Can We Really Afford to Buy That Hot Deal?

Many of us spend a lot of energy searching for the hottest deals. We love to grab the "almost free" bargains. We communicate back and forth on forums, sharing the latest breaking news on merchandise that we find at rock-bottom prices. A lot of energy and a lot of money goes towards buying things that are dirt cheap.

Does the End Justify the Means?

Important questions to ask before buying anything, even at dirt cheap prices are, "When will I use it and do I need it?" Tying up money on stockpiles of products we do not use is never a good deal. Going into debt on products we have no real purpose for will rarely pay off. The real pay off comes when we avoid getting caught up in the hunt and stay in control of what we are buying.

Nickels and Dimes Add Up

Bargain hunters can nickel and dime themselves into debt that they later regret. So how does someone whose hobby is finding and buying super deals do so without going into debt? Get a plan of action.

Action Plan

1. Figure out how much cash you have to spend each month on "hot deals" and stay within that budget.

2. Pay cash when possible. If shopping online with credit cards, set the amount you spend aside in cash or deduct it from your checking account so you can pay the bill promptly when it arrives.

3. When buying end-of-season clothing, purchase basic, classic styles. Avoid buying trendy fashion items to wear next year because when next year arrives, chances are the trendy pieces will look dated and unappealing.

4. Avoid accumulating products which cannot be used within a reasonable amount of time. This is especially important with food items with expiration dates.

5. Buy items you need and avoid items you think you may use.

7. Buy gifts in advance only when you have a name to go with the gift. Avoid the "I'll give it to someone" trap.

8. Always ask yourself - how badly do I need this? Buying items you don't really have a need for will tie up money you may need later for something you really need - like a new transmission on your car.

Helpful Tools

Budget Calculator
Use this tool to help create your own budge calculator and set a spending budget.
• Basic Compound Interest Calculator
  This calculator helps you to understand how much money you can accumulate by saving small amounts of money each week in an account.
  
  
• Daycare Cost Calculator
  What does it really add up to each month?
  
  
• Real Hourly Wage Calculator
  How much do you really make an hour and how many hours of work will it take you to buy the item you are interested in?

The Bottom Line

Wise deal-hunting can save you money when what is purchased is something you can afford and something that you need.