Steps to Turn Shopping into Saving
We all have that one moment in life when we are killing time in the shopping mall by buying the stuff which we actually don’t need. Being the last in the stock is one of the few tricks worth creating the buzz to increase the demand. From the things you need to the things you want; you may have forked over all your hard-earned money on shopping.
An Idea without execution is like a body without a soul. I am here to share tried and tested saving ideas with you.
Where is your Shopping List?
Before you get busy as a beaver, take out your shopping list. Write down each and everything which you have to buy. Many shopaholics have a wardrobe filled with the stuff which they actually don’t need.
One should not be a shopaholic who buys everything just to feel better about his shopping.
How to Shop till You Drop?
You should not fall into the sales trap. If you are on fence about purchase, don’t go for every promotion or offer which you see at the store. You may end up in buying something which you did not intend to buy.
Say Goodbye to Window Shopping
From getting bore with your friends to walking in the mall with your family, it is certain that you may buy something while doing window shopping. You may also easily get convinced by the salesperson who apparently looks on your side. If window shopping is your shopping therapy, then you may fall into the debt rather than saving.
Couponing Game
Online shopping is fun but at the same time planning and searching for the desired item can make you feel exasperated. To help you stay on top of saving money, I have rounded up one of the best coupon sites so that you don’t have to search for coupons everywhere. Before you slip into the daily grind, check all coupons, promo codes and offers. These days no one has time to browse through each and every website to compare the prices.
There is no need to go gaga over every discounted coupon. You should be selective in the start, especially if you are a new budget shopper. The secret of success is to combine sale with a coupon. Days like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day keep the shoppers coming back. The good news is that you can save money if you combine sale with a coupon.
Buying coupons is not an old-fashioned thing, and if you educate yourself a little more about coupons, you will see a huge difference in the bills.
Last but certainly not the least, you may get overwhelmed by looking at the promos at Groupon, Living Social, Slickdeals. It is also a time-consuming process. Create a separate folder for the coupons. You can use coupon and price comparison apps like shop savvy, Buy Visa, Rauktin on your smartphone to get help.
Shop Out of Season
The most foolish shopping is when you buy coats in winter. Plan your shopping for 2020 now and buy the stuff only out of that season. Saving does not come naturally to me but it is still my top priority. I have trained myself to look for ways to cut spending in no time.
How to Compare Prices?
I use Camelcamelcamel.com for shopping on Amazon. It tracks the prices and sends alerts when item is at the lowest price. There are many other cool apps and tools for comparing the prices.
I have an account on Rakuten where I shop online through their affiliate links. In return I earn points and get cash to redeem.
Sleeping on it before Buying It
Last month I was eager to buy a new dress but the urge has passed now as I have waited for the right offer. Make it a hard and fast rule of controlling your desire when you are eager to buy something and wait for some time before actually buying it. You may end up buying a high-priced item just because you could not wait for the right time.
Good Things Come in Small Packages
The size of an item does not prove it’s worth. Small savings for a long time can make a huge difference. If you eat a $60 dinner with your family on every weekend, it makes $2,880 yearly. A coupon with 10-20% off on the same dinner may not look like a big offer in the short run but can save money in the long run.
A penny Save is a Penny Earned.
With the emerging power of shopping, there has been a quantum change in how people do online shopping. The range, variety and quality of coupon providers have made this one of the most exciting times to live in.
There is a deep-rooted suspicion among people that shopping giants like Ebay, Amazon, Wall mart etc have influenced behavioral patterns. Whether you are a shopaholic or budget shopper, it is the time to do smart savings so that you are never out of cash.
