Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

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Think Long Term When Shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday

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When you do your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping don’t just think of things for the upcoming holidays — think long-term!

Many sales are at their best on these days.  Black Friday kicks off the big end-of-the-year holiday shopping frenzy and lots of people use it as an opportunity to stock up on gifts for the coming season.

But you can also take advantage now and buy items for events and purposes throughout the year.  That’s right, you should think long-term when you plan out your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.

Many a time has passed where I thought I’d see an item on sale again but it ended up not being as good as the Black Friday or Cyber Monday price.  Damn!  Missed out.

Of course, for this to work you have to have money in your budget to buy extra now for the rest of the year.  It’s silly to put great deals on credit if you are going to end up paying credit card interest later on.

If you think out it and plan well, buying now can save you money, and time, for the upcoming year.

Here Are Some Great Occasions to Shop for On Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

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10 Essential Tips For Shopping Black Friday And Cyber Monday That Will Save You Money

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Can you believe it’s November already?!?

Do you know what that means?  Yes, seeing family and overeating on Thanksgiving.  There’s that, sure.

Know what else?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping deals!

These two days have turned into crazy whirlwinds of shopping and sales (actually the whole week is full of deals).  Do your homework and you can score some great deals that you might not find the rest of the year,

But if you aren’t careful these days can turn into a crazy hell that wastes your time and your money.

Here Are 10 Tips You Need to Read Before Shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

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Groupon American Apparel National Deal – Double Your Money, December 2015

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You’ve heard me talk about Groupon before.

I reviewed Groupon a while back.  They were the first big online deals site where you purchase a limited-time offer.  Many times, like for this deal, you get to double your money for purchases.

The truth is I don’t usually mention deals here on Free From Broke, but this deal is quite popular every year and Groupon is running it again this year.

I don’t want you to miss out.

Here’s today’s deal:

American Apparel – Groupon Deal

$20 for $40 worth of clothing and accessories from American Apparel Online and In-Store (you pick whether online or in-store).

or

$40 for $80 worth of clothing and accessories from American Apparel Online and In-Store.

I like deals like this where you double your money!  It comes just in time for the holidays in case you’re looking the grab some last-minute gifts for friends.  Of course, you can treat yourself as well.

Groupon deals tend to be for local stores and activities but occasionally they roll out a national deal.  This particular deal is limited to one per person, for U.S. residents only.  You can buy an additional Groupon as a gift.
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Extreme Couponing: Do You Really Save or is it a Waste of Time?

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Extreme couponing has become quite the craze and there’s no denying there can be significant savings to be had; but at what cost?

This sounds like an oxymoron – but depending on the circumstances, couponing can come with a hefty price tag.  There are some great deals to be had out there and there is no debate that coupons can save you a bit of money but let’s closely examination this activity. [Read more…] about Extreme Couponing: Do You Really Save or is it a Waste of Time?

The Good Guy Discount: Do You Regularly Haggle and Ask for Discounts? You Should!

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Do you ever ask for a discount when making a purchase? 

Do you consider doing so a challenge that you happily take on, or an embarrassment?

There seem to be two types of people in this world–those who happily ask for a discount and those who would just as soon overpay than ask for a discount.

Which are you?

My mom loves to ask for a discount.

When I was a teenager and in my early 20s, I found this practice unbelievably embarrassing.  My mom, very social by nature, would chat up the salesman or cashier, and just before the transaction ended, she’d say, ever so sweetly, “I’d love to buy this, but what kind of discount can you give me?”

I saw her bargaining as begging, and it made me cringe.  Yet the strategy worked for her; she often walked away with a sizable discount.

Ironically, years later, I, too, often find myself bargaining.  Honestly, there’s no better way to save money, and I don’t mind hearing “no.”  I’m not afraid of a retailer’s rejection, and I’m ecstatic when I save money.

How to Haggle and Ask For a Discount

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