Local economy set to gain this weekend

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “They’re really getting in their cars and enjoying the local areas,” says Marianne Bickle, Director of the Center for Retailing at USC. Before you pack up the car tonight for your trip to the Carolina coast or even the lake, we have some last minute savings tips you may want to know. “A lot of times we think Saturday starts the weekend, not for sales,” says Bickle. That’s right, big sales are underway right now, in your own back yard. The local economy is set to gain big. “Absolutely, absolutely,” says Bickle. For starters, if you need groceries prepare for big savings. “You are going to see a lot of things 2 for 1 you’re going to see by 2 get 1 free,” says Bickle. Just like you planned your trip, the key to saving is a good plan. “Taking the time to compare and say this is what I need, this is what I want,” says Bickle. Crandall Sims reporting, ” Experts say another great tip is cutting coupons and this weekend, coupons added to the already reduced prices man even bigger savings.” Coupons can be found online or in your local newspaper. “You will get the cost of the newspaper back 4 to 5 times over,” says Bickle. Groceries aren’t the only hot sale items this weekend. “Clothing is going to be huge,” says Bickle. Another big sale, automobiles, in fact it may be the biggest one. “This weekend the auto industry is going to see a huge bump in their sales, it’s going to be phenomenal,” says Bickle. A new car, a nice vacation for a test drive. “In South Carolina, they might go to North Carolina, they might go to the Biltmore, they might go to their neighbors,” says Bickle. One last thing, if you are headed out of town, get gas before you leaving South Carolina has the cheapest gas prices in the nation.