Are you a shopaholic? Are you a frequent shopper? Is shopping your hobby? Are you always on the hunt for finding great deals and worth bargains? Leave the mall behind and you might be surprised how far you can stretch your peso. Being on a fixed income doesn’t mean you have to live meager life.

Try savvy shopping at consignment stores, flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales. There’s probably one in your neighborhood. Try to find these stores and you’ll definitely get more bang for your buck. 

Flee to flea markets. Flea markets bustle with vendors who sell new items, used goods, and even antiques. You may have to work a little to find the most thrilling discounts, but you could also find items you’ll cherish for years to come.

If you’re shopping for bargains and treasures, you might want to be there early. The good stuff goes out quick.

Remember these tips when going to flea markets to find great bargains

Bring cash. Most vendors don’t take checks and credit cards

Know what you would pay for the same item at a discount store. While flea markets may sell brand new items for less, some may not be bargains.

Bring a bag to hold your purchases. Before you buy anything large like furniture, be sure you have a way to get it home. Sometimes, delivery service usually isn’t available.

Examine each item before you buy it. In most cases, you can’t return the item for a refund.

Here in the Philippines, well known places like Divisoria and Greenhills Shopping Center are home to a lot of frequent shoppers.

Go sale-ing. Just like flea markets shoppers, yard sale and garage sale buyers should be prepared to pay in cash and be savvy about prices.

Keep these ideas in mind too.

Dress comfortably. Wear clothes that let you bend and stretch easily. Instead of a purse, keep money in a wallet in your pocket or in a pouch around your waist.

Don’t rush. You may miss the best treasures. They are often hidden among piles of stuffs that you may probably don’t want.

Check items carefully for broken parts or stains that might come out.

Bargain for a lower price. The seller can say no, but chances are good your offer will be accepted.

Shop second hand. Goods in thrift stores, consignment shops and resale shops may be second hand, but frequent shoppers can score spectacular deals. I myself find some great bargain books in some book sale stores. You can get the usual book regularly priced at thousands to be in hundreds only.

Here are some tips in for frequent second hand shoppers:

Inspect each item for quality. Check how well it is made and the material it’s made from.

Explore a bunch of resale, consignment, and thrift shops to find which ones suit you best. Shops vary widely and merchandise does, too.

Get to know the staff and find out if you can sign up for a mailing list to get sale notices, customer-only premiums, and flyers or newsletters.

Find out the store’s return policy before you buy.

As for me, I don’t usually buy brand new stuffs especially if I know that it depreciates fast like gadgets. As far as I knew, I only did it once when I bought a laptop.

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