Why would anyone need to overspend to get things they want? With access to price comparison sites, coupon apps, price-drop alerts and other money-saving tools, we should all be saving money. Right?
Wrong.
You might not even notice some of the ways you’re being played. Maybe that’s because your parents raised you to believe what authority figures say. Or maybe your folks weren’t money-savvy, so you’re unknowingly repeating their mistakes.
Here are some of the ways companies trick you into spending more money, and some ways to combat the manipulation.
Sneaky trick No. 1: They increase prices without you noticing
One of the most valuable things you can do as a consumer is to pay attention to price changes.
There’s no question that companies love to increase their prices whenever they can. They’ll use any excuse they can to raise the price of their product without you even realizing it.
The way companies “hide” price hikes, is that they will do it in an inconspicuous way. They don’t want you to notice it too quickly, so they change prices at different times throughout the year to give people the illusion that prices are increasing slowly.
But don’t pay a penny more than you should. A free tool called Capital One Shopping can help you save money when you shop online.
Capital One Shopping instantly searches more than 30,000 retailers for amazing deals on the things you seek. It automatically applies online coupons or promo codes when possible, and factors in shipping costs to help you get better deals when possible.
Bonus: When you buy, you can earn points to trade in for gift cards from major retailers.
Don’t overpay when you shop! Install Capital One Shopping now and start saving.
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Sneaky trick No. 2: Selling you ‘the best,’ without explaining the true cost
In a perfect world, we’d never buy more than we could pay off each month. But marketing experts know how to make us want things. The latest and greatest in electronics. Designer clothing and accessories. High-end dining.
No need to save up for it, either: Flash a credit card, and you can get this stuff right now! Trouble is, consumers often don’t realize how quickly credit card balances can grow. The price of our best life becomes our worst nightmare: Debt that could take a decade or more to repay.
Fortunately, a company like Freedom Debt Relief can help get you back on track in as little as 24 to 48 months — and save you thousands and thousands of dollars in interest.
A specialist at Freedom Debt Relief will review your situation, then help you decide the best way to fix it. That could be consolidation (combining all debt into a single loan with a lower interest rate than your credit card) or debt relief (negotiating to have some of the balance forgiven by the creditor).
The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and over 650,000 clients enrolled. It costs nothing to sign up.
Let today be the day to start your journey to a debt-free life: Get a free, no-risk consultation today.
Sneaky trick No. 3: They hook you with funny commercials
Car insurance commercials are the best ads out there. They make us laugh while promising superlative service. But are they really giving us the best price for the best coverage?
Here’s one way to find out: Let an insurance comparison site called QuoteWizard do the legwork.
In just a few minutes, QuoteWizard will compare prices from more than 80 insurance providers and send you the top deals.
According to QuoteWizard, you can compare rates as low as $19 a month and save $500 a year. It’s free to use, and it just takes two minutes to get your new rate.
Stop overpaying for coverage! Get your fast, free quote now.
Sneaky trick No. 4: They know you can’t afford to replace your car
The most expensive kinds of car trouble usually happen after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. Lately, that means we suck it up and pay rather than buy a new car: The average U.S. vehicle is now 12.1 years old.
Unethical repair shops know they can charge whatever they want because they know you need to keep your car as long as possible. Here’s one way to protect your off-warranty ride and find a reputable repair place: Endurance.
Endurance specializes in older cars, offering “vehicle service contracts” (similar to warranties) in six different plans that let you pick only the coverage you need. No matter which plan you choose, you’ll get 24/7 roadside assistance and a rental car benefit while your car’s being fixed.
When you join, Endurance gives you a free year in its Elite Benefits program. This includes complete tire coverage, key fob replacement, a collision discount and a $1,000 benefit if your car is declared a total loss.
Endurance has a network of more than 350,000 ASE-certified repair facilities. Since they pay upfront while you cover the deductible, you know they’re going to get you the best price.
Protect yourself from unexpected, costly car repairs. Get a fast, free quote now.
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