TOP 5 THINGS YOU CAN HAGGLE FOR

One result of the bad economy is that haggling is becoming much more common. Kiplinger.com reveals the secrets of saving big by haggling. Here are the top things you can haggle for:

Big-screen TV • You may not be able to talk down the price of the hottest gadgets, such as the new Kindle or iPhone, but everything from a flat-screen TV to a surround-sound system is negotiable. Try multiple stores so you can take yourself out of the hot seat and pit the stores against one another, and be prepared for a long pause after you tell the sales rep you'd like him or her to match a competitor's price.

Gym memberships • Shopping multiple gym memberships is important so you can get clubs to compete for your business. And don't get locked into a one-year membership in exchange for a deal; however certain you may feel now that you'll manage to go four times a week, your schedule or interests may change.

Mattresses • A mattress store's prices can vary widely from one day to the next, so just because a store is advertising a big sale doesn't mean its prices are competitive. Also, keep in mind that mattress quality is almost entirely subjective, so spend a long time testing each mattress. You can be pretty sure you're getting a competitive price if you can negotiate a 50 percent to 60 percent discount off the sticker price.

Financial advisers • Before you enter a relationship with any adviser, you should ask for his or her Form ADV Part Two. This explains their compensation policy and whether it's negotiable. If your adviser charges an hourly fee, you can probably lower your total tab by offering to do more of the grunt work yourself. If your adviser's fee is calculated as a percentage of your assets, ask him or her to break that down into a dollar figure, then talk about what services you are getting in return.

Rent • Depending on where you live, if you're penning a new lease with your landlord, you should be able to negotiate little or no increase in monthly rent. If you're in the market for a new place, it probably won't hurt you to ask for a price concession — as long as you don't ask for such a huge discount that you insult your prospective landlord.

HIGH-LOW

High • Handmade Mother of Pearl and natural horn handbag by Mad by Design ($42) at Archetypes Boutique and Gifts, 28 The Boulevard

Low • Mother of Pearl handbag by Global Elements ($28.80) at eBags.com

product test

Telebrands has a new stuffing-free dog toy in the shape of a raccoon called CrazyCritters. The toy's design eliminates the stuffing mess and features two squeakers. It's machine-washable and is perfect for indoor or outdoor play. We had a one-year-old pit bull test the toy, and it has lasted two months.

To buy • $9.99 at most Walgreens, CVS and PetSmart stores.

Deal of the week

In an effort to make getting a back-to-school physical convenient and affordable, Take Care Clinics, located at select Walgreens drugstores, will be offering back-to-school and sports physicals for only $35 through Sept. 30. Families with two or more children, who arrive at the Take Care Clinic together, can receive back-to-school physicals for $30 each. Take Care Clinics are professional walk-in health care centers located in more than 350 Walgreens drugstores across the country. Clinics are open every day, including evenings and weekends. To find a clinic, go to takecarehealth.com.

To find a great deal every day, visit our Steals & Deals blog at stltoday.com/steals.

CLAIM YOUR MISSING CASH

Missing money you didn't even know you had? Missingmoney.com, a site endorsed by the nonprofit National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, can help you find money from old bank accounts, stock and bond returns, safe deposit box contents and more. All you do is enter your name and state (and any name you've had or state you've lived in). Not all states have submitted data; Missouri has, but Illinois hasn't.

SHOPSITE

Ten Thousand Villages (www.tenthousandvillages.com/home.php)

Go on an international shopping trip with fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages. The nonprofit is having a clearance sale on handmade jewelry and decorative items that improve the lives of thousands of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. You can read about the artisan groups in 38 countries who make the items and the regions they come from and how local materials are gathered and used in the crafting of products.

A lovely handcrafted beaded choker from India is $4. The Rice Story Pot ($21) from Bangladesh also caught my eye.

Enter coupon code ELEGANCE to get free shipping.

The organization is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization. (Read more about Ten Thousands Villages' vision and mission: www.tenthousandvillages.com/php/about.us/index.php)

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services