The setup: It’s our end-of-season clearance! Save up to 75 percent!
The escape: Stay out of the stores until the merchandise you really want comes in, and forget that mustard-colored sheet set for $12.99. If you didn’t want it at full price, you won’t like it more just because you paid less for it.

The trap: Low-cost store brands

The setup: Spend less! Save more!
The escape: It doesn’t matter if you get it for next to nothing — if you hate the scent of Mega Grocery detergent, you won’t use it for very long. Then it’s back to your old favorite… except now you’re stuck with a 128-oz. bottle of smelly detergent. Choose your cheapies wisely.

The trap: Rock-bottom airfares

The setup: See Venice for $99!
The escape: Don’t jump at the first bargain you hear about until you know exactly what you’re paying for. Discount fares are terrific, but they come with a long list of qualifiers. They are non-refundable (if you cancel, you won’t get your money back). The cheap price almost certainly means that you won’t be able to travel on the exact day you’d like, and the cost may not cover services like meals and baggage handling. If you’re willing to take all that in stride, then that $99 fare is for you. Otherwise, the discount isn’t worth it.

The trap: Cheap home insurance

The setup: You don’t have to make expensive monthly payments!
The escape: Remember that the cost of monthly payments is only one factor in deciding which home-insurance policy to buy. Besides prices, compare coverage and deductibles (having a higher deductible can cut your -monthly payments by up to 25 percent). You should also contact your state insurance department to see if any complaints have been filed against the company you’re considering.

The trap: Beds at super-low prices

The setup: Extra padding doesn’t mean better sleep!
The escape: Keep in mind that we spend one-third of our lives asleep, so we’d better be comfortable while we’re doing it. Buying a good mattress, not a glorified sleeping bag, and a solid frame will make your mattress last longer — and ultimately cost less — over the years.

The trap: Frequent-shopper cards

The setup: Sign up now and save big!
The escape: Although frequent- shopper or loyalty cards may seem like a good deal, offering cardholders-only discounts and rewards, they have some hidden traps. If you get $5 back after you spend $100, you may be tempted to bump up your total bill for the rewarding feeling of getting a refund. Or even though the store’s prices for toothpaste, say, are much higher than those at another drugstore, you’ll pay more to get to that $100 total.

So be careful: When you go to any store where you have a loyalty card, buy only what you need — at a good price. These cards are best for snagging bargains, not accumulating rewards that may actually cost you money in the end.

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