I’m one of those people who others call and ask, “How much should I pay for an oriental rug?”
Friends call and ask me if $1,500 is a good deal for a new leather sofa. They ask me which store is having the best coat sale.
While I can’t personally give that kind of advice to everyone, I can tell you where to find this information.
My Favorite Cost Guide: Cost Helper
Cost Helper is a website that tells you how much you can expect to pay for just about everything under the sun.
The site consists of a database of thousands of items (and services), where you can investigate how much others are paying and find similar deals for yourself.
For example, a bassinet costs $60 to $135 according to Cost Helper. You can also see what features and factors should be included in the price of a bassinet, and what you can expect at each different price point. The bassinet database also has recall information, and links to reviews on different bassinets.
Another example… if you need to have work done on your car, you can use Cost Helper to determine if the quote you received is fair. In this case, Cost Helper shows that the cost of flushing a transmission is $75 to $250, depending on the vehicle. The site also reveals that discounts are available in some auto shops for AAA members, and there’s a link to search for ASE-certified Blue Seal Repair facilities.
Cost helper doesn’t stop with the cost of everyday goods and services. You an also also find out how much you can expect to pay for law school, preschool, a trip to Alaska, or a bachelorette party.
Cost Helper promises to become the premier shopping and cost information center on the Internet.
Right now, each item and service is represented by a well-written article that is basically a guide on making a purchase.
My bet is the site will grow into a place where consumers can compare their own shopping experiences and also let each other know when and where to get items on sale.
Cost Helper’s plan is to “become your destination whenever you are budgeting or thinking about a new, complicated purchase.”
I use it a lot.
Other Helpful Cost Guides
In addition to Cost Helper, you can get a good idea of what you can expect to pay for goods or services from these sites as well:
I have been a certified tightwad striving for financial freedom since I became pregnant with my first child — and I decided to find a way to stay home with him full-time. I enjoy sharing my personal experiences in my journey back to financial health and planning for a future — which will include sending 2 kids to college and early retirement.
