Knowing what things cost

Had a conversation yesterday with my elderly mother-in-law about being frugal, buying things on sale, and so on. She noted a story from years past when a friend was waiting for a coat to go on sale. The friend kept waiting, hoping it wouldn't be sold until there was a sale. Suddenly, a sale! The friend went to the store only to be disappointed: they had marked up the price so much that the "sale" price was actually higher than it had been.

This got me to thinking about prepping, stocking things, and so on.

I believe one of the harder things for newbie preppers to know is what things cost. There are just so many things we want to buy--and how do we know if it's a good price or not? Just because something is "on sale" doesn't mean it's a good price--it might just be a situation like my mother-in-law's friend above.

Knowing what things cost also means you aren't as easily talked into buying something.

The flip side is if you know what things normally cost, when you see something you need on sale, recognizing the price is great, you can jump on it.

So part of the equation is having a list of things and prices you need, or a mental one, so that if you see a deal, you KNOW it's a deal, and it's time to pounce.

In this day and age, it's not that hard to comparison shop, using Amazon or other internet sources to see what "normal" prices might be. Overpaying should be a rare thing, unless necessity demands a purchase.

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Newbies also sometimes make the mistake of buying things that should be delayed while they don't have enough food, water, etc.

But sometimes, if you know what a good price is, you almost have to take advantage of a sale. Things like walkie-talkies should never be first on a newbie prepper's list, but what if a pair which normally costs $29.99 is suddenly on sale for $8.99 at a going-out-of-business sale?

I'd have a hard time turning that down.

So the message to newbie preppers is this: know what things cost so you know a deal when you see it. Have a list of "wants" and "needs" along with what their normal prices are so if you run across a deal you can grab it. Keep focusing on the necessities (food, water, defense, hygiene, heat/light/cooking fuel, first aid/medical), but if a screaming deal presents itself, you know it, and can take advantage.

And strive to make sure you have some excess cash to be able to do that.

Doing this will make your money go further, and who has money to waste that could have been saved? Not me. Nor anybody else I know.

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Knowing what things cost