When there’s something you really want to purchase, here are a few tips before running out and buying it without putting a little thought into it. I’m Detective Frank Money and my partner Shamus who can sniff out a good deal. We both frown upon buying things you can’t afford or throwing away the opportunity to get it cheaper.

Let’s go through this process step-by-step:

1 – Think through carefully if this is the item or service you really want.

2 – Check out other offers for the same thing.

3 – Then weigh out the alternatives and consequences of each option.

4 – Time to make your decision on the best offer.

5 – You’re not done yet. Now check out how your choice turned out. Did it work out to be the best choice, and if not, what could you have done for a better result?

Now that’s what I call using good consumer skills. Try it out on other things, as well. Like buying a car, or a smartphone, or even dog food! Remember, when you take a little time to think about what you want to buy, you could save yourself some lettuce, I mean, some big bucks!