The Best Ways to Shop

Shopping is fun especially when you’re getting bargains and huge discounts. Even when you’re lashing out your best credit card for these, you’re guilt-free. In fact, with the savings you’ll get and the points you’ll accumulate, you’ll most likely feel like it’s the right thing to do.

So you come home, chirpy and excited, holding all your great finds for your family to see. Only to find out that you have bought the exact same things you already have at home. Those goodies for your kids? Turns out they don’t need them one bit. Really, who needs tons of black shirts, even with a 70% discount? And what would your kids do with 50 shirts without a decent pair of pants? You have a huge shopping blunder right there. And I bet this isn’t the first time either.

1.

De-clutter- this is the most important thing to do to avoid shopping-fail. By organising, you’ll find hidden treasures in your closet, pantry, shelves and attic. You might discover you don’t have to buy a few more things as you already have them. Most importantly, you’ll be able to account which ones you have duplicates or similar items of.
2.

In shopping, the moment you find out you have bought the same item or already have a similar one, return it right away. Don’t keep it for the reason you might need it someday. If in the future you do require it, that’s when you should buy it again.
3.

Throw away broken things that can never be mended or re-used. For your extras, you can consume, give them away or sell them to people. That should give you a little extra money. If you can’t make use of an item, you might as well make money out of it. Now that’s being practical.
4.

Make a list of all the things you still need at home and keep it in your purse. This way, when you unexpectedly encounter a sale or bargain, it becomes easier for you to decide whether you really need the item or not.

Sales and discounts are great. When you’re buying ‘what you need’ with these, you’re being smart. But if you’re shopping just because it’s on sale, then you’re being impractical. By de-cluttering and making a list, you’ll make less of the same mistakes you did before and simultaneously avoid wasting money or paying for unneeded interest rates on your credit card.