How to haggle and save on anything

Ask and you may receive. That's the reality when it comes to haggling. The problem is, many of us are not asking and end up paying more than we need to.

"A lot of people are actually really uncomfortable bargaining a price in store because they think it's rude, they think they're being cheap," said Tercius Bufete.

Which is why Bufete of Consumer Reports recommends using the live chat feature on a retailer's website. Not only does it help overcome the awkwardness, it may boost your odds of nabbing a bargain. Consumer Reports readers who haggled online reported greater success than those who did so face to face.

Even major retailers like amazon may be willing to work with you. Even though they officially do not offer price matching, Consumer Reports found their customer service team to be very accommodating in terms of adjusting the price or offering a credit.

"Because at the end of the day they just want your business and they want you to keep buying things from them," said Bufete.

Not sure how to approach the topic? Start by showing the seller you are really interested in the item.

"Really engage the customer service representative and ask them specific things like Bluetooth compatibility or password protection. When you ask these types of questions it really makes it look like you are ready to buy the product and that makes it more likely for the retailer to offer you a discount," said Bufete.

And even if the sales rep will not lower the price, they may be able to sweeten the deal in other ways.

"There are other things of value you can ask for like free expedited shipping or a free extended warranty."