Bucking inflation
There’s very little good news about inflation in consumer prices. We’ve all seen it – at the gas pump, at the supermarket and everywhere else, it seems.
If you’re looking for a silver lining, look at fixed-price items. As prices rise, items whose price stays the same become relatively cheaper.
Two examples are the dollar menus at fast food restaurants and everything at dollar stores.
- Fast food. You wouldn’t want to eat fast food often for health reasons. But several fast-food restaurants offer value menus, where items cost $1. It’s become such a good deal for consumers and a lousy deal for restaurant owners that some McDonald’s operators stopped offering a dollar menu.
- Dollar stores. If you haven’t visited a dollar store in a while, it’s time to check one out. Dollar stores today have more name brands and often have refrigerated and frozen food sections. And they’re a great place for junk food, such as cookies, pretzels and chips. I’ve bought such things as an iPod case, calculator, greeting cards and printer USB cord at a dollar store. Just avoid cheap electric or electronic items for fear of a fire hazard.
Can you think of other fixed-price goods or services that might be a good deal now?
Some dollar store shopping advice:
-Set a spending limit per visit. It’s easy to overspend because they seem to have everything you “need”
-Visit weekly before shopping anywhere else. The variety and the change in inventory can give you savings on groceries and toiletries, even arts & crafts and school supplies.
-Beware! Some “dollar stores” have items for more than $1.00. Dollar Tree items are all really $1.00.
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