In addition to spending less and saving more, another way to help your bottom line is simply by not getting ripped off. Here are a couple of key examples of the type of consumer rip-offs common in the states.

How rent to own works is that you make a payment plus some extra amount of money on a particular good with the expectation that your extra payments will go towards a down payment on what you're buying. Rent to own is typically bad for the buyer. You end up making high monthly payments on something that typically declines in value, such as a washing machine or TV set.