1. Make sure you wait at least 48 hours before purchasing it. This will give you time to think things through and make sure if you really need this item. Patience is a virtue.
2. Compare prices. Most times there is a better deal if you take time out to wait, compare prices on the internet, or call stores in the area to ask how much their product costs. SAVINGS is always a good thing when you are not neglecting quality.
3. Request a coupon from the manufacture. Ask and you shall receive. Most times there are coupons available for newly promoted items.
4. If you are purchasing an item online, make sure to visit coupon sites to see if there is a coupon code available. Sometimes the coupon code will offer free shipping and handling or a percentage discount on the sales price of the product. Just check to make sure you aren’t missing out on anything.
5. Ask about the warranty of the product. Sometimes manufactures offer a warranty, be sure that it is included in the price. If not, you always have the option to pay for warranty up front if it is one of those big ticket items (i.e., flat screen television, stereo, video system). I would recommend purchasing the additional warranty if it not included in the base price. You’ll wish you did when something guys wrong with the newly purchased item.
6. Wait until the price goes down before deciding to purchase. Sometimes if you wait three to six months later the promotional price will be cut by 10 to 20 percent. Waiting for more than 48 hours is another option for creating SAVINGS.
7. Check the consumer report book on this item. Make sure that you are sticking with a brand name/manufacture that has a track record for proven quality. This will pay off 5 years down the line when the item is still functioning as when you first pulled it out of the box.
8. Ask friends and family for suggestions on how well they like the manufacture or item. If they have the item already in possession then this gives you the option to test it out before you buy it for yourself. It is one of the best ways to get a sneak preview of how the item works.
9. Check the local paper for similar products. The classified section of the newspaper offers quality products for little to no money. Of course, it will be a used item but this is better than paying full price. Check yard sales and garage sales for a similar item. Sometimes you can find a pretty good bargain for a low price. You just have to know which neighborhoods to visit to get the good products for cheap.
10. Keep in mind that the product will most likely depreciate in value once you buy it. Make sure that your purchase in a good investment in your future. Ask yourself these three questions: 1) Is this product just a fad? 2) Can I wait and purchase the item later when it is cheaper? 3) Do I really need this or is it just a want item?

I hope the 10 tips will help you to understand how to be a smart consumer.

http://www.latonyabynum.com/

Many thanks to www.c4citizens.blogspot.com for the original post.

Thanks to Tonya T. as well for sending me the email.

1) BELL LABS FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDER REPRESENTED MINORITIES
 http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html
 
 2) Student Inventors Scholarships
 http://www.invent.org/collegiate
 
 3) Student Video Scholarships
 http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html
 
 4) ! Coca- Cola Two Year College Scholarships
 http://www.coca-colascholars.org/programs.html  
 
 5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
 http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
 

6) Any Rand Essay Scholarships
 http://www.aynrand.org/contests/

 7) Brand Essay Competition
 http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm

 8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major)
 http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12

 9) Xerox Scholarships for Students
 http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp

 10) Sports Scholarships and Internships
 http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

 11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)
 http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html
 

12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html  

13) Thurmond Marshall Scholarship Fund
 http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships)

http://www.finaid.org/

15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships
 http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/

16) Microsoft Scholarship Program
 http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp

 17) Wired Scholar Free Scholarship Search
 http://www.wiredscholar.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship_search.jsp
 

18) Hope Scholarships & Lifetime Credits
 http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/
 

19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
 http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
 

20) Multiple Lists of Minority Scholarships
 http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/blackhtml
 
 21) Guaranteed Scholarships
 http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/

 22) BOEING scholarships (some are HBCU connects)
 http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships

 23) Easley National Scholarship Program
 http://www.naas.org/senior.htm

 24) Maryland Artists Scholarships

http://www.maef.org/
 

26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida)

http://www.jackituckfield.org/

27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
 http://www.iesabroad..org/info/hbcu.htm
 

28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
 http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarshipshtm

29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help
 http://www.iefa.org/

30) College Board Scholarship Search
 http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html

31) Burger King Scholarship Program
 http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/

32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition
 http://www.siemens-foundationorg/
 
 33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
 http://www..lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

 34) College Net's Scholarship Database
 http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
 

35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
 http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm

 36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel
 http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

 37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help
 http://www.blackexcel..org/fin- sch.htm

 38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
 http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm

 39) FAFSA on the Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info)
 http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

 40) Aid &Resources for Re-Entry Students
 http://www.back2college.com/

 41) Scholarships and Fellowships
 http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html

 42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
 http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm
 

43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world)
 http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination..html

 44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
 http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html

 45) INROADS internships

http://www.inroads.org/
 

46) ACT-SO EUR Olympics of the Mind 'Scholarships
 http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml
 

47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
 http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp

48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
 http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

 49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
 http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES

 50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD

http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html
 

51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
 http://www.roothbertfund.com

Pass the info on to others Please!

Thanks

http://www.latonyabynum.com