Published: 20 May 2010

BUDGETING

Budgets are spending plans which will help you to:-

• Live within your income
• Save
• Decide what you can and must have

DON’T LET YOUR MONEY DISAPPEAR

A Budget is a guide which helps you to decide:

1. Shop early in the morning to get the best selection
   of perishable foods (fruits, vegetables).
2. Try not to shop when you are hungry, tired or in a hurry, in order to avoid making unwise purchasing decisions.
3. Leave small children at home with a friend or
   relative to avoid distraction while purchasing.
4. Shop with a list.
5. At the check-out counter, watch the cash register. Count your change. Cashiers sometimes make
   mistakes.
6. Don’t be misled by “special prices”. It is special only if lower than what you usually pay.
7. Buy unpackaged food whenever possible, so that you can see what you are buying.
8. Carry pencil and paper and/ or calculator to ensure that you remain within your budget.
9. Check expiry dates on foods to avoid purchasing products which, when consumed, may be harmful to your health.
   Inform the manager about any product which is on the she
   beyond expiry date.
10. Work out the unit cost (per ml or per gram), keeping the food
    value in mind. The cheapest is not the best if it contains less nutritional value. Also, the largest size is not always the cheapest per unit.
11. Note carefully the standard of cleanliness in the market and in shops ( on shelves, in freezers, and in areas behind shops), in order to reduce the risk of purchasing contaminated food.
12. Don’t be tempted by pretty packaging or advertising.
13. Be a considerate shopper. Handle items carefully. You pay for spoiled or damaged merchandise through the higher prices the merchant must charge to cover the cost of wasted goods.

Let your voice be
heard.
Become a member of
an Action Group
today!

HIRE PURCHASE

Hire purchase is one way of having the use of items while you are still paying for hem.

There are two (2) parties involved in the h ire purchase agreement. They are:

• The Hirer - the person who takes the goods for use.
• The Owner - the person who lends or rents the goods.

Hire purchase agreements are covered by the Hire Purchase Act when the cost of the item does not exceed $15,000.

The Hire Purchase agreement should contain:

• Cash Price.
• Hire Purchase Price. The interest and finance charges should be included
• The total number of installments and the amount of each one.
• Identification of goods
• The names and addresses of the hirer and owner.
• Notice of rights of hirer and owner to terminate the agreement.

A copy of the Agreement must be delivered to the hirer within seven (7) days of the making of the agreement.

You should NEVER enter into a Hire Purchase agreement unless you are sure you can fulfill all the terms of the Contract.

Remember, you are not the owner of the goods until you have paid in full of them.

Repossession of Goods

If 70 percent of the Hire Purchase price of the goods has been paid to the owner of the goods, the owner is not entitled to
Recover possession of the goods without the hirer’s consent, unless the owner obtains a court order.

If the owner recovers possession of the goods at this stage without the hirer’s consent, the agreement will come to an end: he will have to replace the items to the satisfaction of the consumer.

If less than 70 percent of the Hire Purchase price is paid and you are in arrears, the store can repossess the merchandise without a court order, and you may lose both the item, and all the money you have paid to date.

Remember, once the agreement is signed by you, no store employee has the authority to OKAY late payments of your
installments.

If for any reason you cannot maintain the hire purchase terms, you are expected to:

• Go immediately to the business place and speak to the Hire Purchase Manager, informing him why you cannot continue Payment. Find out whether it is possible to refinance or to be given grace period to pay and whether the Contract is still in force.
• Pay bailiff or collector’s fees when in arrears. These fees are payable once the amount goes into arrears.

Shop around carefully for Hire Purchase,
because the rates of interest in Hire
Purchase agreements vary from store to store. SHOPPING FOR SHOES When shopping for shoes, the two most critical considerations are quality workmanship and comfortable fit. Careful attention to the following pointers will help to ensure satisfaction in these two areas.

Quality Workmanship:

Take the time to examine shoes carefully before purchasing. Make sure that:

• There are no broken stitches.
• Stitches are not too close together where they turn a corner as this could weaken the material causing it to tear.
• Shoes do not tilt on either side when placed on a flat surface.
• There are no loose straps. (Test their strength).
• The shoes are sturdy enough to take your weight.
• All glued areas are properly stuck.
• Linings at toes and heels are securely attached.
• With high heeled shoes, as much of your feet as possible is in touch with the soles, so that your weight is evenly distributed and your feet do not slip forward..

Pay close attention to the material(s) that the shoes are made of. This affects their durability and the use to which they can be put.

Comfortable Fit:

Check that shoes fit properly. They should be:

• Long enough - this could be checked by pressing on the top of the toes of the shoes to see if there is room between the end of your longest toe and the end of the inside of the shoe.
• Wide enough - your feet should not make the sides of the shoe bulge
• Deep enough - the top of the shoes should not press down tightly on your foot. They should not be too deep either. If you stand on your toes there should not be a large ridge in the upper part of the shoes.
• Close fitting - at the heel, without cutting into the ankle bone. If you stand on tip-toe the shoes should not slip off at the heel.

Careful fitting of children's shoes is vital because although young feet
are so soft and pliable and may not feel pain, they can be seriously and/
or permanently damaged by ill fitting shoes.

Three practical rules of thumb when shopping for shoes are:

1. Shop at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest.
2. Try on both shoes– the reason for doing so is that sometimes people’s feet are different sizes. Should this be the case, buy for the larger foot, and if necessary, use an insert to fill up the other side.
3. Walk around the shop in the shoes to make sure they do not hurt or squeak.

REMBER: Fashion shoes are design for appearance and not necessarily to provide comfort.

FASHION IS NICE, BUT COMFORT IN SHOES IS MUCH BETTER.

It’s your right to get
the best possible item
at the best possible price.

SOLVING PURCHASING PROBLEMS You have purchased a product
Which has turned out to be defective.
You should:- WHAT TO DO

• Stop using the item immediately
• Take the item with the Bill or Receipt of purchase back to the store
• Explain your complaint calmly and politely to the store manager

Your Bill or Receipt is proof of purchase at the particular store and should contain:

• The date of purchase of the item
• The type, model and brand of the product
• The cost of the product.

CAUTION: NEVER LEAVE your original Bill with the Manager. Give him a copy

REPLACEMENT OR REFUND

A replacement or refund is possible, provided that:-

• You return the item immediately
• You complain within the warranty period
• You carry all documents (receipts and agreements) pertaining to the purchase
• No repair or attempted repair was done by unauthorised persons.

WARRANTIES

REMEMBER your warranty is your assurance that there is a possibility of resolving your complaint. Your warranty begins from the date of purchase or delivery of the item.

NEVER WAIT until your warranty has expired to complain to the Retailer. Inform him as soon as the item malfunctions.

When complaining, do not intimidate the retailer. Be firm, but polite.

If the matter cannot be resolved at the level of the retailer or manufacturer, you can seek assistance from:

• Your Consumer Action Group
• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs

Are you a member of a Youth Group?
A Sports Group? A Church Group?
Any Group?

Form your own
Consumer Action Groups now.
Unity is strength.

We will help you.

HOW TO STRETCH YOUR FOOD DOLLAR

Published: 20 May 2010

Location:

The Unit is located on the 3rd Floor of the Administrative Centre on Bay Street, opposite Sprott Bros. Ltd.

Address:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs
Government Administrative Centre
Kingstown
St. Vincent

Contact:

Tel:  (784) 456-2442  
(784) 456-1111 Ext.300/519/315
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Published: 20 May 2010

1. To monitor business practices and quality of products offered for sale.

   • Complaints handling
   • Visit business premises to examine quality of goods offered for sale.


2. Review of recommendations for National Consumer Protection Legislation
3. Commemoration of United Nations World Consumer Rights Day.
4. Produce radio and television programmes, tips and jingles.