Keys to Shopping Smart

Keys to Shopping Smart

Shopping can be a love-hate relationship. On the one hand, it’s exciting and fun to buy ourselves something new, whether it’s a trendy outfit, a piece of furniture, or a new TV, but on the other hand, it can be tough not to get carried away, overspend, and feel guilty afterward.

And unfortunately, we have to mention those impulse buys. Have you ever done this? These seem innocent, but before we know it, we’ve snatched a few too many of them and have nothing to show for our whimsical decisions.

I am a bullseye for sales. If there’s a sale sign nearby, I go check each item, determining if I can live without it. I think, “That’s a great deal, I could save some money!”. …..But, I have to eventually come to my senses and realize that if I don’t need the item, nor need it to give to someone else, it’s a waste of money. Doing that consistently has taken some time and practice for me.

What If….

What if we didn’t have to feel torn at the store or guilty once we were home with our items? There’s a way to buy what we want and need without blowing our budget. That’s exactly what we’re going to discuss today. We are breaking it down and learning how to shop smarter, save money, and still get some things we love without sacrificing quality.

Do this first ….. Plan

Have you ever bought something at a much higher price than you had in mind to spend? And, an even worse scenario, purchase something completely different than what you set out to buy. It happens. And it can happen quickly!

To be sure we don’t waste our hard-earned money, there are some things we can do.

• Make a list: Be specific. Write down exactly what you are getting. For example, instead of “buy new shoes,” try “buy black dress shoes for no more than $40”. Instead of “buy jeans,” try “buy two pairs of nice dark-colored jeans for work with a limit of $65 total”. The details help us stay focused and help reduce the chances of buying what we don’t truly need.

• Set a budget: Be prepared by knowing how much you can spend. Planning the amount keeps us on track and enables us to have enough for other important things in our lives (such as food and rent!).

• Research: Are you sure this is the brand you want to buy? Did you look at all your options? Did you check the reviews to see what others expressed? Are there cheaper alternatives?

  It’s important to check across sites when shopping online. We can’t assume that we are getting the best deal. Price comparison websites allow us to see price histories and compare prices across multiple stores, so do some digging.

By planning and being smart, we are making the best shopping decisions!

Discounts Matter

It’s best practice to use cash or debit cards when shopping. Using a credit card can get us into trouble. And if we follow our budget, there is no need for a credit card.

Remember, we are buying the item because we put it in our budget with the amount we want to spend. Many people rely on earning points from credit cards, but it’s best if we do not use them. If we do, we will find ourselves in a hard cycle to break. We should always use cash or debit to keep finances in check. I’ve learned that if something sounds too good to be true, then it’s not true.

If we want to save, we should buy the item on sale. Again, research whether it is a good deal. Even if it’s on “sale”, we need to double-check! Also, if a store offers a coupon, use the coupon (not the kind that will entice you to use a credit card to earn store credit). The good coupons are widely available during the holidays, so keep an eye open and utilize these gems when possible. Maybe it’s the end of the season and the item is significantly marked down, or maybe there’s a Cyber Monday sale. These are simply more examples of a good time to buy.

Coupon apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, Drop, Honey, and RetailMeNot offer a variety of savings by sharing best deals, coupons, cashback, and other features.

Signing up for emails from our favorite stores enables us to receive information on current sales and promotions. Following these stores on social media also allows us to catch current sales and deals. If you come across a code for free shipping from a store that you are planning to buy an item from, definitely take note and use the code!

Avoid the Impulses

I don’t believe that I’m the only one who’s ever thrown in my cart (that’s not on my list) a cute set of kitchen towels, a fall candle, or a brightly colored insulated cup for summer. Oh good, you too? .......It happens.

Keeping our impulse buys to a minimum is key. Of course, it’s always best to follow our budget, but we can slip up once in a while. The best thing to do is re-focus and stay on track. We can’t let ourselves fall off the budgeting wagon and not get back on. We are human, but it’s important to do our best and remember our goals. Refocus and keep being smart.

Let’s revisit those helpful store emails showing sales and discounts. If we find them to be tempting and not useful, we should delete or unsubscribe. Getting pulled into a sale to buy items not in our budget only sets us up to fall off track.

Give It a Day

One of the best methods to practice is giving ourselves a full day to think about it. If we have second thoughts on an item, waiting 24 hours can provide clarity. This gives us enough time to determine if we truly want to follow through and purchase the item. This technique is one that I often find helpful, especially with more expensive items.

Have you ever window shopped with a friend and felt the urge to buy something you hadn’t planned on? I have learned that if I don’t have the money, window shopping can be harsh. It’s so tempting to buy, and when your friend buys, it’s even more appealing to join in and do the same.

The fix? Unless we have some money set aside for shopping while with our friends, we either don’t go or stay strong and focus on enjoying our time together with that person. It can be a challenge to see our friends buy a cute top or pair of shoes and we hold back. But if we want to stay on track financially, we need to buy when we have money set aside for an item.

This scenario goes back to the planning advice. Even if we set aside a minimal amount to shop that day, it helps us to not feel deprived and stay on track with our saving goals.

Value - When to Save …. Or Spend?

It’s important to consider what we are buying and whether we want to get a cheap version or one that costs more due to better quality. For example, a high-quality pair of shoes may cost more upfront, but last for several years. This purchase might save us money in the long run. On the other hand, buying cheap items that fall apart quickly can become more expensive due to replacement costs. This adds up.

Final Thoughts

Smart shopping can be fun and easier if we think ahead. We need to keep in mind that planning is key. It helps us avoid those spending mishaps that can happen when we don’t do a little prepping ahead.

Having an amount in mind and sticking to it, is the best route. We can shop with others, but we need to know what we are allowing ourselves to spend that day. If we have items and price limits in mind, we are going in the right direction. Sticking to those items and prices is our next move. No impulse buying!

Always research to get the best deal, especially on items that cost a little more. We don’t want to purchase something and soon have buyer's remorse. It’s tough to take, but we all have been there, and we can certainly avoid that if we spend a bit of time comparing prices and quality. I love reading reviews, and I also love sharing reviews. I find that these insightful pieces of feedback can often answer several of my questions about a product.

Just remember that a little bit of prepping goes a long way to doing what we need to do to stay smart with our money. We work hard for what we have, and if we can save by being smart, it’s like we are giving ourselves a raise. Let’s do that.