Need an excuse to go shopping? Here's one, it's National Bargain Hunter's Week. News Specialist Nadine Wimmer joins us now from a local store, is bargain hunting tougher than shopping?

Absolutely, with all the sales, specials and discounts you find at the stores, it's hard to know a bargain when you see one.

Sale, Clearance, Blowout, the very mention of these words puts shoppers in a spending mood:

(("VERY, BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY."))

(("I THINK WE WANT TO GO LOOK."))

(("IF THE PRICE IS GOOD, I'LL PROBABLY BUY."))

TODAY, CROSSROADS MALL: But on this National Bargain Hunting Week, we hit the mall with a PH.D in shopping who warns the word "sale" is overused.

((DR. JOHN BURTON, CONSUMER STUDIES: "IT SAYS UP TO, THAT'S THE KEY WORD. 95-PERCENT OF THE STUFF MAY ACTUALLY BE 10-PERCENT OFF, AND A FEW REAL OBSOLETE THINGS, THINGS THAT NO BODY WANTS ARE 70-PERCENT OFF. AND TO ME, IT'S MEANINGLESS."))

Shopping rule number one, sale doesn't always equal bargain.

(("THIS SAYS 10 DOLLARS OFF, 36 DOLLARS TO 26 DOLLARS IS THAT A GOOD BUY? A: WELL, I'M NO EXPERT IN CLOTHING, BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WAS THAT SHIRT EVER REALLY SOLD AT THAT 36 DOLLAR PRICE?"))

((NADINE WIMMER: "STORES HAVE ANOTHER STRATEGY THEY USE. THEY KNOW THAT BY MARKING OFF A SUIT 20 DOLLARS, THAT BY THE TIME YOU BUY EARINGS AND A PURSE TO MATCH, YOU'LL SPEND MORE THAN YOU SAVED IN THE FIRST PLACE."))

Another word to the wise, it's only a bargain if you need it.

(("SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO BUY THINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN GO AROUND AND SAY LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY I SAVED, BUT THEY NEVER REALLY USE THE PRODUCT."))

You'll also find that cash talks, especially on big ticket items.

(("IF YOU CAN GO INTO A DEPARTMENT STORE AND YOU CAN SHOW CASH, THEN YOU CAN SHOW YOUR SERIOUSNESS OF YOUR INTENT OF BUYING SOMETHING. AND THE SELLER IS MUCH MORE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE."))

((Q: "SO BOTTOM LINE, CAN YOU SAVE MONEY BY BARGAIN HUNTING? A:YES, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT."))

Nadine Wimmer, KSL News.