Yay, the summer sale season is here! And what a perfect time to score some of those incredible deals to refresh our outdated wardrobes. Like me, I am sure you’ve also been counting down to this sale season to finally land that trendy item you’ve been eyeing, but too expensive to afford. Now, since those shoes, that pair of jeans, or that handbag is finally within your budget reach, I want you to hold your wallet before filling the cart. I want you to take a moment to plan and avoid any impulsive buys and unnecessary spending. And the only way to do that is by following these simple yet clever shopping tips.
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Buy Only What You Absolutely Need
I’d like to stress the word NEED here. I have discovered one of the best habits to develop to save money when shopping is, — each time I am tempted to buy something— to look at what I already have. And if what I have can serve the same purpose, then what’s the point of duplicating items? Surely you do not need 10 types of the same shoes if the two you have go well with every outfit. Also, think about it, how many times have you worn those two jackets you bought 3 seasons ago? Please, focus on buying items you really need. This will not only help you avoid cluttering your wardrobe, but it will also help you own items that are actually useful. So stick to the essentials and only buy those things you’ve been planning to buy rather than getting distracted by flashy deals that you may end up regretting.
Think About How much You Want To Spend
A good starting point this summer sale season is being realistic about how much money you can afford to spend. Realistic spending will only come if you budget. And by the way, this should not include, shopping on your credit card or counting on the money that’s yet to arrive in your bank account—budget with the amount you already have in your hand. You don’t want to rake in debts just because you couldn’t resist buying that pair of shoes on sale. And if you have some money, set a budget before diving into the sales. This will help you decide on a spending limit which will in turn steer you towards finding the best deals and prioritising quality over quantity.
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Only Bring Cash, Or Carry Only 1 Bank Card
I’d be the first to admit that, bringing along all my bank cards while shopping has always led me to many impulse buys. I mean, two summers ago, I bought a pair of high-heeled sandals that I thought looked cute. I put them under the bed to wear them on the next time ‘we’ go out to a fancy dinner. We have been to so many already, but the shoes? Still under the bed. Same thing with the fancy pasta bowls on the shelf. And with that Gopro that would help me deep dive into videography. Don’t get me started with the big screen teleprompter to help me save time while recording my YouTube videos. Which I’d appreciate it if you subscribed (Thanks). Anyway, that said, I have stopped. I have learned it’s a good idea to just bring one card with me. You know, the one I only use for daily things —and it never has a lot of money in it —in case I lose it —or am tempted to buy something unnecessarily? And if I try to buy something and that card declines, it helps me to stop and think and reconsider. That one. Honestly, when your card declines while on a shopping spree, chances are, you probably do not need the item anyway. Try this during this summer sale. Thank me later.
Go Shopping Alone
I am terrible at shopping with people – including my partner. As soon as someone says, “Let’s go shopping”, I suddenly remember I am busy and have pending tasks to finish. And there are many reasons for that, which you can read here about the benefits of shopping alone vs others. But coming back to sale season it’s more to do with findinging the best deals without any distractions. I can compare prices at my own pace and make thoughtful decisions. In the end, I avoid the pressure to make purchases impulsively, just because it “looks good on you”. Meanwhile, half the time it’s the “it looks good on you purchases’‘, that I end up regretting wasting money on. Also, have you ever noticed that you end up buying a lot of unnecessary things while shopping with other people? Maybe it is time you consider sometimes shopping alone, so you can save some money for what’s important. Especially this summer sale season! Just saying.