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All too often, people succumb to impulse buying. In my view, it's one of the biggest problems currently facing North America because it often leads to personal debt and from there problems begin to multiply. Don't be a fool and don't let it happen; learn to shop wisely. What I mean by this is that you need to learn to "look around" extensively before buying anything (except for necessities (i.e. milk, bread, etc.)). I'm not suggesting being stingy or cheap, but you'll be amazed at how much you can save on purchases if you actually compare different locations' prices. For instance, when it came time to purchase a laptop for university, I spent close to 2 weeks looking for the best deal on a model I had in mind. Sure, I could have just dropped into a Best Buy and handed over practically all my savings for a laptop, but by actually shopping I was able to save approximately $400!

Here are three more ideas to consider: 

• Shop at warehouse clubs: Insane savings, just check it out.  
• Buy seasonal items out of season: If you want to buy a boat, start shopping towards the end of summer. Retailers will accept a lower price, knowing the expense of keeping it for another winter. Most people buy their boats in the early spring. Avoid the buying pressure, and get it cheap later in the summer. The same thing is true of lawn mowers, convertibles, and landscaping materials. If snow is a problem in the winter, buy a snow-blower in the late spring. If you time your purchases right, you might pay only a fraction of the normal in-season price (It’s how I got my snowboard dirt cheap).
• Delay purchases of items you don’t need: Before you rush out to a store or pick up the telephone or hit up a retailer’s website to buy that latest ____ you just have to have, write it down and think about it for a week. Then ask yourself if you still want it as much. How many things do you have in your closet, storage room, or basement that you only used a few times? It probably would have been a better idea not to have bought it. All-in-all, you’ll save tons of money just by reconsidering the ____ you want to buy by one week.