Know the Costs Before You Buy

During the holiday season, it's very easy to get caught up in finding the best deals.

But it's important to consider the costs of owning an item before you buy it.

Everything you buy has some kind of maintenance cost. You must use it, store it, maintain it, repair it, and replace it. So it's important to consider whether the overall cost of the item is worth the discount price tag.

If you are buying clothing, consider these things:

• Is the item trendy or classic? Will this still be fashionable in six months?
• How do you care for this item of clothing? Is it machine washable or is it dry clean only? Does it need to be ironed?
• Does it fit properly? Will this still fit after the holidays?

If you are buying books, music or DVDs, consider:

• Will I read, listen, or watch this item over and over again, or just once?
• How much shelf space to I have to devote to these items?

If you are buying toys or electronics, ask yourself:

• Does it require batteries? Can it use rechargeable batteries?
• What kind of warranty does this item have?
• Does this item seem particularly fragile?
• Does it have small parts that are easy to lose?
• Do I need (or will I want to) buy accessories for this?

It's important to consider that some purchases may cost more than you think. Stick to high quality bargains with low maintenance costs, and you'll still be happy with your purchases years from now.