Free 365 Ways to Live Cheap by Trent Hamm

quality or a touch-screen improvement on a device you have right now? If it’s just a little change, ask yourself whether that little feature is really worth the high price tag, particularly if it requires you to upgrade lots of other things as well (like the upgrade from videocassettes to D VD s) or requires you to start paying for a service for what you were getting for free (like the upgrade from A M /F M radio to satellite radio).
    135. P ICK THE M ODEL N OW , T HEN W AIT S IX M ONTHS
    If you’re still convinced that you want a particular item, agree that you will purchase the item in six months if you still want it. Spend that time researching the item, considering whether or not you’d actually use the item, and waiting for the price to come down or a newer version to come out. If you decide that you’re going to buy a newer model, start that six-month clock over again. The most likely result of this six-month wait is that you’ll either forget about the item or realize that you don’t actually need it, in which case you’ll have saved yourself a significant amount of money by being patient.
    136. K NOW THE F EATURES Y OU N EED B EFORE Y OU S HOP
    If you’re about to sink some money into a new electronic item, know what features you actually need before even beginning to shop. List exactly what you’re looking for before you even start looking at research materials. This is much the same psychology as preparing a shopping list before you go to the grocery store. It keeps you focused on exactly what you need instead of being distracted by something else that might come along. Before you even begin to research your purchase, know exactly what you want.
    137. A VOID THE “F EATURE C REEP ”
    When you do begin to research your purchase or shop around, you’ll often discover nifty features that show up in the higher-end models (often thanks to promotional materials, the overtures of a clever in-store salesperson, or a gadget-loving friend who extols the virtue of some minor, expensive, and nonessential feature). Ignore them. These neat features are not features you need, they’re merely features you’re being lured into wanting on the spur of the moment. Look for the core features you’re interested in and let the rest steal the money from someone else’s wallet.
    138. S HOP A ROUND , B OTH O NLINE AND O FF
    If you’re being patient about your purchase, you’ll have plenty of time to shop around very carefully for the item. Look at retailers both online and offline and find the best prices, the best return policies, and the best assistance for questions that you may have about the item. Quite often, online retailers have better prices, but offline brick-and-mortar retailers can have better service and return policies, so consider the value of service and return policies in your purchase. If an item would be difficult to return or may require some service or assistance to install, consider that a valuable premium for buying the item in a store, even if the price is a bit higher. The key is to find the best overall value for your dollar, and that may be online in some situations and offline in others, depending on what you are trying to purchase.
    139. L OOK A T R EFURBISHED M ODELS
    Many stores offer refurbished models—items that were originally sold and then returned with a minor defect that has now been repaired. These items are often as good as new, but are sold at a discounted price. Do some research into refurbished models available for the item you’re looking for. Quite often, you can find refurbished models with the same warranties and benefits as buying new but with a significant discount on the purchase price. If you don’t know where to begin, ask. A timely question can often save you money.
    140. A SK ABOUT R ETAIL R ETURNS OR O PEN -B OX I TEMS
    Many shoppers will buy an item, take it home, rip open the box, then discover that it’s not exactly what they wanted or that it’s not compatible