A down economy isn't good for a lot of things, but it is good for finding bargains. Here are four of the biggest bargains to take advantage of when the economy takes a turn for the worse:
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Spending on travel, restaurant meals and other non-essentials slows to a trickle when the economy shows signs of weakness. Not good news for business owners, but very good news for consumers who have money to spend. Look for an increase in sales and incentives to encourage you to get out and spend more of your hard-earned dollars.
Expect to Find Deals On: Magazine subscriptions, clothes, electronics, home improvements (supplies and labor), furniture, cars, boats and RVs.
Second-hand Finds
When times get tough people often turn to yard sales to raise the money that they need to get by, and that means bigger and better bargains for yard sale shoppers. Spend a couple hours trawling the sales Saturday morning, and you could be rewarded with a major deal.
More Places to Score a Down Economy Deal: flea markets, auctions (both online and off), consignment shops, antique stores, Craigslist and classified ads.
A Stockpile
Stockpiling is a bargain any time, but it's a mega bargain when the economy is in decline. Stock up on sale-priced food and other home essentials now, and protect yourself against future price increases.
Stock
When the economy is down, stocks are usually down too. For the bargain shopper, that means an increase in buying power. Snatch up shares now, while they're undervalued; and wait for them to rebound with the economy.
