Buyer Beware
The old adage, "if it seems too good to be true it probably is" remains as valid as ever. However, it's becoming more difficult to determine when a deal is not really a deal. According to a recent story on MSNBC, for example, instead of increasing their prices, many packaged goods companies have kept their prices the same while decreasing their package sizes or how much is in the same sized package. The story cited one toilet paper manufacturer that still boasts about the number of sheets on every roll but is less vocal about the fact that it has shortened the length of each sheet.
Matt's View
One of the best ways to make sure you're getting the best deals on everything from cereal to shampoo is to keep a price book. List the items you buy most often and the best deal per ounce or per count that you've found. Then take the book with you as you shop so you can see whether today's special is a good deal or not. However, as in the toilet paper example, even a price book may not be enough. That's why the MSNBC article also recommended "consumer advocate" Edgar Dworsky's Mouseprint.org web site which helps shoppers decipher the finest of the fine print.
This article filed in: Spending
Managing Money by The Book
- "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." - Psalm 119:16
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