Turning a Negative into a Positive:

Tip #21: Layaway is back; Use it. Get over the stigma that layaway is for poor people who can’t afford to buy an item outright or do not have good credit. Wrong! Layaway is a smart tool because it allows you to get the items you want and pay CASH in increments until it is paid off. This is a good thing because once the layaway is paid in full, and you pick up your items, there is no hardship involved in the purchase and the items aren’t associated with any debt. Tip #39: Skip extended warranties. Stores offer you protection plans on everything from electronics to sporting goods. Eighty percent of the warranties are never used and they are a major profit for the vendor and the store selling them. Tip #46: Buy your own snacks for road trips. By plane, train, or automobile you should buy and pack your own snacks and even meals before your trip. Convenient store snacks and snack sales along the way can be very expensive and could put a financial damper in your trip before you even get to your destination. Tip #83: Don’t procrastinate. If you become aware of savings through a commercial, a mailer, or word-of-mouth follow-up right away by doing your research to validate the savings and make the change right away. Too many people hear of savings, but procrastinate on doing their research and making the change and they take months before taking advantage of the savings. Companies love procrastinators and they make millions of dollars off of their lack of follow-through.