According to a Forbes article from late last year, as many as 43 million people living in the United States were struggling with “most, if not all aspects” of their finances. Furthermore, 135 million (roughly 54% of all Americans) were struggling with at least “some aspect” of their finances. Keep in mind, that these numbers were from before the economic impact of COVID-19 (scary, I know).
While 2020 feels like the year that filling up the shopping bag might be justified, due to the threat of running out of supplies (which isn’t going to happen), this is actually the year to be finding helpful ways to save money. Luckily, there are ways to get past paying the correct local market pricing to save a little more money, just in case.
Check out three things you don’t have to pay full price for:
1. Your electric bill.
Are you paying a high rate on your electric bills? By using services such as Moneygains to compare electricity NI you can save money on power. By using this company to make comparisons based on the latest factors that affect the cost, you can find ways to save money. For example, according to Moneygains, electricity cost in Northern Ireland is the lowest in Europe, but as available tariffs are updated frequently, they recommend comparing pricing annually. Conveniently, they’ll also do this for you, for free. (Cha-ching!) Do keep in mind, however, that you may still be charged a small fee when switching to certain suppliers, but at least you’ll have saved on comparing them in the first place.
By taking into account your current electrical bill price, energy consumption, current supply, whether you use renewable energy sources, type of batteries you use, system requirements, and even room temperature; Moneygains can save you money every month on utilities.
2. Luxury Watches.
For the watch enthusiasts with a genuine love for hot watches, check out www.thewatchbox.com where you’ll find timepieces from top watchmakers like Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, and many more. Whether your preference is the Omega in titanium or a classic Rolex in platinum, you’re sure to find something that perfectly fits your style and your budget. They also carry women’s watches, to adorn her wrist with an elegant watch and an always-stylish buckle.
Bonus tip: for a wide selection of styles and colors, the Omega brand is probably your best bet for variety.
You can also sell or trade your own timepieces with WatchBox. When purchasing a watch, the checkout process allows you the option to add a “Care Plan” for extra coverage. Shipping is free, but international costumers may be required to pay charges associated with customs or import taxes. Generally, you will be notified via email of delivery times. For any questions, you can always contact one of the WatchBox client advisors.
To learn more about everything from spotting potential differences in luxury watches, to the hidden secrets of trading pre-owned luxury timepieces, check out the WatchBox Studios channel on YouTube. Alternatively, you can check out their podcast “The Trading Desk” which is hosted by Josh Thanos and Jason Mane (traders for WatchBox), and covers the weekly “breakdown” of the grandeur watch market.
3. Big-ticket appliances.
Let’s be honest: we’re all dependent on our appliances. There’s nothing more stressful than when all of your food spoils because your fridge has died, or you’re forced to go to the laundromat because the washer and/or dryer has broken down. Luckily, there are ways to avoid paying the full price to replace these items.
According to a Consumer Reports article from last year, buying appliances is similar to buying a car in that you don’t buy the newest model, you compare costs before you buy, and you negotiate the price. (According to the article 73% of people who haggle are successful.) It is different, however, in that you also need to check available price comparisons for a potential difference. Plus, there are generally peak seasons for specific appliances. For example, the article notes how peak season for laundry appliances and refrigerators is March and April, whereas dishwashers have peaks throughout the year. This means that prices will drop on certain models to make room for the newer ones.
Bonus tip: for high power appliances, check out which models can save you money on utilities by reducing energy consumption with your power company.