The economic times have forced many people to cut back or pass on many expenses. Instead of giving up on those items that you need or want, you just need to get a bit creative and think outside the box. Whether you are buying tires, groceries or electronics (or anything in between) you can save money by following a few simple tips.

1. Ask for a manager or a supervisor. Not all sales associates are in a position to negotiate.

2. Ask for a discount. If you don’t ask for something then you are not likely to get it. The worse they can say is not. The best that can happen is that you get the item for the price that YOU determine.

3. Look for defects. If the item has a scratch or a missing part then you can usually get a good amount off the purchase.

4. Ask for free items to go with your purchase. Although the manager may not be willing to give you a discount on your new television, he might be willing to throw in a few free DVD’s or other items with your purchase.

5. Be prepared to pay for the purchase. If you have cash on hand (instead of having to finance) then you will have more negotiating power.

6. Ask about upcoming sales. Sometimes stores will honor future discounts.

7. Be willing to walk away. The fear of losing the sale can sometimes overpower a managers desire to turn down your request.

Although some items and stores and situations lend themselves more to the haggle than other do, you still won’t know until you try. Start looking for your great deal and you just might find it.

There are mixed messages on when you should start your holiday shopping.  Experts say that starting early will make your holiday season less stressful.  Other experts say that waiting will give you the best buys as stores begin to discount merchandise to entice consumers.

I’ve always been the kind of person who shopped early.  It wasn’t because of stress or because of prices, but it has always been because I wanted to get every person just the right gift.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am a frugal shopper to the max.  There are just better ways to go about saving money than to fight the holiday crowds during a sale.

If you are concerned about costs, then either start right after Christmas (when prices hit rock bottom) or shop online.  There are plenty of sites that offer amazing discounts year round.  An added benefit to starting your shopping early if you are shopping online is that you can get shipping at a much lower rate - no need to rush.

My husband is a “weekend before Christmas” shopper.  He is that rare man that likes to wander the malls full of crowds.  It is something I gladly let him do on his own (or with another buddy that enjoys the same tradition - must be in the water). 

Which ever direction you choose, the best way to make the most of your holiday shopping is to stay organized and focused.  Make a list of who you want to buy for, some ideas of what to buy, and a limit that you are willing to spend on each person.

The holidays are some of my favorite times.  It use to be that just after Thanksgiving, the lights would start going up and the stores would start hanging the tinsel and playing the much loved tunes.  It seems that with every year, the shopping season gets earlier and earlier.  Although I don’t like having to listen to “Jingle Bells” for three months (I feel so sorry for the employees), I do agree that shopping early will make your holidays brighter.

Waiting until the last minute to do your holiday shopping will guarantee you just two things:  One - you are definitely going to spend more than you planned to spend.  Two - you will not get the perfect gift you hoped to buy for the ones you love.

Learning to shop ahead means you can take your time finding something that will be loved and used by the recipient.  It also means that you can check out several stores to find the best price.  The early bird can also shop online (often saving loads of money) and won’t have to spend a fortune on shipping because there is no rush.

Another great thing about shopping for the rush (especially if you are looking for toys for the kids) is that you have time to get something that the store might be out of at the time.  Waiting until the last minute means if it isn’t on the shelf then you don’t get to buy it.

Don’t wait another minute.  Start your holiday shopping now and use the savings to take the whole family on a great holiday trip.

Grocery shopping is a like a game for me.  I spend time prepping for the game, drawing my lists and cutting out my coupons.  Menus and quick fixes are planned and arranged by aisle on my list.  There are even asterisks next to the items that correspond to the stash of coupons I have filed in my mine expandable folder.  There are many twists, tricks, and turns I take to prepare for my grocery shopping adventure.

It’s not really so much a game as it is a hunt.  Every time I head out to the grocery store, I am determined to save money.  I think that is one of the main reasons I don’t like to send my husband out to do the shopping.  He just doesn’t get the same rush over a couple of dollars as I do, so he doesn’t shop with the same care.

I’m always looking for the next great tip on how to save money at the grocery store.  So far, my big savings was 25% - a far cry from some of these “coupon queens” that are every where.  I blame my lack of savings on the rural area that I live.  It can’t be my lack of preparations or my shopping skills - I have honed both with patience and practice.  Still, it would be nice to stand at the check out aisle and watch the total due amount plummet with each card until it neared zero.  Even better would be to find a way to make the grocery store pay me for doing my grocery shopping at their store.

Until that day comes, I will continue to clip my coupons because I know that I save about $10 a week when I do.  I will continue to buy items just at the sale by date because the store gives me great discounts (this is especially great with meat and veggies that can be taken home and frozen).  Nothing is going to stop me from getting more bangs for my buck at the grocery store. 

The hunt is on.

Women are better - at least at food shopping.  It’s true that men tend to be more capable of most spatial activities, but they can’t hold a candle to women when it comes to groceries.

Any women that has ever asked her husband or significant other to do the grocery shopping knows how true this concept is.  Most women can go into the grocery store, find exactly what is on the list, and even save a few dollars, all in under an hour.  Most men go in, having completely forgotten the list back at home, and just start buying.  The costs aren’t important.  The entire month’s budget can be blown with just won man-spree.  The scariest part is seeing the groceries unloaded and realizing that you are just going to have to go back yourself and get what you REALLY needed.

I think the problems that men have in the grocery store are directly related to the fact that most of them won’t stop and ask for directions.  The list isn’t forgotten so much as it is subconsciously left because “I don’t need help.”

If you haven’t run into this problem yet, then you aren’t a woman or else you haven’t asked a man to do your grocery shopping.   Believe me; it’s not worth the “convenience.”  I had surgery a couple of weeks ago, instead of having my husband do the shopping I just made due as long as I could.  Grocery shopping was the first thing I did after coming home - AND I managed to save 15% of the total bill and bring home just what was on the list.

I’d like to see the average man beat that.

Most parents will tell you that having kids is an expensive endeavor so any breaks, specials, or discounts are great. That is especially true when it comes time for back to school shopping (or Christmas or birthday or dances, etc . . .). Schools are making it even more difficult for the parents by requiring special notebooks, backpacks, and even clothes in many cases.

My mother was very fortunate. She didn’t have to plot or plan to save money - I was a penny pincher from early on. A shopping trip was just not successful unless I managed to save a bunch of money. As early as fourteen, my mom was comfortable giving me her credit card. She knew I would be able to get more bang for my buck than she could ever imagine - being the beauty queen in the family.

Parents are getting breaks through sales and even tax free shopping days, but buying for school can still be a budget breaker. Looking over the lists that each school hands out each year was over whelming for me. It’s been twenty years (ouch - has it really been that long) since I was in high school, but I don’t remember needing anything more than notebook paper and a pencil (and even those were optional if you were a jock with a great smile).

So, with as much money as the schools get from tax dollars, you have to wonder where the money is going. Parents shop and pay for everything today. Some schools even charge for a second set of school books that can be taken home and left to do homework so the child won’t have to carry a full pack back and forth between home and school.

Stop the insanity parents. Tell the school that you are going back to notebook and pencils. If we all stick together, what can the schools really do about our new ideas for back to school shopping?

Shopping for teens can be a dangerous venture - shopping for teen girls can drive you absolutely insane.  Since the number of shopping days until Christmas just never seems to be enough (even if you start the day after Christmas), it would be nice if someone would just drop gift ideas in our laps.

Fortunately, teen fads are a great resource of ideas and income potential.  Hillary Duff it looking to make her mark with a new craft line that will give teens the ability to make custom accessories to match her fashion line. 

I like giving crafts or other “disposable” type gifts.  There is enough clutter in most people’s homes without me adding to the trinket shelf.  So this is the perfect idea for me.    She’s even chosen one of my favorite stores to pair with for this venture.  Michael’s is not only a great place to shop for gifts, but it has some amazing prices as well.

The only down side for me is that most of the teens I need to shop for are boys (or tomboys) and fashion accessories are not high on their lists.  Maybe I can trade this idea with some of my friends for a fast and easy boy idea that won’t break the bank.

Budgeting is hard enough on a single income.  When the price of milk begins to skyrocket, it makes buying groceries on budget even more of a magic act.  It takes more than just cutting a few coupons to stretch the dollar at the grocery store.

1.      Never, ever go into the grocery store hungry.  You are much more likely to buy impulse foods.

2.      Buy store brands if at all possible.  These usually have the same or nearly same taste, as the name brands at a fraction of the cost.

 3.      Make a list.  This usually starts by making a menu.  Know what you have and what you will need to make these ingredients into a meal for your family.

 4.      Switch shopping lists with a friend.  This will guarantee that you only get what is on your list.

 5.      Don’t go to the store with the kids.  Shopping takes concentration – something that is not normally accomplished with the kids in tow.

 6.      Find a store that has double coupon days, and frequent them on those days.  You could end up getting some items for free – always good for the budget.

As the price for essentials continues to rise, it will take more creativity to stay in budget.  Follow these guidelines, and continue to look for more tips.  We’ll get by with a little help from our friends.