Chicago Shoppers Take Advantage of Free Offers Over the Holidays
Holidays are all fun and games - until you have to pay for them.
Halloween seems to kick off a spending spree that doesn't stop until January. Between candy, food, parties, and gifts, it might seem like you only have two choices - partake and wind up with a mountain of debt, or save money but go without. But you might be able to have the best of both worlds thanks to an abundance of holiday - and year-round - deals and freebies, say Chicago bankruptcy attorneys.
It's true that most of us are cutting back this year. But the recession is good for at least one thing - retailers are more willing to offer deals in hopes of stimulating spending. And while in the past you would have to search for these specials on your own, thanks to the Internet, other people are willing to do the legwork for you.
For instance, at WalletPop.com, you can read about Fantastic Freebies every day, from a free freaky pancake for kids at IHOP in honor of Halloween to free downloadable pumpkin-carving stencils. And the steals aren't just for the holidays. Regular season freebies include everything from toothpaste and shampoo samples to free T-shirts to a free rental from Redbox.
Of course, free deals only save you money if they're for things you can use anyway. But that doesn't mean you can't save on your everyday expenditures. Again, many businesses are willing to go to great lengths to keep customers and add new ones. Whether it's requesting that your cable or phone company lower your bill so you don't have to cancel, inquiring about what happens to holiday merchandising displays post-season (I once got a nearly-free bookshelf this way), or seeing if one grocery store will match the lower price of another, it never hurts to ask.
We pay every day for things that have been free for, well, forever. But we can change. Think of the money you can save if you start drinking water out of the tap again, instead of buying a flat of bottles. Or if you borrow books and DVDs from the library instead of buying them from Barnes and Noble and Target. There are money-saving opportunities around every corner - you just have to get in the habit of looking for them.
Meanwhile, there's another way to save - lowering debt. By paying down your principal, you'll cut down on interest and on the number of years you'll be stuck making bill payments. Think your debt is too big to handle? Maybe it's time you stopped making excuses and took advantage of another freebie - a free personal debt analysis with one of our Chicago bankruptcy attorneys. Find out if a bankruptcy plan can help you get a jumpstart on paying down your debt - and freeing up your finances.