Finance Blog
Saving Money: When Is a Deal Not Really a Deal?
One of my latest bargain finds is batteries at my local dollar store. I’ve been buying packs of eight AA and AAA batteries for—you guessed it—$1. That’s a huge savings compared to the $8 per eight-pack at my local grocer.
However, I’m starting to wonder if the dollar store batteries are wearing out more quickly than usual. If that’s true, I’m not getting as good a deal as I thought. Even if I spend less up front, I may have to buy the batteries more often. Plus, I’m adding more disposable batteries to the landfill, and I don’t like that idea.
You’ve probably faced this kind of purchase before and wondered: Is this bargain really a good deal? Here are some situations in which it might not be:
It’s not something you wanted or needed.
You may have been suckered in by the price. You went into a store to buy one T-shirt, but the sign said, “Buy one, get one half off.” Who can resist that bargain? In truth, you didn’t need the second T-shirt—and you just paid 50 percent more than you originally planned. Definitely not a deal.
When have you found that a deal is not really a deal? Share your shopping tips in the comments below.
Teri Cettina is a mom of two daughters and freelance writer who specializes in personal finance and parenting topics. She blogs at Your Family Money. Follow her on Twitter: @TeriCettina.
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