by Pamela Oslund

Created on: July 28, 2008

With all that has been going on in our economy lately, people are becoming worried about their money. Are they spending it wisely, saving it wisely, making enough? Well, if your money has been on your mind lately, I have some advice to help ease your mind. Even in a booming market place, we should all be thinking about our money and how we spend it. The better choices we make when spending our money (especially on bigger ticket items), the more money we have available to spend and save (for a rainy day). So, without further ado, here are some ways to use your money wisely and make your dollar go further.

#1 Look before you buy
Of course most people look at their potential purchase before they buy, but how hard are they looking? Take long gander at whatever it is you're thinking of buying. Is it quality workmanship? If needed, will it hold up over the long run? Is it something that you will tire of quickly and stop using? Any item you are going to spend your hard earned money on should be worth it. Make sure it is something that will stand up to your high standards (even impulse or frivolous purchases). Clothing especially is an item we should be thinking about long-term. Buy clothing that will last for years and you'll find yourself spending far less money than you used to on your clothing budget, even if you have to spend a little more upfront.

#2 Compare brands
Not all products are created equal. Compare the item you are looking at with a similar product of a different brand. Look at customer reviews of the product you are interested in and for similar items. Product packaging doesn't tell the whole story about a product. It's the company's job to make sure their product looks better than their competitor's. The real story about a product can be found in customer reviews. There are several ways you can find reviews and opinions on products. Check out Epinions.com or sites like Amazon.com that carry a wide variety of goods and allow customer reviews. Can't find what you're looking for on those sites, Google it! Simply type in the name of the product and "review" into the Google search box and you're sure to find something.

When looking at reviews, the more people that have reviewed a product, the more reliable the overall rating is. If there is only one review and it is a scathing one, that doesn't necessarily mean that the product is a bad one. It may simply be that someone received a dud and they happen to be the only person who has taken the time and effort

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>