Some people run the treadmill, and others go shopping to do their cardio workout. Believe it or not, a survey has shown that the average woman makes around 300 shopping trips a year. While shopping for groceries and clothes is essential for quality living, it doesn’t mean you need to splurge every time you visit the mall or the supermarket. If you’ve been impulse shopping or noticed that you’ve been getting stuff that you don’t always need, it’s time you changed your shopping habits. We’re here to give you several tips on developing better shopping habits to stop wasting money.
Stick to the list
Shopping lists will be your best friends. Keep a piece of paper on the fridge, or note down the items you need in your notes app on your phone. Add items that you constantly use and need to live a quality life. When you go to the supermarket or the mall, make sure you only shop for those items that you’ve put on the list. If you have one supermarket that you always go to, and they tend to keep their groceries organised in the same way all the time, it would be a good idea to create the list according to the supermarket layout. Having gone to the grocery store multiple times, you should know by heart what products you’ll run into first, and how the aisles are organised. That way, you won’t have even the slightest chance of wandering away from your list.
Bring a designated non-spender with you
In every family, at least one person is not fond of shopping and doesn’t enjoy overspending. That’s the person that you want with you when you shop. Every time you ask whether you need anything else, they’ll say that you don’t and you won’t be as tempted to overspend. Even better, give the list to that person, and send them shopping.
Go shopping only when you need stuff
Another bad shopping habit many of us have is to shop out of boredom. Shopping after a breakup or when you need to feel better about yourself is the recipe for bankruptcy. Therefore, try to only shop for stuff you really need instead of what you want for no particular reason. Many online shops such as Shoppster offer a full spectrum of necessities that will make your everyday life better. Feel free to visit the site and find your necessities at affordable prices, but only when you really need them.
Shop groceries on a full stomach
Did you know that our 2nd biggest financial outgoing in life is on groceries? Have you noticed how you always buy more than you need when shopping before lunch or dinner? That’s because when you’re hungry, you feel like you could eat the entire supermarket’s offer of products, so you overshop. You will put much more pastry, snacks, and delicacies in your shopping cart because everything will look delicious from a hungry person’s standpoint. That’s why you should always go shopping on a full stomach. Add a list of must-haves to it, and you’ll be safe from spending more than you can afford.
Sales can work against you
While Black Friday sales benefit your budget and allow you to shop for Christmas presents at reduced prices, supermarket mid-month sales will not benefit your wallet in the slightest. That’s especially true if you’re one of those who can’t resist lowered prices and will shop because shampoo is cheaper now than it was two weeks ago. If you don’t need that item currently, don’t hoard it. Chances are that you will waste many products because their expiration dates will be very short.
Choose online shopping time carefully
According to a report, consumers are more likely to make purchases online on Mondays and Thursdays, with the peak purchase time every day being between 8 pm and 9 pm. After a long day at work, a little bit of online shopping feels like a reward. However, what started as a small treat can quickly and easily turn into an overhaul. Therefore, if you need to shop online, try not to do it when you’re in a full Zen mode because you’ll have all the time in the world to browse through suggestions and come across items that look attractive but won’t serve their purpose for long, or at all.
Final thoughts
Shopping can be very recreational but very hard on your finances. That’s why you should learn to shop smart and only buy items when you need them. With the previously mentioned tips, you’ll have no trouble controlling your shopping urges.
