Tip of the Day: Always Shop Around- Even if you are Out of Town

If you have been reading my previous blog entries, I tend to shop around for sometimes days or weeks before I decided to finally buy or keep something I have already purchased. I am not satisfied until I get the best deal possible. In many instances, this extreme pickiness and incessant need to get a deal has helped me to save money, however this has not always been my preferred shopping method.
I remember when I was little, my Auntie Linda would look through all of the Sunday flyers for the best deals and would not purchase anything unless it was on sale. My Mom and Dad were always sale shoppers, but often didn't want to spend their spare time flipping through circulars or clipping coupons and I despised spending time before going shopping looking for the best deals. All that changed when I was 18, in college and having to fund all of my clothing purchases for the first time on my own. Very quickly I no longer was willing to pay full price for a t-shirt of pair of shoes. Over the past decade, this philosophy has stuck with me, so much so, that just a few weeks ago, I purchased a shirt 3 times to save $18 and have been known to bring snack food (dried apricots and Pringles) with me to conferences in my checked luggage to save money on food. Both are long stories and will be saved for a future blogs, but anyway, my point is, don't be afraid to shop around or find unique ways to save yourself a few bucks.
All of us have heard Suze Orman or other finanacial analysts tell us to track our daily purchases because we tend to waste significant amounts of money on Starbucks (not hating on them, every once in a while I have to have a Carmel Apple Spice, but certainly only once a month, not once a day), dining out, alcohol at resaturants, and snacks at movies or gas stations while travelling. I argue that there are other things that we waste money on that are far more detremental and add up significantly more quickly than a daily Starbucks drink. In thinking about some of my friends in financial quandries, they may not be able to pay a bill, but certainly will pay $25-50 dollars every couple of weeks to get their nails done. I guess for some of us it is about priorities, but for others, I think you really can shop around and still get the same experiences, just not as frequently.
As my best friends Shannon, Lindy and I were on the phone tonight planning Shannon's upcoming wedding in Las Vegas, we were discussing getting our hair, nails, make-up and other services done at the hotel. Trying to be mindful of the cost of each of these, I made the suggestion that we cut out getting pedicures, and spend the money on manicures instead. All of us agreed to get our pedicures prior to departure for less than half the cost we would pay at the hotel. This will easily save us $50 a piece. In addition, I always tend to pack a sandwich or find a Walgreen's or CVS when I travel to pick up food and drinks as opposed to buying those items in the airport gift shops or eating out as the savings tend to be close to 50%. Do my friends make fun of me, most definately, but I stand firm in the belief that every little bit helps so don't be afraid to shop around and think creatively about ways that you can save yourself some money while at home and abroad!