Saving Big On Everyday Purchases By Shopping Around, CNNfn.

Publication: Finance Wire

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Original Source: THE FLIPSIDE

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNNfn ANCHOR, THE FLIPSIDE: Everybody likes a bargain. But often, shoppers pick the easy way out, getting everything from flowers to bird seed the first place they find it. According to our next guest, you can save big on just about everything, including many routine items you might never think to shop around for.

Lisa Lee Freeman is deputy editor at "Consumer Reports Money Advisor," and she joins us now.

Welcome to the show, Lisa.

LISA LEE FREEMAN, DEPUTY EDITOR, "CONSUMER REPORTS MONEY ADVISOR": Thank you.

HAYS: So let`s start by just establishing the psychology of the normal shopper, because there`s no doubt for - with flowers, for example, if I`m sending them to my mom, who`s across the country, I might go online, but otherwise, man, I just stop on the way home and pick them up, and that`s it.

FREEMAN: Right. The psychology is just call 1-800-Flowers or call FTD. You don`t think to maybe go online and look at some of these other sites that are direct from grower, which can save you a bundle. You just think to call 1-800-Flowers, and you don`t even think twice.

Flowers are one of many items that people buy that they don`t think to go online and look or even shop around for at all. You may spend like an hour going through coupons to save 50 cents on a can of peas, but when it comes to flowers or tires or some of these other big items, where you could save hundreds of dollars, you don`t even think to shop around, so (INAUDIBLE) with flowers.

GERRI WILLIS, CNNfn ANCHOR, THE FLIPSIDE: I`ve just got to jump to furniture, because I`m from North Carolina, have family who works in the furniture industry, and I know so many people go right to High Point to save money.

FREEMAN: Yes.

WILLIS: Tell us how to do that.

FREEMAN: Well, plan a road trip. Go down to North Carolina and visit all these factory outlets. You could save like up to 80 percent on furniture from Thomasville and all...

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