Online isn’t always the best price.

I was looking to buy some tights before all the good colors were gone for the season and decided to check Amazon.com. After reading a few reviews I saw that the retailer didn’t go by the MSRP. Many times the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is higher or the same as what you actually pay, not less than unless the item is imported. The tights that I wanted to buy were higher than I the regular price at a brick and mortar store including tax. Plus, I had a coupon for the brick and mortar store so this time guess who won out?

I often check prices especially when time is not a pressing factor. In this case, time and the lower price would have been a factor.

Would you change your spending habits of the past?

Many people I know learned from their bad habits by not spending a lot of money on credit cards or not wasting their money on things they really can’t afford.

If nothing else comes out of the recession the greatest gift will be teaching people to have better money management skills and not to overspend.

I’m happy with my spending habits and my saving habits. There are some things that I think I probably should have bought (generally souvenirs) but didn’t. None of those items cost less than $100 and nothing changed my quality of life.

Saving all the time can be as detrimental as spending all the time, Waiting to spend because you aren’t sure if you are going to see something better doesn’t help you. When you are not spending money on small ticket items because you are saving for a large ticket item, then that is different.

Past spending habits and saving habits have made me the frugal person I am today. There are some things I won’t buy just because I can afford them and there are other things that I want and will save up for, which makes me appreciate the purchase more. If you know that you had to sacrifice to buy something or sacrifice to maintain it, then you might think more about the item.

Thinking before buying can leave cash in your pocket…

Halloween is Saturday and I’m not buying candy. It’s not that I am anti-Halloween. The decorations are up and a Halloween sign on my door. It’s just that there are very few kids who live in my building and no one has ever come to my door for candy even though I have participated the Halloween candy giveaway several times with the friendly ghost sign on my door like all the other participants.

So, I’m going to save the money that I would use for trick or treaters and just buy myself a caramel apple. I’ll come out ahead because I won’t waste money.  In the past, all of the candy that I bought for trick or treaters was taken to work or church for people to eat, since I wasn’t going to eat all of the candy I bought. I even bought non-perishable items a couple of times and ended up giving those to my parents to give to the trick or treaters who come to their house.

Do you get any trick or treaters at your house? If you do then get some candy that you won’t mind getting stuck with if it’s left over. Don’t want to give out candy, then just go to a movie, turn off the lights or go to another part of the house so that trick or treaters won’t see that you are home and just to cheap to hand out candy and decide to egg your house.

Since the savings rates are so low, why bother even putting money into a bank for an emergency fund? Of course the money will be insured but it is really worth the hassle just to earn 2%?

Low interest rates are not an incentive to save especially for those who have little debt. Having an emergency fund is important but putting that money into a bank to earn a pittance is not necessarily what people think of when they wave. I know I don’t…

“It’s a direct wealth transfer from savers and retirees to overly indebted borrowers,” says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

I remember when interest rates were higher and allowed me to save enough to have a good down payment on my condo before the prices skyrocketed. Then as the rates decreased and housing. I know people who saved for other large ticket items through CDs and savings accounts even several years ago. Now, though saving is prudent what does that prudency give you?

Saving is a good, but find other methods to save money for an emergency fund or seek out the best rates you can. This is better than just socking money away and putting it in a can or under a mattress for long term savings. If you don’t need to use the money for several months or even years you might be able to find better rates in interest. Currently, the best rates are for larger minimum deposit amounts of at least $1,000 or more and online banks generally offer better rates.

Would you spend an extra dollar to save $12.50?

It sounds crazy but when retailers offer coupons there are times when you must spend a certain amount in order to get a free item or to use a discount coupon. Yesterday I went to a body products store and had a coupon for a free item up to $13 if I spent $15. There were very few restrictions and the sales clerk even told me that I should get the highest priced item for free. “I don’t have to pay for the higher item.” No, as long as your total is at least $15 then you will be able to get an item of up to $13 for free.

I selected two sale items and a bag totaling $14. Then I bought a new item that was one dollar so I could get my free item. The dollar item is a new lotion fragrance that I am not particularly fond of, but will probably give someone as a stocking stuffer for Christmas.

Some stores only allow you to receive the item of lesser value for free. A craft store that I frequent offers 40% off coupons often and will allow you to choose which item you want to use the coupon for. Using the coupon for the items that are the highest price is the best deal and can save you money.

The extra dollar that I spent was well worth it because the free item was something I really wanted. Even though I had to spend a dollar to get something I can use as a gift, the $11.50 difference was definitely worth it to me.