How to Be a World-Class Bargain Hunter

There's nothing quite as exciting as buying something really stylish and trendy. That is except buying something really stylish, trendy, and dirt-cheap.

It took several years of honing my bargain hunting skills, but I've developed a few surefire ways to always pay ridiculously below retail. And it's time to spread the shopping gospel.

All you'll need is a computer, some patience and persistence, and a handful of chump change to pay for your new acquisitions.

-Tip #1: Get out of the malls. If you're paying retail, you're paying too much. Hop to your computer and start shopping online. It's where the savings are, so it's where you should be.

-Tip #2: Now you just need to know where to look online. If you're addicted to movies or books, the only way to go is www.amazon.com or www.ebay.com. If you're leaning toward Amazon, always remember to follow the "used" link. It will take you to the Marketplace where individuals are selling their stuff at unbelievably cheap prices. Some books are 1 penny (plus shipping)!

If clothes, shoes, and purses are your addiction of choice, I never look farther than www.craigslist.com. This is where patience and persistence come in. You'll have to check this site often, because people move fast on good deals. You'll probably also have to wait for somebody to unload their really good stuff at great prices. But trust me, eventually the post will come. My closet is full of authentic designer names-Bebe, Abercrombie, Coach, Fendi-and I've never paid more than $10 for any item.

-Tip #3: The best way to score a fantastic deal is to buy multiple items. On Craigslist, people will almost always cut you a deal if you buy more than one thing. And don't be afraid to haggle. Consider asking prices a starting point. Test the waters, and see if they're willing to go any lower. If not, no harm in asking.

-Tip #4: Scout out your local consignment shops and thrift stores. Again, you're going to need a lot of patience to weed through the tacky stuff, but eventually you'll stumble on some great, designer names. Also, when browsing these second-hand stores, make sure you're actually getting a good deal. Sometimes prices are surprisingly high, and the items can be damaged. Make sure to give them a thorough once-over for stains, rips, or abnormalities.

-Tip #5: The tendency is to buy too much at these places, because it all seems so cheap. This leads to a lot of unworn, unused items and wasted money. Make sure you keep yourself in check so as not to spend too much, or all that bargain hunting was for nothing. Make sure you really want what you're buying and make sure it's in great condition before you hand over any of your hard-earned cash.

-Tip #6: Don't forget about online coupons. If you're an online shopper, you absolutely have to be utilizing these fantastic technological advents. Whether it's a free shipping coupon or a percentage off your total bill, there seems to be a coupon out there for just about every website.

Don't feel like searching endlessly for great deals? Just bookmark your favorite discount website such as www.couponwinner.com. They've already done all the work for you, so all you have to do is make sure to visit them before you finalize any purchase.

Now go forth and save-and happy bargain hunting!