6.Shopping Day Savings Passes, Just Ask Several national retail stores offer Shopping Day Savings Passes, coupons offering customer anywhere from 10-20% off every purchase made throughout that day. These “savings passes” are available at customer service desks. All you need to do is ask. One large retailer that offers these passes is Macys.

7.Those People with Scanners – They Know More Than You Think Ever go into a store and see some of associates with a scanner scanning items? Well, more than likely those are “Ad Setters” responsible for placing sale signs for upcoming sale events. Almost every store has an Ad Set Crew. Some stores have Ad Set Crew set ads for upcoming sales after store closing. Most, however, have Crew start setting ads a few hours prior to closing. Shop during these hours and seek these people out. Why? They are most knowledgeable about what store sales are best for customers and when these sales are going to occur since they know about upcoming sales weeks in advance. If you are wondering if an item you are interested in purchasing is cheaper during current sale or cheaper during an upcoming sale, they can usually scan it and tell you. I have helped countless customers save this way and then proceeded to tell them about day prior, day later rule covered in tip number three. Most regular sales associates don’t have this inside information about upcoming sales, nor do they have ability to find out what upcoming sales prices are going to be on items - that’s why you need to speak to an Ad Setter.

8.Imperfections = Discounts, Even Packaging Everyone probably knows about getting an additional discount on imperfect merchandise, but many don’t know that imperfect packaging gets same discounts. The store I work at, like most stores, has a policy that allows at least an additional 10-20% discount on damaged items. Even if only damage is to an item’s packaging, we gladly give this discount when someone asks. As a result, I have learned to purposefully seek out items that have damaged packaging and to always ask for this extra discount. To date, I have always received it. Being willing to purchase items with damaged packaging creates a win-win situation for both customers and store: store gets rid of slightly blemished items and customers save money.

9.Forgot Your Extra Savings Coupon – No Problem, Just Tell Cashier Many stores send out extra savings coupons to holders of their credit cards or loyal customers on their mailing list. Sometimes, however, customers get to register only to realize that they forgot to bring their “Extra Savings Coupon” with them. If this happens to you, no problem, since most stores have a policy granting discount to customer anyway just by telling cashier that you forgot your savings coupon.

10.The Clearance Merry-Go-Round Most stores have what is called “back stock.” This usually refers to clearance items that have not sold during previous season’s clearance sales. These items are placed in a designated area in stockroom and then brought back out onto sales floor during a store’s next seasonal clearance event. For example, January and February are two good months to find last season’s bathing suits on clearance in many stores. May and June are good times to find heavy coats and leather jackets at rock-bottom prices. I know our store does this routinely, and have found this to be true for several other major retailers as well.

I hope you are able to save tons of money as I have by using these ten tips. Prior to working in retail I would have considered myself a frugal and smart shopper but have since become even better and saved more. By learning ins-and-outs of retail world and by using these tips, I now pay less for brand-new brand-name clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods than I had previously paid at thrift stores and I hope you do too. Happy Shopping and Saving!

When we are focused on task at hand, we do things for joy of doing them, and not because we expect anything in return for our action. When we do this, even small and seemingly insignificant things can become acts of joy and beauty.

You do not do things for end result. You do things for simple act of doing them. You do not wash dishes so you will have a clean kitchen. You wash dishes for art of washing dishes. When done in this way, dishes aren't something to be rushed through so you can go and do something else. It becomes a joyous event in itself. Your whole attitude changes, dishes are no longer a chore but become a joy.

In our romantic dinner scenario above, if all preparation had been done fully in present moment, day would have been spent joyously and not building up a fantasy of what evening was going to be like. So when your partner arrived home you would be happy and relaxed and not full of expectations, anticipation and demands that evening goes just as you planned.

Because you found joy in doing each task, as it needed to be done, and not rushed through them with your mind only on end result, you will not be devastated when your partner comes in and doesn't notice effort you have gone to. You will be far less likely to feel hurt and let down, you will still be able to enjoy meal yourself. Instead of being angry and bitter towards your partner you will be able to be supportive in their time of stress. Your partner will feel that you are there for them when they need you most.

When we live in world of daydreams, expectations and rushing through things, we tend to think that everything that happens revolves around us. We tend to take everything personally and get upset over things that really have nothing to do with us.

Whereas, if we can just learn to relax and enjoy moment for what it is, we will naturally become happier and more accepting and less demanding ourselves. We will be able to see other person's side of things and point of view, and this helps us to be more compassionate and understanding people.