It's a big world out there, with lots of rodents all competing to get the same stuff. How do I get lots of stuff without paying too much?

First, remember that you are only competing against other players in your Auction Block. You don't have to beat everyone else, just your neighbors. This makes things a lot easier.

Next, figure out the going rate for items at auction. How much, on average, are players paying for items? Look at previous auctions to get an idea of what kinds of bids are winning. Does it take $1000 to win an item worth $10000 to the Big Cheese? If so, the going rate is 10%. If you bid around 10% for the next item, you have a shot at winning it. If you bid 5%, you'll probably lose. If you bid 15%, you'll probably win.

You can also calculate the Ideal Price for auctions this turn. That's a handy starting point, especially if the going rate is especially volatile.

Remember that you don't want to win every auction. Your goal is get the most bang for your buck, and sometimes that means passing on an auction. If you win a bunch of auctions in a row, that means that you'll have less money later, and someone else might get a great deal late in the Turn. Save some money for the end of the Turn, so you can be the rat getting that great deal!

Your cash has to last through the entire Turn! It's probably better to underbid than overbid.

On the other hand, this means that many of the early auctions in a Turn go for less money than they should.

If you really want one of a particular item, but don't need a huge pile of them, make one big bid to guarantee you get the item you need. Then, fill in with lower bids, just to see if you can get a steal. This is often something to try for items with nifty Specials, or just the right Attribute you need to complete a Collection.

Remember your family bonus! If you are a Mousici, you get more out of an item with Attribute Finance than with Attribute Industry. Bid a little higher on those. If you are the only player in your Auction Block who likes Attribute Finance, then you could win big.

Don't let your warehouse overflow. If it gets full, you can't win Auctions.

Keep an eye on your opponents. If their warehouses are full, or they are low on cash, you can lower your bids and get a steal.