Monthly Archives: August 2019

Why There’s So Much Confusion Over Nutrition

Is fat really bad for you, and is so, which type of fats are bad and are there any good fats? Should you totally eliminate sugar from your diet, or is some sugar ok? If so, how much sugar should you consume without affecting your waistline or your overall health? Is salt always a no-no, or is there any amount of salt that’s safe to have in your diet? 

Nutrition is pretty confusing, isn’t it? According to some people, you should total eliminate certain things from your diet, while others say that it’s perfectly fine to consume certain things in small quantities. But who’s right? Why has nutrition become so confusing? Let’s find out, shall we? 

Nutrition is Ever-Evolving

Nutrition is a science, and just like any other form of science, it’s constantly evolving. What was once largely considered ‘bad’ for you may now be the best thing for your health; take nuts, for example. It used to be that they were considered way too fatty and eating them – in any amount – was thought to be bad for your health. But thanks to scientific studies, it’s now been determined that nuts are actually good for you; in fact, they’re said to be one of the healthiest foods you can eat. According to research studies, it’s been determined that people who eat nuts live a lot longer, are a lot healthier, and were no fatter than people who didn’t eat nuts at all. Eggs are another example; they were once said to be jam-packed with cholesterol and bad for the health of your heart; but that’s no longer the case. Turns out that the cholesterol eggs contain are actually the ‘good’ cholesterol and can help to counteract ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. The same is true for coffee; new research has found that coffee does not lead to an increased risk of cancer or heart disease, but rather that it may actually be good for cardiovascular health, potentially decrease mortality, prevent liver cancer, and stave off type 2 diabetes. 

Because nutrition science is constantly evolving, new findings are partly to blame for the confusion. To avoid confusion, stay current with the latest research. Don’t continue to go by old rules because chances are that the rules of yore will eventually change. 

Observational Studies

A lot of the nutritional studies that are out there are observational. These studies involve participants filling out questionnaires that relate to their eating habits and lifestyles. Observational studies cannot take all variable into account, which means that they can’t properly answer the questions that they are asking. So, while the information gathered from these types of studies can offer value, it can’t be proven, which further adds to the confusion. 

Too Much Information 

Another reason why nutrition is so confusing has to do with all of the information that’s out there; or shall we say ‘misinformation’. The internet has made it a whole lot easier to acquire nutrition information, which can certainly be advantageous; however, that’s not always the case. Depending on what sites you’re looking at, you could be consuming a lot of incorrect information. Many sites just publish content for the sake of, well, publishing content. They don’t take the latest findings into account, and therefore, a lot of the information they share is antiquated. Why does this lead to confusion? – Because if the information you’re reading on one site is unreliable and then you click on another site that does offer reliable, updated information, confusion is bound to happen. 

How can you avoid misinformation? Make sure the information you’re acquiring is from reputable sites, like Livin3. This website offers regularly updated information from highly reputable sources, so you can be sure that the nutritional facts are valid. 

3 Small Business Website Problems that Drive Customers Away

As a small business owner, you want to be as successful as possible, but acquiring that success is no easy task. No matter how unique you are and how amazing the products and services you provide may be, you’re up against a lot of competition. You’re vying for the attention of your targeted audience; the same audience that so many other small businesses – and big businesses – are trying to attract. 

How do you stand out from the crowd and attract the attention of the customers you are trying to target? – With a website, of course! In today’s technology-driven world, a website is an absolute must for small businesses. It puts you on the map that consumers use the most to find the products and services you offer: the internet. In fact, if your business doesn’t have an online presence, your chances of being successful are seriously narrowed. 

While having a website is vital for small businesses, making sure that it meets the needs of the audience you are trying to reach is just as important. When would-be customers click on your site, you want them to have an awesome experience; after all, the experience they have with your site leaves a lasting impression and has a direct reflection on the type of experience your visitors can expect to have with your business. If your potential customers are experiencing any of the following issues when they visit your website, more than likely, they’re going to click right off of it – and you’ll lose what could have been valuable customers. 

Bad Content

In the world of internet marketing, there’s a saying “content is king”. There’s a reason for that saying: content is an essential component of your website. It educates your visitors, lets them know about the products and services you offer, and tells them why they can trust you. Even if you don’t realize it (and if you don’t, you totally should), your website is one of the most important tools you’re using to market your business on the internet; hence the reason why the old adage mentioned above is so important to your overall success. Put simply, if your content stinks – if it’s poorly written, fully of errors, and just doesn’t translate well – your visitors are going to look elsewhere. Content tells your business’ story; readers need to connect with it, otherwise, it isn’t going to mar your success. 

Loading Issues

If your website doesn’t load properly, it’s sending visitors away. Consumers expect – nay, demand – proper loading; after all, would you want to visit a site yourself that takes forever to load? How can you tell if you’re having loading problems? Visit the site yourself; when you click on it, you’ll be able to tell if there’s a problem instantly. 

If you’re experiencing load problems, Managed IT Services can help. A reputable managed IT service provider will perform regular maintenance to ensure your operating systems and applications are always up-to-date and working properly so you can avoid those pesky load issues that are turning your customers away. 

Stock Photos

It might seem silly, but believe it or not, if you’re using stock photos on your website, you could be turning potential customers away. Your website conveys the reliability of your business and sets you apart from the competition. If, however, your site features stock photography, you’re basically telling your visitors that you’re no different than any other business. Why? – Because stock photos are featured on so many other websites, and it’s pretty likely that your visitors have seen those photos dozens of times before. Instead of setting yourself apart from the crowd, you’re blending in with it. Use photos on your site; it might cost a little more, but you’ll definitely see a return on your investment. 

Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Being saddled with a poor credit score is by no means the end of the road. A lot of people assume that once their credit score has declined, there’s nothing they can do to rehabilitate it.

While improving your credit score is not easy and takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice, it is possible. It should be a financial priority to make sure you have access to financing for future transactions.

So, if your credit score has taken a dip recently, don’t despair. Here’s what you can do about it:

1. Investigate

If you don’t stay on top of your credit score, you’re likely to find out about a decline when you apply for financing. It will be too late by then to rescue your current application. That’s why you should check your credit score frequently.

A reduced credit score means that something has gone wrong. Before you can address the problem, you need to know what it is.

What could have gone wrong?

  • You have not been making payments on existing loans, credit cards, etc.
  • It’s possible that someone has stolen your identity and used it to lay their hands on some money.

2. Dispute

Mistakes happen, and there may be a debt reflected on your credit score that you have settled. Or you might have come across an identity theft that has taken place. Instead of fuming about the injustice of it all, take action. The credit bureau that has run your credit check is the first place to start.

What should you do?

  • You need to follow the process laid out on socialfish.org to get the situation resolved.
  • You’re going to have to supply evidence to back up any claims you make in a dispute. So, if you’ve paid the debt that’s still reflected as outstanding, you must be able to prove. Keep your receipts and other proof of payment filed and ready. You never know when you’ll need it.

3. Remediate

If your credit score has decreased because you haven’t been paying your debts, don’t bury your head in the sand like an ostrich. The situation only continues to deteriorate if you neglect to do something about it. Interest added to the debt increases daily, so it’s best to resolve the issue.

What should you do?

  • If you have the money available, settle the debt immediately.
  • You can phone the company you owe money to and make a payment plan that you can afford. If you arrange this, bear in mind that it’s your second and final chance. Should you default on it, your credit score is going to get even worse.
  • It might be better to consolidate all your outstanding debts under the umbrella of one loan. The repayments might be reduced if you get a favorable interest rate.

4. Maintain

Once you’ve got your credit situation under control, don’t feel that you can sit back and relax. Treat this blip on the radar as a serious lesson and do what is necessary to avoid being in the same situation again.

What should you do?

  • Keep track of your debts and pay them on time. If something happens that prevents you from making payments, contact the other party immediately. Staying silent and avoiding the debt won’t work.
  • Don’t take out loans and use credit cards unless it is necessary. Healthy credit activity is an important part of your credit score. However, if you have a multitude of loans and debts, it can reduce your credit score.
  • Monitor your credit score for signs of identity theft. It is best dealt with as soon as possible.

Essential Small Business Safety Laws

As a business owner, you are obligated to ensure the safety and well-being of your employees and anyone else who has any interaction with your company. In fact, safety is so important that business owners are required to follow the rules that have been established by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Many small business owners assume that those rules apply only to large corporations; however, owners and operators of organizations of all sizes are required to comply with OSHA rules and regulations (the only exception is business that employ 10 or less employees, self-employed individuals, families who work on their own land, and organizations whose safety standards are regulated by a federal agency other than OSHA). 

With that said, as a small business owner, it’s important that you adhere to the safety rules that are set forth by OSHA. In fact, even if your company is exempt from these rules, making sure that you are complaint with the following laws is still a good idea. 

Develop and Maintain a Fire and Emergency Plan

Small business owners are required to establish and maintain an effective fire and emergency plan. The plan should include instructions that direct employees on the proper procedures to follow in the event that a fire or any other emergency, such as a flood, an earthquake, a severe storm, or any other hazardous event occurs, including: 

  • How to determine and report the emergency so others are made aware
  • How to quickly and safely evacuate the building
  • How to notify emergency personnel of the emergency 

Additionally, small business owners must establish and maintain emergency exists, and those exits much be clearly marked and paths to access them are clear of obstructions. Professionals that are experienced and skilled in fire safety, such as a Fire Watch Company, can help small business owners establish effective plans that are OSHA-complaint. 

Label and Manage Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances

Small businesses that have any chemical hazards and/or toxic substances on their premises must clearly label and manage these materials. 

Chemical hazards and toxic substances are any materials that can cause physical injuries, such as flammables, explosives, irritants, and carcinogens. Some materials are obvious, such as chemicals and acids; however, others may not be so obvious. Glues, solvents, cleaning solutions, paints and paint thinners, gasses, oils, and pesticides can also be hazardous or toxic. These materials must be clearly marked and properly managed to avoid exposure that could cause injuries. 

Access to First Aid Supplies

Small business owners must also provide their employees with access to first aid supplies. These supplies must be properly maintained and labeled, unused, and stored in locations where they can be easily accessed. The kit should also include items that are specific to the hazards employees are exposed to and injuries they could potentially sustain; for example, if employees could sustain burns, supplies that can be used to address burns should be readily available so that they can be administered before emergency medical care can be provided. 

Slip and Fall Prevention

All surfaces that employees and anyone else walks on should be properly maintained to prevent slips and falls. For example, spills must be promptly cleaned up, proper signage must be placed on wet surfaces, cords and other hazards that could be tripped over must be out of the way, and floors, steps, and other surfaces that are walked on must be properly maintained, and if issues arise, they should be clearly marked until they can be corrected. 

By following these OHSA rules, small business owners can ensure the safety and well-being of their employees, as well as anyone else who accesses their premises. 

Building A Case Against Police Brutality

Simply put, police misconduct and brutality is a threat to the justice system, and victims always find themselves in tough situations. Police brutality has a long history, and it may include physical and emotional distress, but most victim complaints fall on deaf ears. They are made to feel as if there were at fault for merely being involved with the police in the first place. Even though sometimes police brutality involves people who have not been arrested, it’s usually worse for those who have criminal records.

It’s natural for a person to want to sue the police, more so if their arrest was unwarranted or abusive. Suing the police, however, can be arduous given the legal protection the police departments have. Still, this does not mean it’s impossible, especially when you have a competent police brutality lawyer handling your case. 

Common Types of Police Brutality

According to the law, a police officer is allowed to use physical force when absolutely necessary in a situation. If you remain calm and respectful during an arrest, they should not use physical force at all. The professional police brutality lawyers you’ll find at USAttorneys.com defend victims of different police brutality, including:

  • Brutality after a police pursuit
  • Brutality during routine arrests, traffic stops, and detentions
  • Racial profiling
  • Brutality by police in prisons, jails, and detention facilities 
  • Brutality by hospital security officers. Housing police, and school safety officers

Regardless of the case, the right police brutality lawyer will not only be compassionate but will aggressively defend you and obtain the settlement that you deserve. Here are some prevalent police misconduct situations.

  • False arrest – According to the law, a police officer is required to make an arrest when or if they have probable cause. Without probable cause, they would be violating your civil rights. You may sue for compensation for physical injuries from excessive force, humiliation, emotional distress, confinement, lost job opportunities, and other damages that occur from the arrest. 
  • Unjust imprisonment – If you were imprisoned, albeit your innocence, you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. 
  • Excessive force – Sometimes, police officers overstep their authority bounds and use excessive force, especially in racial profiling cases. The law, however, protects citizens from police violence, even if the victims are convicts in prison. 
  • Authority abuse – Some police officers continuously feel the need to intimidate and mistreat citizens, which is considered an abuse of power. 

Qualified Immunity

The police enjoy certain legal protections, such as the qualified immunity, which substantially insulates them from being sued. This protection allows them to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively. Simply put, it allows the police to work without worrying that everyone will sue them. If they always have to worry about lawsuits, their ability to enforce the law may be inhibited, which may be valid to an extent. Qualified immunity, however, does not apply if victims can prove that the officers acted unreasonably. 

How Do You Sue the Police for Brutality?

To successfully sue the police for brutality, you must show a pattern of behavior. One incident is not enough. If you were forcefully arrested and the police violated your Fourth Amendment Right, you must be able to show that they had no probable cause for doing it. If the officers did have sufficient evidence of probable cause to arrest you, most courts would rule that there was no rights violation. 

If the police used excessive force unnecessarily, you have to show that your situation did not call for such brutality. It would help your case if you have physical injuries that resulted from the excessive force they used. Most of the time, suing for emotional distress without proof that it was a result of police brutality does not work. Showing proof is not easy though, which is why people are advocating for all police officers to wear body cams, and make it easier to see exactly what they do to victims. 

After a confrontation with the police that calls for legal action, the first thing a victim should do is speak to a police brutality lawyer. The second thing is to preserve as much evidence as possible, and the third is to file a complaint at the police department, the United States Department of Justice, and the Attorneys General Office. Police misconduct cases can be complicated, especially when the police charge you with a crime during the brutality. They may say that you resisted arrest in order to defend themselves, which could impact the case significantly. A professional attorney will guide you and offer you expert advice about what to do.

Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Advice for Your Small Business

Businesses of all shapes and sizes face a number of risks, but disasters are among the biggest risks; things like fires, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can wreak havoc on any business, but small businesses are at risk of suffering the biggest consequences. The American Red Cross reports that natural disasters can be so damaging to small business that more than 40 percent end up closing their doors forever when they are affected by one. That’s a pretty frightening statistic; what’s even scarier is the fact that more than 60 percent of small business owners say that they do not have a plan in place that they can use to recover from a disaster. That’s because small businesses have a lot fewer resources available to them to help them restore their operations. 

While the hope is that you’ll never experience one, there’s no way to tell when a hurricane, a tornado, a fire, or any other disaster will strike. As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense; having a disaster relief plan in place can help you recover in the event that a disaster does occur.

How can you protect your small business from a disaster? Here are some tips that you can use to safeguard your operations. 

Assess Your Exposure

Make sure you take time to assess your exposure to disasters. For example, what type of natural disasters is your local are prone to and how will the affect your business? Take into consideration your business’ proximity to areas where wild fires tend to break out, flood plains, bodies of water, and even power plants. Knowing your proximity to potential hazards can help you determine your level of risk and take the necessary precautions to protect your small business – and your employees. 

Evaluate Your Commercial Insurance Policies

Commercial property insurance is an absolute must, as it protects the physical structure of your business and the contents within it from things like fire, acts of vandalism, and theft; however, don’t just assume that your commercial property insurance policy offers the coverage you need for natural disasters. These policies won’t safeguard you from floods or earthquakes, for example; for these types of disasters, you’ll need specific coverage. So if you’re located in an area that is prone to flooding, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you invest in a proper commercial insurance policy to protect your business – and your own pocket.

Establish an Emergency Communication Plan

If a disaster does strike, you’re going to want to have a way to communicate with your employees, your vendors, your customers – and everyone else you work with – to keep them abreast of the goings on during the recovery period. Set up systems that will send out alerts via email and cell phone systems. Compile a list of personal email addresses for your staff members, vendors, and customers so that you have more than one way to reach them. Set up a system that will send out real-time updates to the community regarding your recovery; doing so will allow you to keep them current with your recovery efforts and when you’ll be back up and running. 

Have a Financial Cushion

While you may have the proper insurance coverage, it might not cover everything; furthermore, it can take time to see payouts for what your policies do cover. When you’re in the midst of a disaster, you need immediate access to cash. Try to save up as much money as you possibly can; but, if you’re in a real bind, a loan from somewhere like the Personal Money Network can be a huge help.

How Supplements Can Help Boost Productivity

The latest trend in the wellness industry is all about boosting your brain power to improve productivity. Nootropics, a somewhat broad category of supplements, are designed to boost cognitive function, memory, alertness and energy all while lowering stress levels.

When taken regularly, these supplements can help you better cope with life and work stress while improving your memory, concentration and problem-solving abilities. 

Here’s how supplements can help boost productivity.

Improving Focus

Having trouble staying focused at work? Your ability to concentrate and stay on-task all comes down to one important thing: mental energy. 

How do you get more mental energy? By improving the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) your mitochondria produce. ATP is the fuel for your brain. If you can train your brain cells to produce more ATP, you’ll give them the raw materials they need to build it and produce more energy.

It’s possible to give your brain more fuel through your diet (you are what you eat) or through supplements. Supplement ingredient manufacturers like Wisepowder offer a variety of nootropics that ultimately help increase ATP.

Other ways to boost ATP include:

  • Giving your brain fewer decisions to make your energy pool last longer
  • Strengthen your mitochondria to produce more energy and improve brain function
  • Eliminate toxins that are energy drains

If you want to stay focused and get more done, you need to give your brain the energy it needs to keep running. That can only be done by increasing ATP stores. 

Boosting Energy Levels

Fatigue is the enemy of productivity. Eating the right foods can help give you an energy boost that keeps you on track, but supplements can be even more effective because they give you a higher concentration of nutrients.

Rhodiola rosea, a popular supplement and nootropic, has been shown to increase energy levels in participants. It works as an adaptogen, so it helps the body better cope with life stresses that can zap your energy.

Adaptogens are great for boosting energy levels, but you can also use the most widely used psychoactive stimulant on the planet: caffeine. 

Caffeine keeps you awake by blocking adenosine receptors – the brain’s sleep-inducing neurotransmitters. 

Natural energy-boosting supplements, like those that contain vitamins, minerals and herbs, may be the better option compared to stimulants. Energy drinks can certainly keep you awake, but they also come with potentially negative side effects.

Enhancing Stress Management

Adaptogens, as mentioned previously, can help the body better cope with everyday stressors. Stress is a silent killer, but it’s also an energy-sucker and concentration hog.

When you’re stressed about a deadline or a life problem, it can distract you from your tasks and leave you feeling drained. 

Supplements that contain adaptogenic herbs can help put the body back into a more balanced state. Making the body more resilient to stress can help eliminate the fatigue factor and help you stay more focused on the tasks at hand. 

The right supplements can provide a significant productivity boost, allowing you to get more done at work or at home. Boosting your brain power is as easy as giving your brain the nutrients it needs to run optimally.

How to Stay Productive While Injured

Recovery from an injury is often a slow process that requires a lot of patience. It can become very disheartening when you are struggling and in pain. Many people fall into a depression as they feel like their lives have been put on hold by the injury.

It isn’t easy to accept the limitations that an injury may impose on you. However, it’s important to remain focused on the fact that your life is not over; it’s just going to be a bit different.

How can you keep busy and be productive while you recover from an injury?

1. Schedule your activities

You might think you’re keeping busy and being productive while you work on getting better. But are you? One of the best ways to test this theory is to put your weekly activities into a calendar. Start with any medical appointments you have, such as physical therapy.

Now include any other activities you have, such as exercise sessions and meal preparation. The next step is to put in all your social activities such as meetings, gatherings, and activities.

You might be surprised to see that you have considerable time gaps during the day that are not occupied by activities. Now you can start investigating what you can do to fill those gaps.

2. Get out there

A lot of people complain that they are housebound by their injury and cannot go out. That might be true in the initial recovery phase after the injury. However, after that, you should be able to start going out again.

A lack of mobility can also be a problem. Having gone from being able-bodied to having to look through a catalog for wheelchairs to suit your needs isn’t easy. But, if that’s what you need to do to get out of the confines of your house, it’s what you should do.

3. Try something new

Your injury can give you the ideal opportunity to learn new skills and undertake new activities. Living fast-paced lives, we don’t always have time to do all the things we’d like to. With more time on your hands while you recover from your injury, why not tick a few off the list?

For example, you might have always wanted to learn how to play chess. This is the ideal time to read about the game and start playing it. It might become an activity you’re so passionate about that you will continue playing well after you’ve recovered from your injury.

4. Stay active

You must remain physically active during injury recovery. Naturally, the types of exercise you’ll be able to do will be restricted by the injury and your recovery progress. Never undertake any exercise that could threaten the healing process. It is wise to discuss what types of physical activities you can do with your doctor. Professional advice is always the best idea.

Keeping your body busy by doing activities or exercising releases serotonin into the body. This is the brain’s ‘feel-good’ chemical and can make you feel exhilarated. Increased levels of positivity lead to optimism, which is an integral part of a successful recovery.

5. Volunteer

If you’re unable to go to work while you’re healing from an injury, look around for other things you can do. Doing volunteer work is an excellent way to use your time. For example, you could volunteer to answer the phone at your local dog shelter three mornings a week.

It does you good to get out of the house. Additionally, the sense of being of help and service to others also gives you the emotional boost you need to keep working toward your recovery.

Discover the Steps to Starting an Ecommerce Business

Are you in the mood to take on the world of eCommerce? It’s a fantastic idea because millions of people love shopping online and are always looking for new vendors. It takes a bit of effort to begin, but the journey is challenging and more rewarding than most.

Have a Plan That Includes Niche Marketing

It takes a winning plan to get an eCommerce business off the ground. That means you’ll have to decide on a niche so you can provide the kind of products that customers want. If you don’t, no amount of work will help. The plan keeps the business on the right track.

Part of the plan must address the investment totals. Starting and maintaining any business is expensive. The bills keep coming in, even when sales are slow.

Decide on an Ecommerce Platform

The choice of which eCommerce platform to select is the first hurdle on the road to revenue. There’s no shortage of options, and all of them provide a set of benefits and drawbacks.

You’ll need to consider what price you’re willing to spend on a platform and if it offers the features you want. After that, you need to design the site and also stock it with products. These are significant responsibilities and will take up time.

It’s vital to build an SEO-friendly website and one that is conversion-friendly. Sites need traffic, and those people have to buy! Without those critical elements in place, sales are unlikely. A good template and SEO will allow the pages to rank for precise, niche keywords. That’s an excellent starting point for rankings.

Don’t Try and Do It All

You aren’t going to want to volunteer for all the jobs that an eCommerce business does daily. For example, it’s wiser to go with the best fulfillment service companies rather than trying to handle shipping. As a small shipper, there’s no chance you’ll have competitive rates. Not only that, when you only ship a few items, you overpay for supplies.

It’s worth picking what you’re best at sticking with that. If digital marketing is the core competency of your team, then that’s the best area to apply effort. One of the most significant any business can make is to try to be all things to all people. With an eCommerce operation, focus on the parts of the business that separate your organization from others.

Do the Necessary Research

It’s a huge mistake to try and fly blind. Why not start with thorough research about the sector, products, and competitors? You may choose a tool that helps you accomplish that, but it’s still an essential step. If you decide to skip this, you’ll end up regretting it when the store is open for business.

Research tells you who is going to buy and what they’re willing to pay. Checking out rivals lets you understand how they structure their offers and what makes customers want their products.

Conducting a thorough analysis used to be difficult, but it is no longer the case. There are so many niche marketing companies that tools abound to help you unlock the potential of any market. Use one to find the products that are underserved so that you may carve out your position.

If you attempt to go after general categories, you won’t have the pricing or brand recognition. Stick with more specific niches where there are few competitors, and not all of them are household names. If you’re willing to dig up knowledge and find out what customers want, you can craft your business plan to suit their desires. That’s the type of eCommerce company that will have customers from the beginning.

Start right and plan on growing from the beginning and there are few limits for your business.

When is the Best Time to Buy a Car?

Finding the perfect car is exciting, but buying it at the right time is crucial. A car’s price may change by the month or the day. If you can wait until the ideal time to make a purchase, you may be able to save a substantial amount of money. Here, you’ll find a few tips on buying a car at the right time.

Shop Later in the Month (or Year)

Dealers are typically anxious to move stock on the last couple of days of the month. However, sales deadlines don’t always come at the right time, and walking into a showroom on the 30th or 31st may not get you the deal you’re looking for. Try shopping a few days earlier, especially in February.

Car dealers have monthly and yearly sales quotas, which come together as the year is drawing to a close. October, November, and December are great months in which to buy a car, as salespeople are working with their quotas in mind.

Focus on Holiday Sales

Every year, we see car dealer advertisements urging us to save for the holidays. It’s not pure salesmanship; these sales can actually offer significant discounts. Consider shopping on the following holidays to find a great deal on a car.

  • Memorial Day: Summer is usually the costliest time to shop for a car, but most dealers slash prices around Memorial Day. New models come out around mid-year, which means current stock has to move quickly.
  • Black Friday: Car dealers aren’t immune to the Black Friday hysteria. Shopping for a car at that time may help you save, but you’ll have to deal with big crowds just as you will at other retailers.
  • New Year’s Eve: If you can fit it into your festive plans, New Year’s Eve is the perfect day to buy a car. Salespeople are up against monthly and yearly quotas, and meeting those goals may earn them a substantial bonus. This may make finding a great deal much easier.

Shop Last Year’s Models When New Stock Arrives

If you’re not in a big hurry to buy a new car, consider waiting for a closeout or end-of-model-year sale. Dealerships only have so much space, and when new models come in, the old ones must go. If you can wait until then, you may get a newish model at a steep discount. However, others are catching onto this strategy, and you’ll have to act fast to get a deal.

Avoid Shopping on Weekends

Buy here pay here dealerships tend to be more crowded on weekends, simply because more people have the day off. Stopping by on Saturday or Sunday may mean getting less attention from overworked salespeople, which makes negotiations tricky. However, if you shop on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, you’ll deal with less customer traffic and you’ll be in a more favorable position to negotiate.

In Closing

It takes a great deal of patience to wait for the right time to buy a car. If you can wait, time will definitely be on your side. Almost all cars depreciate, and waiting for the right day, week, or month may help you save hundreds or even thousands. After all, the only thing better than that new-car smell is the knowledge that you paid less to get it.