Avoid the need for more payday loans by targeting specific times of day when making purchases.

One way to find debt relief as well as avoid the need for payday loans is to target specific times of day when making purchases. Businesses are desperate to find new customers, and they are consistently playing with specials and discounts that spur new buyers into their storefronts. The latest studies are showing that there are special times of day when deals can be more readily available. Here are some keys to finding extra savings.

Airline travel

When it comes to air travel, tickets seem to be cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. According to Rick Seaney, CEO for FareCompare.com, you should “Start shopping for plane tickets after 3 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.” His claim is that studies have shown that this is when airlines offer the deepest discounts on flights. The absolute worst time to shop for flights is Saturday or Sunday, he added.

Entertainment

If you’re going bowling, always go either before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. for the best rates. Another tip is to always go see movies early on Saturdays or Sundays for matinee shows. Smaller towns also may have a theater downtown that shows older movies at a greater discount. In Lagrange, Ill., for example, the downtown theater offers movies on a two-month lag in scheduling, for $5.50 a show all day long and $4.50 for shows before 6 p.m. If golf is your choice in recreation, tee off by 8 a.m. or after 3 p.m. for the best rates. Also, gyms have great discounts on their “off peak” hours, like before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

Cell phone services

Huge savings can be found if consumers are willing to look around from carrier to carrier. Some wireless plans offer free calling after 9 p.m.; some will extend that from 7pm for a small fee. Weekends are also free. Try using cell phones during free hours and communicate in person or via email other times. Also, families can take advantage of greater savings if they merge plans under one company. Many companies have dual-line plans that benefit multiple users.

Restaurants

Even high-end restaurants are suffering, and as a result, they are offering greater discounts. These are great places to find debt relief, but can still allow you to go out to eat. Look through papers and find coupons. Many restaurants have specially priced lunch menus between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There are also night-owl specials after 9 p.m. for a late-night snack. Another idea is people can try eating a meal at home and then go to a restaurant for dessert. Or try sharing meals. Restaurants are notorious for lacking portion control, so take advantage of this and ask for your meal to be split in the kitchen.

Supermarkets

Some groceries are marking down meat, rotisserie meals, produce and baked goods in the evenings and early mornings. Couple these savings with coupons and comparison shop to find additional savings. Another way to save money is to shop more frequently. Consumer analyst Martin Pershaw stated, “It’s a common practice for people who grocery shop less frequently to over-buy. If you end up throwing even a tenth of what you buy out, you’re wasting too much…try shopping more frequently and buying less. It’s much more efficient.”

Finding savings

Although it’s not commonly known, you can save a lot of money by shopping for various items at strategic times of day. Use these discounts to find additional savings and put money towards debt relief, instead of always looking to payday loans for help. It’s a great way to set yourself up for financial success sooner.

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Retailers need money, too!

It may sound crazy, but consumers do have an advantage in today’s retail market. Everyone is looking to make some money and retailers are no exception. According to a recent article on The Motley Fool, if you are out shopping for a particular consumer item, it is definitely to your advantage to inquire about a discount.

Motley reports that a 2007 survey by Consumer Reports found that 90 percent of persons who bargained with sales people got a discount on at least one sale over a three-year period. Considering that the survey was done before retailers became desperate to keep customers, it is likely that the results for consumers would be even better now.

Where to look for a bargain

There are discounts to be had on all kinds of products and services if you don’t mind asking. Some people are better at bargaining than others so sticking to major purchases to start with is probably your best bet.

Do your research first

If you know the best prices ahead of time you’ll be better prepared to negotiate. If you enjoy getting out and really seeing everything, you can comparison shop the old-fashioned way by going from store to store or calling around. For those who prefer a less hands-on approach the process can be much quicker and easier. Many online sites offer a price comparison on products and tell you where the item is available for the lowest cost. You can also go from store to store online and compare for yourself.

Know all the little tricks

Do your research on the best times of the year to buy the item you’re looking for. If you can’t wait until that time,try to shop when stores are uncrowded and sales people are more eager to make sales. Also be aware of price-matching discounts offered by some stores. Different retailers have different rules, so be sure to have it all straight ahead of time, but the gist is that if your find a lower price elsewhere (not online usually) then the competing store will beat the price by a certain amount. This can be a quick way to get a great deal. Some of the locally owned businesses may be even more likely to bargain with you because they have no corporate office to contend with; they make the call about what price they want to offer.

Don’t go over the top

It is important not to get so carried away with your bargaining that you lose your cool. Sometimes the price simply can’t be lowered.  Even when the price can be lowered, the salesperson may only be willing to lower it for someone who is being reasonable. If you need to walk away for a few moments or a couple of hours to regain composure or to really think about the deal, then do so. It may even work in your favor to walk away for a while because the salesperson may become even more impatient for the sale and offer a better deal. So get out there and enjoy the wealth of savings available to you.

Amusement parks are in dire straits, and you could reap the benefits.

Amusement parks are looking for debt relief by bringing in new customers. Both Disney and Universal theme parks are facing a tough time. They know that to manage their finances they need to find new customers to lure in. These two, and many smaller parks, are looking to deep discounting prices of entry and ride fairs, to spur attendance once again.

Operators are trying to come up with the lowest admission prices they can reasonably work with. “This is the most aggressive year that I’ve ever seen for discounting in the theme park industry,” stated Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider web site. The recession has driven many families to cutting out their vacation plans altogether, opting for close-to-home activities or visiting and staying with relatives.

Discounts are huge

For the first time, Disneyland, Universal Studios and many Six Flags parks are digging deep to bring their prices down. Besides the prices of admission, they are discounting items and rides inside the park.

Disneyland is offering three-day pass for just $99. Many of the Six Flags parks are offering buy-one-get-one-free ticketing. Universal Studios will be offering a $60 six-month pass to people living in the area. This is the first time parks are offering these types of discounts beyond the normal “slow season pricing,” which is normally offered only during early spring and late fall.

Staycationers

A trendy term in the amusement park industry is “staycationers.” A staycationer is someone who lives close to the theme park. Parks are trying hardest to lure these visitors in, because they seem to be the most receptive to advertising.

Haley Marks, spokesperson for Disneyland stated, “It’s unrealistic to think families will drive hundreds of miles to Disneyland anymore. At least not during the recession. … So our marketing and advertising is focusing on the families already in the area. We are trying to bring them in to keep our finances flowing, even though it’s at a much slower rate.”

That seems to be the philosophy behind wooing staycationers into parks. Although the numbers will be down, there will still be people in attendance. For parks to remain open and manage to find debt relief, they need to keep revenues coming in, regardless of how slow them become.

The future of amusement parks

Like businesses in all industries, amusement parks are going through a change. Smaller parks are unable to withstand the drought of customers and closing. Mid-sized parks are fighting for their lives. Large parks are the only ones with enough capital to be creative with marketing and advertising, hoping to bring in a new customer base that will carry them through the recession.

Mark Kane, park president of a Six Flags park stated, “The whole world is on sale, and we are emphasizing our sensitivity to the economy and trying to offer more deals … not only at the gate but throughout the park.”

Take advantage of savings

This is a great time for consumers who are looking for debt relief to still find fun vacations. Eliot Sekuler, Universal Studios Executive, stated “I can’t remember a time when we really worked harder to come up with new things for people to come see and more value to make it more affordable.” Everyone believes that the discounting will remain until the market recovers. As Sekuler added, “Parks are competitive and will not give up their market shares. We will fight for customers for as long as it takes.”

Short term loans are more effective than ever as consumers begin spending again. The Christmas season is here and many retailers are worried that people won’t be spending. Since the recession, people have been particularly tight-fisted with their money. The recession began over a year ago and in that year, people have become more and more accustomed to saving, rather than spending. Frugality is the word that best describes this Christmas season’s buying style.

Retailers know what they are up against this holiday season. They know that without some serious discounts and savings, they won’t have much revenue to enjoy. That’s great news for consumers. It means that they’ll find coupons, discounts, and specials everywhere they look. If you want a particular toy, don’t buy it at the first place you find it. Instead, do some comparison shopping and see if you can find a better deal somewhere else.

Savings are huge this season

The great news for anyone with a budget is that there really are savings to be had. Here are just some of the stores to pay attention to over the next three weeks:

Target. Target is one of those stores where you can get anything you want. In particular, the Super Targets are hot. Now that it’s Christmas, target has tons of specials and deals, both online and in-store. For example, if you go online to Target.com you immediately see an offer for free shipping. They also offer a 15% discount for purchases over $125. If you browse through their store, you’ll find many individual savings, too.

Walmart. Online, Walmart is focusing on electronics and offering huge discounts. You can find name-brand notebooks starting at just $340. There are also MP3 players for only $68. Cameras and TVs are also on sale. You can get a large-screen TV starting at just $270. With those kinds of savings, small short term loans or installment loans can fund your gift-giving easily this year.

Pier 1. Pier 1 is one offering huge discounts on housewares this season. If you look online, you’ll see that they have a cost-conscious buyer in mind. You can pick items in ranges of $10, $20 or $30. Depending on who you’re buying for, you can decide how much you want to spend and look at items that fit your budget. There’s also an online clearance store with items from 50¢ to $50. No matter what kinds of housewares you’re looking for, you should be able to find gifts here easily and quickly.

Macy’s. Macy’s is offering free online shipping for purchases of $99 or more. On the website you’ll find numerous deals on everything from clothing to household goods, and jewelry to makeup. There are tons of deals online and all you have to do is browse through the virtual aisles for what you want. Take advantage of savings here by combining items to reach the $99 minimum for free shipping.

Waiting for the recession to end

People are anxious for the recession to end. Although analysts agree that the worst is over, they also warn that there may not be visible signs of relief until mid-2010. That’s bad news for retailers, but good news for consumers. It means that small savings, short term loans, and strategic budgeting can most likely get anyone through the holiday season.

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