The purchase of an item that you love is even better when you get it for a bargain. Andy Warhol, who some may say was the original shopaholic, used to ask friends to shop with him in a variety of venues and took great joy in hearing about other peoples’ shopping trips (for more on the shopping obsessed, check out Spent by Avis Cardella). Whether you relate to Andy and Avis, or if you just enjoy saving money, there are lessons to be learned about being a wise buyer.

Shopping may seem frivolous at first mention, but the fact of the matter is that we all need to shop at some point. Whether you are looking for the perfect gift, or are out to treat yourself, why not be smart about it? Armed with the following tips and a few helpful resources you can save time and money.

It Never Hurts to Ask

One good thing about times of economic crisis is that there are always deals to be had. It never hurts to ask if a store can give you a discount; whether the item you covet is the display and therefore slightly discolored, or there’s a pull in the fabric, most stores can give 10-15% off for minor flaws. Just be sure that the flaw isn’t noticeable, otherwise it’s not even worth the discount. I once walked away from a pair of hot pink Miss Dior peep toe pumps at the Woodbury Common Outlets because, while the sales person was willing to give me an additional discount for purchasing the display (the last pair in my size), no discount was worth one satin shoe being a totally different shade than the other (not that I didn’t think about letting the darker one get bleached out by the sun.)

This mentality also applies to in-store promotions like 3-for-$25.00. How often do you really need 3 of the same item? So why not ask if you can buy 1 item at the sale price? This will often depend on how an item scans in, so you may have to wait until you’re at the register to see, but it’s worth paying attention to, once you’re up there.

When shopping at specialty retailers, such as electronic stores, ask if the store will accept competitor’s coupons or honor their rates. This works especially well with local retailers and smaller chains, since they are trying to win you over as a long term customer. These businesses would often rather match a competitor’s price than lose the sale.

When it comes to travel always ask if an upgrade is possible. Even if there aren’t any offers when you book your trip, you should ask again upon arrival. If they aren’t booked for the duration of your stay and an upgrade is an option they may even do so for free. This can work with airlines, hotels, rental cars and cruise ships. Worst case scenario: they say no. Best case scenario: you get bumped up to a suite, the property looks like a star and you brag to your friends giving them great PR.

Do Your Homework

When bargain hunting, it is important to arm yourself with the appropriate pricing knowledge; make sure to find out how much an item normally costs, if it is eligible for promotions and/or coupons, and see if it is going to be less expensive to purchase online or in a retail store. If an item is the same price at multiple locations check to see which stores offer the most flexible return policy and, if you’re looking into a high-ticket item like an SLR camera or 3-D television, see which stores offer the best warranty or service plans.

If a store is running a promotion, be sure to call ahead and make sure that they have plenty of the item you are looking for in stock. If they are running low, see if they will hold the item for you. There’s nothing worse than getting to a store and finding that they’ve sold out of the item you made the trip down there for. Still, if it happens to you, ask for a rain check. This will ensure that you get the sale price for the item when they restock.

If you choose to buy online, make sure you factor in any additional shipping costs. Many online retailers will offer free shipping if you sign up for e-mails, but you can also find codes for free shipping, or any other eligible promotions such as holiday discounts or free gift with purchase deals, on websites like RetailMeNot and  CouponCabin (there are tons more out there and they tend to be hit or miss, but it’s definitely worth a shot).

Getting tons of e-mails from retailers all day every day can be overwhelming, but you shouldn’t have to remove yourself from mailing lists just to prevent an overflowing inbox. Instead, create an e-mail address just for mailing lists that you can provide to stores and websites. This way you won’t be distracted by receiving them in your regular e-mail’s inbox throughout the day and you can access it at your leisure or when you know you’re shopping for something specific.

Find out if the store gives discounts for members of certain groups such as AAA, AARP or Teachers Federal Credit Union. Apple gives both students and teachers a 10% discount, which is great since their products are basically never on sale, and J. Crew and other clothing retailers give discounts to anyone who works in a school district (with the proper identification and a recent pay stub).

Certain credit cards are also eligible for discounts and pre-sales (AMEX is known for these types of perks), so take some time to review the colorful flyers that get stuffed in with your statements–they could actually be saving you money. Store cards give you additional discounts (Lord & Taylor is notorious for this. You can almost always save an additional 15% there) or reward you with perks such as free tailoring, free shipping and private sale events. Just be careful not to get too credit happy. All the money you saved won’t matter if you wind up in credit card debt.

Attitude: A Little Thing that Makes a Big Difference

Remember that your best negotiating tool is a smile. Even if you’re on the phone, people will hear it in your voice. It’s true that you catch more bees with honey and you’ll get better deals with a better attitude. If you see the person in front of you in line has a coupon, chat them up and ask where they got it. If the salesperson who rings them up doesn’t ask them to surrender it upon purchase they might give you a pass back. Some sales people will even keep extra coupons at the register and greeting them with a friendly face is a great way to up your chances of receiving that additional discount.

You should never buy something just because it’s on sale, but you also shouldn’t pay full price if there are ways to save. So do the research, be an educated consumer and shop happy.

Article written by Kim Coughlin for Moxy Magazine, June 2011. Photo credit: Melissa Breau.