When you want to save money on something, your first thought might be to look for a better price. That is one way to spend less and still get what you want. Let's take a good look at that before we move on to the second way.

Save Money With A Better Price

There is more than checking out another store when it comes to getting a better price. This is especially true with larger items, where negotiation is more common. Here are some of the ways you can find a lower price.

- Ask. I once bought a new book for half-price at a regular bookstore. It was a slow day, and the owner was behind the counter. I simply said it was worth half the cover price to me, otherwise I wasn't interested. You never know unless you ask.

- Be an opportunist. If something you buy regularly is on sale, stock up. This works well for paper towels, batteries and canned food, among other things that can last a while in your cupboards.

- Try several stores. You can even do this by phone if it is just one or two larger items you are looking for. Call in the early afternoon, when it isn't too busy.

- Learn to negotiate. I once read a true story of a man who bought a new refrigerator for 25% off the retail price. How did he get such a deal? By spending two days, an hour each time, with the salesman, and then making a low "ultimatum offer." The salesman just didn't want to lose the sale after all that work. This is called "time investment," and is just one of the secrets of good negotiators.

Save Money With Alternatives

We tend to be too specific in what we think we need or want, and then look only for ways to get a better price. It's a very limiting approach. Often, there are many great alternatives that cost less. Why not look around and see what they are?

For example, you might think you really want to take a summer cruise along the coast of Alaska. If you are flexible, though, and you explore the alternatives, you might find that it costs half as much to go in September, when the cruise lines have a hard time filling their rooms. You may have just as much fun in September as August, or even more if you get to extend the vacation and still spend less.

What do you really need? There is almost nothing you buy that you need. Oh, you need categories of things, like food and clothing, but not specific foods or specific brands of clothes. Keep that in mind as you shop, and you can save a lot of money. If, for example, instead of just buying the fruits that catch your eye, you bought apples when they are cheap, oranges in season, and so on, you might eat the same amount of each fruit and vegetable in the course of a year, yet spend half as much.

Don't forget the ultimate alternative to buying something: to just say no. That doesn't sound too inspiring, but sometimes there are things we don't really get much value or pleasure from, which we buy out of habit. For example, you might find that you feel even better at work if you skip the stop at the coffee shop - at least once the caffeine withdrawal is over. You might not watch most of the channels in your expanded cable package. Remember that everything you don't buy frees up money for the things which really are important to you.

Finally, to save money on almost everything, put these two basic ways together. Start by looking for the cheapest alternatives that will give you what you need and want. Then find or negotiate the lowest price you can for these.

Copyright Steve Gillman. To learn more Ways To Save Money, and to get the free "Unusual Ways (To Make And Save Money) Newsletter," as well as free e-courses and ebooks, visit: http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com