Is it a Good Buy?

Can you tell the difference between a real good buy or just some company or store telling you it is?

It’s easy to get sidetracked with end caps and those signs telling you buy me because I’m 20 percent off…but just for a short time so don’t be a loser by missing out.

Here are five tips to help you determine what’s a good buy and not just marketing hype…

Know the Value

If you don’t know how much something is supposed to cost or what the regular price is for an item, then any sale telling you it’s 20% off looks like a bargain.

Whenever you’re grocery shopping or looking at big ticket items do your research first.

Use the Internet

There’s no excuse for not doing research these days. The Internet has made it easy to track down prices and compare them without leaving the comfort of home.

Watch out for Outlet Stores

I’ve often been fooled into thinking I was getting a bargain on things like jeans because I purchased them at an outlet store.

Yes, you can find great buys there but once again do your research first.

Check Used Items Too

It’s not just new products that need checking out, used ones need some research too. Have you seen something on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and thought, wow, I have to buy that? You find out later that it’s not much cheaper then buying new.

Be a sleuth when it comes to shopping for new, old, and vintage items.

Read Reviews

One nice feature of online research is reading the reviews of a product.

I find some products have a range of reviews anywhere from 5 to 1 star but if you dig deeper and see why people awarded either high or low you can get a feel for what to avoid.

Sometimes someone’s low score is down to late shipping or a product arriving damage.

Look for what people say about the actual product. Is it smaller than shown? Didn’t last longer than a few months?

Comparison shopping takes planning, an understanding of the value of an item, and the willingness to become a budget smart sleuth.