You might still be stuffed from the Christmas turkey or ham, but any serious shopper worth her or his salt knows that the day after Christmas is to shopping what the checkered flag is to car racers – the sign that you have arrived at the sale of the year.

Of course, shopping on this day is usually done by hard-core shop-a-holics or those who are looking for any and every avenue to escape their families on this day, although the latter will usually congregate at the local watering hole.

Knowing that you will have stiff competition from other serious bargain hunters, you will need to know these five survival-shopping tips for the day after Christmas.

Understand the reasoning behind these sales. Retailers do not want seasonal items to take up valuable space on their shelves, especially with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.

In addition to the foregoing, some retailers have overstock they are trying to shed rather than sending it back to the manufacturers, and they are willing to compromise on the price just to make some profit on the item rather than sending it back to the factory to receive a credit of the cost only.

For years, financial analysts have said that buying a new car depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot and it can lose up to half of its value within the first year. Wow, that is definitely an endorsement then goes for buying a used car!

In fact, used car lots are growing by leaps and bounds because more and more consumers are becoming wise to that fact. Of course, shopping for a used car is quite a bit different from shopping for a new one. There are a whole new host of situations to keep your eye on to ensure that you come out with a great deal.

Before setting out to look for a used car, think about what your needs are as well as how much money you are willing to spend now to purchase it as well as the probable extra maintenance and upkeep that a used car requires.

Is this a second car for the family? Perhaps you have a new teenager driver who needs a set of wheels. In addition, factor in the money you will likely spend to have your own mechanic inspect the car for you as well as any carfax reports to research the history of car repairs on the vehicle.

Let’s face it- few people enjoy shopping for swimsuits. Shopping for a swimsuit doesn’t have to be an emotionally painful experience. There are a few things you can do to make shopping for that new swimsuit easier on yourself and in the process maintain your self-esteem and dignity.

If you hate the idea of trying on a swimsuit try some of the new Internet sites that have virtual models. These websites make trying on a swimsuit less intimidating and much less stressful. Simply select a body type that is similar to yours and then enter your weight and height as well as hair, skin and eye color.

The result is a virtual model that will look eerily familiar. After you have created a virtual model you can then select the swimsuits that you like and try them on your model. The great thing about a virtual model is that you can see the swimsuit on the model from all angels.

How often can you do that in a tiny dressing room in a retail store? Once you have selected the swimsuit that flatters you the most simply add the swimsuit to your shopping cart and you are on your way without even breaking a sweat.

Shoes are such fun items to shop for because the variety is so great. One can spend all day for shoe shopping and never get to the clothing part of the wardrobe. Here are some tips that can help you shop for shoes on the Internet and in the stores.

Be sure that you know what shoe size you are. Throughout the day, your feet expand as you walk on them. Your size can increase by half a shoe size, so this is significant if you want to buy online and not have to always be returning the shoe because you bought the wrong size.

It would be best if you go for shoe shopping in the afternoon, when you’ve already been on your feet and they are a little swollen. Compare the different brands of shoes and write down what size you are for the various brands that you love. If you know that you are definitely a size 7 in a Jimmy Choo shoe, then you’d be more comfortable buying that brand of shoe shopping online.

Some people say that they were “born to shop”, but others just can’t seem to decide which pair of brown pants will fit them the best.

If you struggle for hours deciding what shirt matches what sweater, then maybe you should consider a personal shopper to help you avoid the headache of searching, wasting money, and never finding your ideal.

A personal shopper usually works in an upscale department store, like Macy’s or Neiman Marcus, and can help you put together a wardrobe in your budget. She can also help you find gifts for that aunt that so hard to buy for.

All you have to do is ask for the personal shopper, and the store will usually provide one for you free of charge! Just make sure that you make an appointment so you won’t be disappointed when all the personal shoppers are already out on the floor helping other savvy shoppers, especially when the holiday season nears.

Before you go out and buy a new Personal computer there are more things than price to consider. While a low price for a personal computer system may be intriguing, stop and think about your options before you lay down your hard earned dollars.

The cheapest personal computer may be just that- cheap. What you want is a reliable personal computer that has all the bells and whistles you want at a price you can afford. While you can do without some of the extras you can’t do without a computer that has the right amount of memory and a decent graphics processor.

The price of a personal computer doesn’t always equal performance. A cheap personal computer price may mean that you are getting a bare bones model that may not do everything you need your new computer to do.

Your needs should determine what type of computer you purchase. Things to consider are whether you use programs that require a high end processor, do you connect to the Internet via a dial up or a wireless connection and does the computer come loaded with software or not.

Online shopping has really taken off these past few years. And it’s no wonder! You can find some great deals and unique items that you might not find in a regular physical store location.

Plus, when you order online, you can typically get your items shipped straight to your doorstep! No more fighting the crowds in crowded malls and other retail store locations. And with the latest in encryption technology, your online shopping experience, for the most part, is safe.

By taking advantage of online shopping, you will realize great savings. After all, that is a big reason why people head for the computers for their shopping expeditions. Some ways to save money on your purchases include visiting your favorite retailers online.

Many times, they will have web only sales for customers like you. They will also unload their out-of-season items at a great clearance price in order to keep the latest and greatest items stocked in their physical store locations.

Price comparisons are another way you can take advantage of online shopping. You are saving money in gasoline by not having to drive from store to store to find the best prices.

Some people have turned live auctions into a hobby. That means they probably love a great bargain or scoring those “diamond in the rough” kinds of deals. The same people might also be the ones who enjoy reselling those bargains they find at a live auction for a profit. This type of shopping can be addicting if you aren’t careful! Of course, if you are a live auction newbie, chances are that you have been somewhat hesitant about stepping into that sometimes-chaotic foray.

Live auctions are nothing to be afraid of! Just think of it as one big bargain party where everything is at just the right price. You will typically find a live auction in a number of venues. For instance, if someone died, their heirs might hold an estate sale to sell off the deceased’s belongings.

Or, if a person died without heirs, there might be a public auction held to cover unpaid expenses. Other instances where you might find live auctions include police auctions, charity fundraising events, and police or government auctions.

Considering taking that big step and installing a home theater system? It pays to comparison shop for a home theater system before you buy.

Savvy shoppers will do their homework and find out who has the best system at the best price. You can get a great sounding home theater system at a reasonable price if you do some research before you buy.

The first thing you need to consider before purchasing the home theater system of your dreams is the size of the room for the system. Other factors that you will need to consider are whether you have a carpeted room, the wall construction of the room and where will the home theater components are installed.

If you are intending to install a medium to large sized home theater system you may want to consider hiring a home theater consultant to help you determine the right placement and to manage the installation of your home theater system.

These days, you cannot afford to get sick! Everything from a simple doctor’s visit to a prescription medication can cost so darn much. That is why many people get insurance – to protect them and cushion some of that exorbitant cost factor.

When you shop around for health insurance, you must consider several factors: the cost, benefits you get with a health insurance plan and what plan would best suit your family’s needs. There are a number of plans available to choose from and you can many times tailor it to fit within your budget and lifestyle.

Many employers still offer some type of health plan so you should check with your human resource person to check on your options. Sometimes, you have a choice from among several plans like an HMO, PPO, EPO and more. Or if your employer does not offer health insurance or you are self-employed, you will have to make sense of all the plans on your own.

There are a few things to consider before narrowing down your selection to the type of health insurance plan. Find out how the various insurance plans cover doctor’s office visits as well as yearly physical check-ups.