Everyday Cheapskate

Every day, from the moment you wake up to the time you fall back into bed, like it or not, you are competing in a game of skill and intrigue. Your daily opponents are retailers, banks and service providers. Their objective is to separate you from as much of your money as possible.

You work hard for your money, but do you work equally hard to hang on to it? If you do, you are a savvy consumer, a person who is shrewd and has a high level of practical judgment.

Savvy consumers are not born that way. Some learn their craft from experience, which can be a slow and expensive way to go. Others are more proactive, making the effort to learn ahead of the curve. Regardless of how long it takes for them to become skilled competitors, savvy consumers share these things:

Savvy consumers use the Internet to research prices, options and product reviews before they buy. They know to read and understand the fine print.

Savvy consumers know what they need and how much they're willing to spend before they walk into a store.

Savvy consumers are not afraid to ask questions. They're wary of salespeople who are overly aggressive or evasive with their answers, and they are not afraid to ask to speak with a supervisor.

Savvy consumers research return and exchange policies before they buy.

Savvy consumers know when to use a credit card to make an online purchase, and they know how to pay off the balance before the charges accrue interest.

Savvy consumers keep receipts, file rebates immediately and shop with coupons whenever possible.

Savvy consumers know how to work with any customer service rep, no matter how rigid and uncooperative.

They know how to get a full refund when the product or service is unacceptable, because they know whom to call, when to call and what to say.

Want to speed up your becoming a savvier consumer? Read the Debt-Proof Living newsletter every month. The entire publication has been devoted to giving readers the practical knowledge and skills they need to live below their means without sacrificing their dignity and joy, and I also devote one entire column each month to "The Savvy Consumer." Find it at http://www.DebtProofLiving.com.

Finally, the savviest of consumers claim their free copy of the 2009 Consumer Action Handbook. It is chock-full of helpful tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit and filing consumer complaints, and it has information on every major corporation nationwide, including customer service information, addresses and much more. You can either receive a hard copy through the mail or download the PDF version at http://www.ConsumerAction.gov. This is an impressive resource. It's published by the federal government and is totally free, including shipping, as are hundreds of other booklets and handbooks you will find there. In the 2009 edition, you'll find updated information about filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer and planning a funeral, along with many other useful topics.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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