How to Become a Smart Shopper

Learning to be a smart shopper is easy, fun and can save you lots of money in the long run.
Smart shopping requires a little work, patience and self-control, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

Instructions

1. Learn to control your impulse buying.
   You know impulse items---those items carefully placed near the checkout stand at the grocery store, the ones you toss in your basket at the last minute just because they're there.
   Well, no more of that. Promise yourself that from now on, you won't leave the house to go shopping without a list, and that you won't buy anything unless it's on the list, with the exception of staples.

2. Know what you want...and what you don't need.
   When you leave the house, know what you want to buy. For example, if you're going to shop for clothes, let your wardrobe be your guide.
   If you have many more pants than shirts, consider shopping for shirts.
   Even if green is your favorite color, if your closet looks like a St. Patrick's Day parade, decide not to buy another green anything.

3. Research, research, research.
   If you really care about how you spend your hard-earned money, take the time to research prices AND value.
   Instead of grabbing a new coffee maker off the shelf, before you leave home, type "coffee maker reviews" into your Internet browser to learn about the product choices. This will help you decide which features are important to you, and which ones you don't care about---and therefore, shouldn't pay for.
   Don't read reviews on a site belonging to a manufacturer of a particular brand. Consumer magazines and sites are a safe bet for reliable information.
   Once you've narrowed your choices, search the Web for the best prices on the items you want most.

4. Holiday weekends are the best time to get great deals on big appliances. Do your research ahead of time and go into the store armed with your information.
   The rule of thumb for purchasing electronics and computers is this: Shop just after the latest models are released. Stores will be trying to make room on their shelves for the newer versions and you'll get the most bang for your buck on the model that was the "latest and greatest" just a month ago.

Buying a Car

1. If you're in the market for a car, invest $26 to subscribe to Consumer Reports.org to for access to the most thorough, reliable information about the cost, safety, reliability, features and value of new and used cars.

2. Wait until September to buy your new car. Next year's models are on the lot then and dealerships want to move the current year's models out the door. This gives you bargaining power, plus you'll find the best rebates and incentives of the year.

3. If you have to buy before September, wait until the last week of the month when dealers are trying to meet their sales goals.

Resources

• How to Control Impulse Buying: a Terrible Illness