Whether in business decisions or your personal life, you’re bound to come across situations in which you’ll need to pay a large amount of money for something you need. This is one of the reasons that it’s so important that you have a budget in all aspects of what you do.
That being said, even if your business or your personal checking account has enough money to cover a certain expense, that doesn’t always mean that you should spend all of your money on one necessity.
When you can save on a high-ticket item, you’ve given yourself more flexibility in regards to how you use the rest of those saved dollars. With that in mind, here are five high-ticket items that you should never pay full price for.
1. An Engagement Ring
Since engagement rings are a symbol of your love for your fiancée, it can be tempting to spend an arm and a leg on this important jewelry. This is complicated by adages about saving the equivalent of three months of your salary to buy the ring before you pop the question.
While it is important to get an engagement ring that has value, there are several different ways you can save on the overall price without sacrificing quality. Lab created engagement rings, for example, are a more ethical alternative to Earth-mined diamonds. These jewels may be created in a lab, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t true diamonds.
In fact, lab-created diamonds are scored on the same rubric for clarity, color, cut, and carat used by the Gemological Institute of America for other diamonds. When you purchase a lab-created diamond engagement ring from a wholesale company like Agape Diamonds, the jewelry is less expensive because the company designs and manufactures each diamond piece they sell.
2. Backup Generators for Your Business
A backup generator is a must for many business owners, but you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg in order to get the peace of mind that comes from having a backup. Many businesses that sell generators also offer used diesel generators so that you don’t need to make any compromises on the security of your company’s electronic equipment in order to save money.
If you’re running a grocery store with refrigerated items or rely on servers for your SaaS company to remain successful, you definitely need a backup generator in case you lose power. Buying used means that you don’t have to pay as much for the knowledge that your business’s well-being is protected.
3. A Laptop Computer
Whether you’re looking at a new computer for work or for gaming, buying a laptop is an expensive proposition. Particularly when it comes shopping for higher-end machines or products from Apple, purchasing a new laptop can cost more than your monthly rent or mortgage.
Buying certified refurbished is one way to spend less without sacrificing quality. Even saving a couple of hundred dollars by buying a refurbished machine can be incredibly helpful when it comes to maintaining your budget.
4. Vacation
Everyone wants to have a memorable vacation, but it’s important to be reasonable when planning your getaway. Often times, people don’t fully factor in the costs of food or souvenirs and wind up paying much more than they’d initially intended when they go on a trip.
Nobody wants to worry about their credit card balance when they’re supposed to be getting some rest and relaxation, so figuring out any way to save on trip cost is time well spent. Whether that means shopping for vacation packages or splitting a condo with friends or family to lower the cost of lodgings, there are plenty of ways to avoid paying full price for your trip.
5. Furniture
Many times, furniture stores will offer zero-percent APR in order to persuade you to buy more furniture pieces at once. Even though you may use your sofa or kitchen table every day, it’s still a good idea to save money when you can.
See about buying a floor model instead of buying completely new when possible, and try to negotiate as well. This can help lower what you pay and keep more money in your bank account.
