You don't need to be a miser to save money. You also don't have to compromise your lifestyle in order to save money. All it requires is just to be aware of some very simple strategies and a little bit of planning. With internet readily available you also don't even have to go from store to store or call friends or family members to find good deals. Whether it is simple grocery or buying a car, saving opportunities are every where. Here are some simple strategies to help you stretch your dollar. But, you also need to consider the value of your time against the potential savings.

Dealing with aggressive car sales people is a matter of the past now. Here a few tips worth considering before you visit a car dealer.

• For buying a new car, look at car manufacturers' web sites to determine which car and model you like. Before visiting any car dealer, you need to be very clear on what car and what options you need to buy. At a minimum, short list a few cars. One of the sites at which you can check different cars is Autos.Yahoo.Com
• Find out a dealer near you who has that particular car including colors and other features. The reason is that a car dealer having that particular car in inventory can be more aggressive in reducing the price compared to the one who has to get it from another dealer or manufacturer. While most car sales people claim to locate that car without any additional cost. Obviously, they will have to split the profit with another dealership in that case. Either you can call the dealers to confirm it, or you can check online at Cars.Com.

Find out the invoice price of that car from a reliable website. You could either check it on Autos.Yahoo.Com or the famous Kelly's Blue Book. Both these sites also provide you the average price people are paying for that particular car as well as reviews from consumers.
If you are looking for a used car, the above 2 web sites also give you the expected value depending on the condition of the car.
If you are in the market for a used car, you can check some popular sites like Craig's List or eBay. However, most of the listings on these sites are from car dealers reselling pre-owned cars. Individuals selling their cars may price their vehicles more competitively than dealers. But given that buying a car is a major purchase, it is not recommended to buy it from someone that you are unable to reach in person.
Once you have decided to buy the car from a dealer, go there with a price in mind and the car you are looking for. Make sure that you have made up your mind regarding accessories. Think whether you really 'NEED' a particular accessory or you simply want it.
It is also a good idea to keep a few small accessories e.g. a hookup for ipod or other music players, cruise control, floor mats (if not already there), metallic color, additional coating for winter proofing (if you get severe winter weather etc) or a paint protection layer. Many a times, a dealer may not reduce the price below a certain figure but may be willing to add a small accessory at no additional charge. Items like that will help broker price negotiations.
On pricing, a sales person generally starts with MSRP (Manufacturer's suggested retail price). However, hardly anyone buys a car at this price. So, it is safe to call it their maximum suggested retail price. Generally MSRP is about 7-10% over the invoice price (what dealer pays) + destination charges (cost of transportation). It is not uncommon for a dealer to sell a car at or below inventory price. The reason could be clearing an old inventory or manufacturer providing some incentives, meeting sales targets etc.
If you are not a big fan of being the first one to drive, there are significant savings for cars that may be one year old or driven fewer miles. The reason is, all cars depreciate at a much faster rate in first few years, first year being the most. First year depreciation could range anywhere from 20% to 40% depending on the brand and condition of the car. Manufacturer warranties (if within time and miles driven range of original warranties) are available even when you buy a pre-owned car.
One rule that all car dealers religiously follow is that they would like to have you come in their showroom to negotiate pricing. This is to validate your commitment and to aggressively persuade you to make the decision right there. Go prepared with your final price and be willing to leave the deal.