How do you save on large purchases?

**bjl584** · 08-07-2014, 04:57 AM

Research. Large purchases are definitely something that you don't want to impulse buy. Do your homework, shop around, save up the money required to buy, wait for a sale or incentive of some sort, then buy.

Of course, this only works for items that you can wait to buy. If your washer or dryer breaks, or if your car gets totaled in an accident, then time is a little more critical. But, that's when it pays to have an Emergency Fund.

**JoeP** · 08-07-2014, 05:40 AM

For me, I found that going to a non-big box store for major appliances pays off. We've been going to the same store and finding the same salesman for the past 12 years. He has always given us a break off the list price, and is open to negotiation. I always pay with actual cash, so he takes 3% off the negotiated price.

**phantom** · 08-07-2014, 05:50 AM

I like to figure out what I want and watch prices for a while. Then, when I'm ready to make a purchase, I like to use gift cards. I'll either buy them at a grocery store where I can get extra cash back on my credit card and get money off future gas purchases from my store loyalty card, or I'll buy them from a gift card reseller that offers them at a discount. Sometimes the math works better one way, and sometimes it works better the other.

The other thing I like to do is to go in prepared to turn down whatever extended warranty or insurance they may offer. That's often a 10% savings right there.

**dawnwes** · 08-07-2014, 06:07 AM

Lots of research and comparison shopping.

We recently bought a new car. The dealer we would have liked to have given our business (we liked the dealer) would not give us the deal we were asking. We drove 30 min. away to a dealer that WOULD give us the deal we were asking. ($5,000 off sticker).

Dawn

**feh** · 08-07-2014, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by dawnwes View Post

Lots of research and comparison shopping.

This, in a nutshell.

**97guns** · 08-07-2014, 07:47 AM

bought my last 2 tv's and refrigerator online, cheaper by a good $100+ over buying locally.
i find the item online then search for coupons, i use mrrebates to buy stuff and its usually
good for a few percent off.

the refrigerator arrived with a light dent on the side and i got another $200 off, the dent is against the wall so it was a win win.

**Eagle** · 08-07-2014, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by isaac View Post

I'm curious - What do you guys do to make a large purchase for less???

We typically price compare. And research and watch the market as BJL584 suggested. We bout our TV last year black friday. It was a $850 TV we ended up paying $560 for. Plus like you we put it on our Discover for cashback rewards.

Amazon Price Check app lets me compare any item with barcode on it with Amazon. Lot's of stores match Amazon now. It's really great.

Let me give another exmaple. Last week our printer died. So we did some research, figured out the features we wanted, and went to Target. They had a HP printer for $150 that had most of the feature we wanted. But I did a price comparison on the upgraded HP Envy 120 for $250 at Target and found it at $167 at Amazon. They price matched the cost. Plus we got another 5% off with our Target Red Card. The printer turned out to be $158 or 63% of the original cost. And we didn't have to wait for Amazon to ship it. Not bad. Not bad at all.

**MonkeyMama** · 08-07-2014, 08:51 AM

Agreed with the others. Lots of research, watching prices, planning ahead.

We also are strong believers in buying "barely used" goods.

**Baby_nurse** · 08-07-2014, 09:13 AM

On big ticket, non-emergent items I try to wait until the next year's model comes out and then pick up the "older" model at a discount.

**scfr** · 08-07-2014, 09:44 AM

Patience. Have the cash ready, do your research, wait & wait & wait for the right deal, then pounce. That is how we bought our house (April 2009 - people who weren't paying cash weren't able to close because appraisals were coming in below contract b/c out of state appraisers didn't understand the local RE market ... we waited years for the right deal) and car (Prius - bought literally at the peak of the anti-Prius hysteria when Toyota was offering unheard of deals because they practically couldn't give Priuses away ... we took possession in the morning and that same afternoon Chairman Toyoda testified before Congress and then things started turning around ... there were several months when the KBB on our Prius was MORE than what we had paid for it).

In both cases, we had to be willing to buy "off the shelf" instead of customizing.

For smaller big ticket items (such as appliances), look for deals on "dent & scratch" products that have cosmetic blemishes.

Of course, as always, you'll want to utilize CC rewards (assuming you can pay off the balance in full), etc. When we bought our Prius we were able to charge $5K on our CC to earn cash back. Or you can buy discounted gift cards to use for your purchases.

**isaac** · 08-08-2014, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by Eagle View Post

Amazon Price Check app lets me compare any item with barcode on it with Amazon. Lot's of stores match Amazon now. It's really great.

Definitely going to check that app out. I'm a little skeptical of the price matching though. WALMART won't even price match THEIR OWN website..

**JoeP** · 08-08-2014, 05:30 AM

Agree with scfr about timing. You cannot always predict when to buy or sell, but having cash ready when conditions are right (not "good enough" but RIGHT) can put you in a strong position.

**krantcents** · 08-08-2014, 09:04 AM

For the known items, I will budget for them and take a payroll deduction to accumulate funds. I started this method about 40 years ago when I bought my first home for property taxes and insurance. In addition, I routinely save money for the items I cannot predict.

**corn18** · 08-10-2014, 09:44 AM

I buy gift cards at discount rates and then go somewhere that has a sale and offers 10% military discount. I save a boatload doing this at Lowes and Home Depot. I get a 9% discounted gift card, 10% off for military and the any sales they have.

Even without the military discount, those discounted gift cards can be great. Some are as high as 15%. Others are much less.

How do you save on large purchases?