Are High Gas and Food Prices Turning You Into a Bargain Shopper?
Every headline and prediction on the economy is that it is going to get worse before it gets better. That's probably true. Most economists quoted in these articles state that they haven't seen such a change in consumer habits since the 1970's. I vaguely remember the 1970's oil crisis. I think I was 10 or 12 during that time. Consumers who felt the economic bliss of the last few years have now had to rethink the value of the dollar. Rethink how they shop just for the necessities. In one article I read recently, Depression Mentality was referred to when describing consumer habits.
But, when food and gas consume most of our income, what do you do if you want to shop for those non-necessities? Most of the stores are feeling economic hardship as well. If you will notice, sales are happening more often now than they use to. I am on the email list for Ann Taylor Loft, and I regularly, almost weekly, receive an email for $10-15 off of sale priced or regular priced merchandise. In some parts of the country, consumers have the opportunity to barter with pricing.
I have long been a bargain shopper. Ever since I can remember, I have clipped coupons, looked for sales and shopped what I call the better-than-outlet stores, store. I guess my shopping habits come from the fact that I started out in my career making a mere $12,000 a year. Mostly I made that salary because I lived in a market that paid lower salaries than other markets and because I chose to work in nonprofit. Nevertheless, I have had to learn how to be very frugal in my shopping. Even when I did make much, much more than $12,000, I still have kept my shopping habits the same. You might say, I have learned to turn shopping into a sporting event.
First and foremost, you have to be committed to bargain shop, if you're one who runs in and buys, then it probably will take you a little longer to change your habits. It takes time and know-how when looking for bargains. As I said earlier, most of the regular priced stores are running specials to temp and entice consumers to buy at their stores. So if you typically shop one of those stores and have money to spend, you may get more for your money than you once thought. At the stores I call better-than-outlet stores store, it seems that ample merchandise is being peddled through them. I have noticed at TJMaxx (my better-than-outlet stores, store) that the merchandise seems to be a little more plentiful than usual. More for you to weed through when looking for that bargain. And of course, you can't leave out the discount stores like Target. Their sales racks this summer have really offered bargain based pricing.
Once you are committed to the time and energy it takes to bargain shop, it really can be a lot of fun. Especially when you walk out with something that you know would have been two to three times more in a regular priced store.
Here's to happy bargain hunting! Articles of interest: Gloomy Economy Changing Shoppers' Habits at MSNBC.com and As Belt Tightens Coach Feels the Pinch at Businessweek.com
But, when food and gas consume most of our income, what do you do if you want to shop for those non-necessities? Most of the stores are feeling economic hardship as well. If you will notice, sales are happening more often now than they use to. I am on the email list for Ann Taylor Loft, and I regularly, almost weekly, receive an email for $10-15 off of sale priced or regular priced merchandise. In some parts of the country, consumers have the opportunity to barter with pricing.
I have long been a bargain shopper. Ever since I can remember, I have clipped coupons, looked for sales and shopped what I call the better-than-outlet stores, store. I guess my shopping habits come from the fact that I started out in my career making a mere $12,000 a year. Mostly I made that salary because I lived in a market that paid lower salaries than other markets and because I chose to work in nonprofit. Nevertheless, I have had to learn how to be very frugal in my shopping. Even when I did make much, much more than $12,000, I still have kept my shopping habits the same. You might say, I have learned to turn shopping into a sporting event.
First and foremost, you have to be committed to bargain shop, if you're one who runs in and buys, then it probably will take you a little longer to change your habits. It takes time and know-how when looking for bargains. As I said earlier, most of the regular priced stores are running specials to temp and entice consumers to buy at their stores. So if you typically shop one of those stores and have money to spend, you may get more for your money than you once thought. At the stores I call better-than-outlet stores store, it seems that ample merchandise is being peddled through them. I have noticed at TJMaxx (my better-than-outlet stores, store) that the merchandise seems to be a little more plentiful than usual. More for you to weed through when looking for that bargain. And of course, you can't leave out the discount stores like Target. Their sales racks this summer have really offered bargain based pricing.
Once you are committed to the time and energy it takes to bargain shop, it really can be a lot of fun. Especially when you walk out with something that you know would have been two to three times more in a regular priced store.
Here's to happy bargain hunting! Articles of interest: Gloomy Economy Changing Shoppers' Habits at MSNBC.com and As Belt Tightens Coach Feels the Pinch at Businessweek.com
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