Frugal Living Tip #1

It seems counter-intuitive, but if your budget is tight, avoid the $1 rack and clearance aisle unless you have a very specific plan and can stick to it. Just the other day, a coworker and I discussed how easy it is to spend way too much money at the dollar store. He said the last time he visited the dollar store, he spent over $30! Sure, he got a lot of stuff, but he also spent more than he meant to because it is far too easy to pick up an item and tell yourself "oh, well, it's only a dollar." The problem is, dollar after dollar, these items add up.

It is difficult to resist an item that is only a dollar, or anything with a clearance sticker. Unless you have willpower made of steel and need to look for a specific item on sale, avoid these 'value' bins. Stores place them near entrances and checkouts (think about it - what's the first thing you see inside almost any Target?) because they work. They are a proven way to trick people in to spending more money. Don't fall into the store's trap - avoid these money-draining pitfalls and spend your hard-earned cash elsewhere.

Avoid temptation and the $1 rack!