Closeout Specials – Search for Deep Savings
A couple of weeks ago, I took my 9 year-old daughter out to the mall and came up with a fun new game. I told her that we were going to count the number of retail stores we walked by that didn’t have a sale going on. Can you guess how many we found? Five stores didn’t have a sign up in the front window offering some glorious sale. I should let you know that this mall houses over 115 stores. In those 5 shops, I looked to see how many people were in there shopping and almost across the board noticed just the salesman/clerk standing there bored to tears.
Today, if you don’t have a sale going on, you probably don’t have much else going on either. People are finally starting to recognize that saving money is important, so it’s no big surprise that you see ads in the paper, commercials or HUGE sale signs trying to lure you in to buy. Retailers understand that they have to actually sell you first. Think about it, how can they sell you anything if you’re not there?! With the economy the way it is and the future as clear as mud, we have to be smarter with our purchases.
For over 5 years, I worked for a very large sporting goods store here in the Midwest. Throughout my time there I was in charge of buying soft-good items. This was anything that you could put onto your body: shoes, shirts, pants, cold weather jackets, sunglasses, etc. It didn’t take long for me to realize that buyers were getting the short end of the stick when paying full retail price on any of these items. If you buy a pair of shoes for full retail price, cut that price (at bare minimum) in half, because that’s what the store bought it for. Almost everything that I bought was marked up anywhere from 50 to 75 percent, and that didn’t include any items I was able to buy for close-out prices. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that retail stores need to make money to stay in business. However, as a consumer you don’t have to pay full retail price. Sales are everywhere! You can look online for better deals on major purchases, or compare prices with different retailers. Rummage sales and second-hand stores are becoming increasingly more popular.
You have to be careful though. Not all sales are truly sales. Some retailers will actually mark up the full retail price so they can have a sale tag showing. Sure, it’s unethical, but we live in a world that the Lord told us to beware. (James 4:4) You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Unfortunately, many people are in love with money and power, so cheating, lying, and stealing will continue on until His return.
I do presentations here in the community, and I love talking with High School kids. They are the target market for credit card companies, retailers, and, of course, cigarette makers. They are bombarded by these groups because popularity and high social status is extremely important to many of them. I like to let them know that a sweatshirt with a popular logo costs double, maybe triple, compared to the one at the least popular store. However, it can still provide you with cover and warmth just like the logo-ed version you’re wearing. Having them understand that spending mom and dad’s money is a lot easier than spending their own is the first step. Once they are out of the house, real life begins! Being wise with money is a topic that needs to be stressed to our youth because there will always be people out there trying to take advantage of them.
Establishing sensible financial decision-making will allow you to learn so much about life. It will be protection, wisdom, and most importantly God’s provision in keeping you out of the bondage that debt can bring. Understanding that high social status will never be as important as financial independence is the true life lesson.
Jeral Croaker
Family Life Credit Counselor
