Personal Finance Advice

Personal finance doesn’t have to be complicated.  If you keep it as simple as possible you’ll soon realize that the best way to manage your personal finances effectively is to only spend money when you really need to and to save the rest.  You should also spend as little as possible for the best product possible.

One simple step you can take when trying to gain control of your personal finances is to figure out how to avoid paying full price for the things you buy.  Whether it’s clipping coupons or searching through clearance racks, chances are you can save quite a bit of money while still getting the things you need.

If you fall into any of these following categories, ask for a discount when you make a purchase:

Students:  If you’re currently enrolled in school and have a student photo ID card then you can score some really great discounts for things like movie tickets, computer software and apparel.  Some car dealerships offer substantial student discounts. 

Educators:  Teachers in all levels of education can get discounts on a lot of the same things students get discounts on, but there are additional programs for educators that can wind up saving a lot of money.  For example, in some cities, educators are offered special mortgage products for the purchase of a home that are far better than any mortgage loan they would have otherwise found through simple comparison shopping.

Military:  Look for the best military discounts around the holidays paying tribute to the armed forces, such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  Military discounts are also common around Independence Day.  Merchants located near military installations commonly offer discounts to military personnel, but merchants in other places sometimes offer these discounts as well.

Seniors:  Senior discounts are everywhere; movie theaters, restaurants and merchants providing services often offer attractive discounts to seniors.  There are so many senior discounts available that some seniors have taken to wearing hats that remind merchants to give them senior discounts.

How do you find these discounts? Look for signs at the entrance of stores or ask the clerk.  Don’t stop at just asking for discounts in the places you shop.  You should also ask about discounts when you make any purchase, whether it’s for merchandise or services or whatever.  You may be surprised to find that so many merchants and service providers offer so many great discounts.

Always ask about potential discounts when making a purchase.  After all, the worst thing that can happen is the merchant doesn’t have a discount available and isn’t willing to give you one.