THE RECESSION has turned us into a nation of bargain hunters. Shopping around for the best price has become the norm, especially as we head into the holiday season. East County locals talked about how they scrimp and save and where they look to get the best deal on whatever they want to buy.

Vincent Montgomery of Oakley said he's doing a number of things differently now. "I used to be an impulse shopper and that's out. I've now become very deliberate in my spending. Before I buy something, I go to several stores to price an item. Then I'll go back the next day to the one with the best price. I'm buying more things at Goodwill stores, and I'm even buying re-tread tires rather than new ones. Also, I find that bartering with other people to get what I need is a very good way to get things you want without having to pay cash."

Mark and Kathleen Taylor of Brentwood said people can dicker even on phone and Internet services. "I call them and say I've been a good customer for years and I need a reduction in my bills. More often than not it works," she said. "eBay is a good place to check on prices so you don't overpay for something." Mark added, "We travel a lot, and we definitely use the Internet to look for bargains. We do the same for the lowest price on car insurance."

"I'm staying away from the big department stores now," said Marge Foster of Bethel Island. "When I want clothing, I shop at discount stores

Alicia Ramirez of Antioch echoes the words on groceries. "Also, I find I'm using coupons a lot more now. I get them from the newspaper and from the Internet. When it comes to kids' clothes I shop at outlet stores. To come up with bargain meals at home, I'm cooking more with staples to save money."

"I read the newspaper ads very closely to check out the prices and where to go to find the bargains," said Mary Hackley of Antioch. "This is a good way to know which stores have the best grocery prices. I also look for sales on all sorts of things. Even better, one of the best ways to find things at bargain prices is to go to fa lea markets. That's something I never did before."

Antioch's Stephanie Simonds has a couple of other ideas for bargain hunting. "When I'm in a store I make sure to check out the clearance items. Also, I'm buying a lot more bulk items at Costco than ever before," she said. "Obviously everyone looks to buy food at the best price. For clothing I think going online is the best place to look for bargains."

Dawn York of Antioch spreads her shopping around for the best deals. "After checking the ads, I'll go to three different stores to buy what each has on sale," she said. "I think the best way to get kids' clothes is to trade with friends for hand-me-downs. If it's an expensive item like a video game, I'll check out the best deal I can get by looking at Craigslist for a cheap price."

Jim Thomson of Oakley said he doesn't look for bargains. "Whenever I need something I just buy it. But my wife is the real penny-pincher in our family," he said. "She really keeps track of the newspaper ads. With four kids who always seem to want something, she checks the Internet for the best way to get it inexpensively."

Bill Joyce of Brentwood said nothing's changed, he's always been a bargain hunter. "I was part of a family with 10 kids. You learn to be thrifty in a hurry. But I won't ever buy something just because it's cheap."

Ed Arnow can be reached at BrentwoodBuzz@aol.com.