Let's say you really want to ask for a deal but you are afraid that the answer will be no. If you ask the answer may be no, but it also may be yes.If you don't ask then the answer will definitely be no.

I have a small part-time job as a receptionist. We sell products based on our program. From time to time the program changes and our products are revised. We are allowed to let customers know about future program changes until the new program is in place. As customers like to have supplemental products, sometimes they are purchasing materials today that will be outdated in the near future. You can imagine that this can be frustrating to customers when they see revised products within a couple of months of making their purchases.

Most people just quietly grumble; however, one of my customers came to me and very politely expressed her disappointment that she had recently purchased a book which she saw had just been updated. Since she was not aware of the upcoming program change when she made the purchase, she felt that she should be able to exchange the old book for a new one. I was in complete agreement and let her make the switch.

There were probably other people who felt like she did, but they didn't get the updated book. Why not? Simply because they didn't ask.

"The world is divided into two kinds of people, those who spend a great deal of time saving money, and those who spend a great deal of money saving time." ~ Peter Cochrane

It's true we're always hoping to find a great deal. But this isn't a passive activity; it's an active one. But in any case, we'd rather be in a new group--those who spend some time saving a great deal of money!

We want to make the process a little easier for you by providing you with some tips to help you save money and time.

There's no doubt that you can find many good items at great prices at yard sales, in consignment stores, in used equipment stores, at auctions, in thrift stores, in discount stores, online, etc. but from my own experience I believe it's always buyer beware and that we all should exercise caution and follow some guidelines when purchasing used items. These are some of my suggestions:

My sister knows how to get a deal. She has come home with an amazing array of items which she's found in retail stores (discounted), at yard sales or even on the side of the road. As a modern consumer, she's also become familiar with online resources like Kijiji (eBayClassifieds)--free local online classifieds--and has scored many great deals that way.

Personally I don't like shopping. I try to get in and get out as quickly as possible so you won't find me cruising the malls looking for bargains. If I could do all my shopping from home, I probably would. In the real world I'm more the "browse the thrift store" kind of gal. Occasionally, I'll visit a consignment store. In any case, I don't mind buying used items and I have found many good deals over the years.

In 'Tis the Season Part I, we (actually my sister Nancy) gave a list of 9 things to keep in mind when you go yard saleing. Hopefully you were able to use a few of the tips. Anyway, that was just part of the list. It's time to look at the rest of her suggestions for getting a great deal when you venture forth on a Saturday morning. So here are the next 8 points on her list...

My father was what I like to term a "wheeler-dealer". If he could get something for free or at a good price and then could turn around and sell it and make a profit, he was a happy man. Some of his children inherited this characteristic, not me, but some of my siblings, including my sister, Nancy. And so as yard sale season is upon us I turned to my sister to get some tips to make yard sale shopping a great experience. I've just left it in her own words, but divided the list over two blogs as she had lots of great advice: