather not use the same money to buy something you will use every often during Black Friday?  

– Entertain in-house

External entertainment is more expensive compare to in-house entertainment. That is a fact. It is cheaper to buy liquor at the store and have it from home as compared to clubbing.

The experience is not exactly the same but if you are having fun and enjoying time with friends that frankly speaking there is not much a difference.

You should be objective enough to realize that entertaining in-house will save you enough quite a bit of money and this can be pushed to you Black Friday budget.    

2. Raise income  

– Sell stuff you do not use/need

Everyone has that old sofa set or golf club they know they do not need. Well, why have you not gotten rid of it? What if I told you that you could get rid of it and still salvage some value?

Exciting? Yes! You can sell stuff you would like to get rid of and raise your income. The extra income can then be used to buy new stuff during Black Friday.

The post How to Save Up for Black Friday first appeared on Proactive Shopping.

Sometimes shopping the Black Friday deals can be tough, discouraging many shoppers from taking advantage of all the amazing discounts available. The hustle is not for the faint-hearted, and you’ll know exactly what I mean if you have ever stood in a queue for hours, just to grab a door buster sale item before it’s gone.

And then along comes Cyber Monday… You thought you got some great deals on Black Friday, just to discover that Cyber Monday has more or even less to offer. The uncertainty can be gut-wrenching and most people simply want to know when to shop. Black Friday or Cyber Monday?  

Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times of the year to get great deals and discounts. You just never know how deep the discounts will be. Expectations are usually high and almost all of America is waiting to grab a great deal off both sales events.

When it comes down to it, you have to make a choice, but no matter when you shop, you’ll definitely be saving money.  

Black Friday  

A recent survey shows that 75% of Americans will shop the Black Friday sales event and the chances are they’ll probably spend 20% more than what they spent in 2016.

Statistics show that as the years go by, this percentage increases along with household spending budgets for Black Friday.  

Pros

• Black Friday is more of a physical shopping sales event and offers shoppers the opportunity to try out items they want to buy and decide on the spot if these products are really what they need.

• No one wants to be bothered with returns and shipping. In-store shopping enables easy product returns and a faster refund or store credit.

On Black Friday, prices tend to be lower in the stores than they are online. There are many exclusive deals in-stores especially for door busters or perishable items. You will get the chance to snatch great deals as they come up, even before they become available online.  

Cons

• Black Friday is hindered by queues and crowds. It is only for brave shoppers who don’t mind other people in their personal space. It starts with difficulty getting a parking space, elbow to elbow shopping and finally, joining a long snaking line just to get to the cash register.

• Many doorbuster items come in limited quantities. If you are one of those who cannot make it to the sale event early, the deal may be gone before you hit the stores.

• Black Friday can sometimes feel like you’re shopping blindly. Even though you might have a list of what you want, many times the stores may have run out and could have a different color, size or brand. You may not get that deal you’ve been hankering for and might feel compelled to buy totally different item.

Cyber Monday

If you are one of the many Black Friday shoppers who aren’t a fan of long queues, large crowds, and bustling stores, Cyber Monday may be the best choice for you. This sales event stole the show in 2016, attracting $3.45 billion in sales; more than what Black Friday retailers sold.

It is getting more and more popular, and this year it’s anticipated that Cyber Monday may still out-pace last year’s trend.  

Pros

• Being online means that it’s a convenient way to shop for many people. No crowds, no hassles, and no parking space issues. Just shop from your home, office or school and save time.

• Easily compare prices across several shops or brands. This way, you are sure you are getting the best deal online.

• Even with a Cyber Monday sale, you can still use coupons, points etc., to get even deeper discounts from the sales event. Some merchants offer free shipping when you buy up to a certain amount, so look out for more offers to deepen your savings.  

Cons

• Most deals are left over from Black Friday offers. In many cases, you will be left with remnant sale items.

• Shopping online means that you can’t try or test your products before buying. Many shops offer a return policy, so remember to confirm the details of the policy before shopping.

• A high rate of out of stock items is common on Cyber Monday. Due to multiple orders being placed at the very same moment, merchants are sometimes caught unaware.

And the winner is…  

There is no winner between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It all comes down to what you’re buying, what offers you are interested in, and if you are an in-person or online shopper.

If you like to touch and feel your product before purchasing them, then a Cyber Monday deal might not be the best choice for you.

But, if you are a seasoned online shopper and have no qualms buying online— bearing in mind also that you may have missed out on some exclusive deals— then Cyber Monday will suit your needs just fine.

The post Black Friday vs Cyber Monday – When Should You Shop? first appeared on Proactive Shopping.