General Shopping Tips

1. Take advantage of seasonal sales. Certain products go on sale at regular times of the year. If you wait until the right moment you can save 25 to 50 percent or more. Here is a month-by-month list which tells you when the best bargains are available at outlet stores.
   
   January - Lingerie, linens, fall and holiday women's clothes, Christmas supplies.
   February - Fall and holiday women's clothes, red lingerie.
   March - Wicker items, leotards and tights, silk flowers.
   April - Silver, sleepwear, swimsuits, outdoor accessories.
   May - Glassware, china, silver, sleepwear, swimsuits, outdoor accessories.
   June - Summer and spring women's clothes, china, glassware, linens, swimsuits.
   July - Women's underwear, summer and spring women's clothes, swimsuits, linens.
   August - Children's clothes, women's underwear, swimsuits.
   September - Children's clothes.
   October - China, glassware, Christmas decorations.
   November - Christmas decorations, linens china, glassware.
   December - China, glassware.
   
   
2. Make lists. You probably know already that keeping a running grocery list is a big money-saver. It also works to apply the same principle to all your consumer needs. Keep a little notebook accessible. Jot down whatever you need to replace or purchase. Then, when you're at a department store sale, warehouse club, or yard sale, you can refer to your notebook and remember what it is you need to buy.
3. Plan each shopping trip to focus only on what you need. Don't get sidetracked into impulse buying. Group together errands and purchases to reduce the amount of opportunities you provide yourself for "extra" spending.
4. We've seen over and over how you can save money by taking advantage of middlemen who buy products in bulk, from airline tickets to hotel rooms. You can buy in bulk yourself and save. The key is to buy only those products that you can and will use before they go bad and for which you have enough storage space. Nonperishable such as toilet paper, canned food, and panty hose are good examples of bulk-buying opportunities.
5. Don't be reluctant to return anything that is not satisfactory You might as well throw your money away if you hold onto spoiled goods. As a consumer, you always have a right to return something and get a refund, credit, or exchange.
6. Don't assume you can't return an item because you've already used it, either. If it fell apart after one use, return it. Just be polite and clear about why you are returning the item. Try not to make a special trip just for a small return, though. Hang onto your receipts and call the store to ask if you can wait until your next shopping day rather than waste time and gasoline.
7. You can often get a refund or credit over the phone. Many food companies list toll-free customer service numbers on their packages. If you arc unhappy with a certain product, you can call the number to complain.
8. Warehouse Shopping. You probably have heard of membership or warehouse clubs, those huge stores that buy everything in bulk and pass on the savings to members who pay a fee per year.