You are in a Zara store. Everything looks so tempting. It seems like all the clothes, bags, shoes, perfumes are good enough to be there in your closet. You wish to grab them all, take to the payment counter, swipe the card and happily take them home. Before you know it, you have actually given in to the desire and bought most of the items you had set your eyes on. You have spent much more than you had intended to, but your heart is full and you feel swelled with your fulfilling shopping spree today. It seems like you have conquered the world. You almost feel like Rebecca ‘Becky’ Bloomwood – the protagonist from the movie ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’. Maybe, had this been a one-time affair, it would still have not thrown you down the guilt trip, but this happens to be an every time experience. Every few days, you feel pushed to go to the mall and spend a chunk of money on shopping – most of the things you do not really need, but your heart desires earnestly.
We realize you love shopping to the core and it is something that brings unparalleled joy to your heart – but if you wish to not burn up huge holes in your pocket and route all your hard-earned money to those high-end brands, there is a way out. There is a way wherein you can still make those shopping trips, indulge in all the retail therapy, make purchases, yet spend only as much as you intend to. Read on as we unravel further ways that can help you save money while shopping. The shopaholic in you is going to thank you loads for reading through this.
Ways You Can Save Money, Even While Shopping!
1. Be Sure of How Much You Want to Spend – Before you plan to head out shopping, make a strong mental note in your head as to what is the lower and upper limit of money you want tp spend on that day. This is of course taking into consideration your budgets and bandwidth to spend at that time. Also, be very sure of all the things that you need and must buy. While making this list, it is not necessarily sticking to only the needful. Of course, you do not need that fancy corset or that leather pants in your wardrobe, but these are the trends and your heart desires to indulge in those wishful whims. But grant yourself the happiness and include them in your list. The only point is that once you move out of home and head to the shopping mall, you should have a very clear, firm idea of all the things that you intend to buy and stick to that list when your heart wanders in all directions, while you are in the middle of all the luxury brands, the shopping haven.
2. Keep Having a Constant Dialogue between Your Heart and Mind – While at the store, your heart would desire a lot of things. But do not buy stuff just for the sake of it, maybe sometime in the future, you would style them. If you do not see yourself wearing the garment, accessory or the makeup within next one month, it is best left un-purchased. While your heart drools over a thousand things, keep the conversations going on in your head, whether you would really be making use of the garment or just stocking it up. Also, steer clear of looks that you are not confident about or are out of your comfort zone and only interest you because they are trending on social media. Something that is not your style should not be wasted money upon.
3. Buy Clothes in Your Current Size, Not for Your Future Size– Most women perennially are on their way to weight loss. They always feel like they need to lose some couple of kilos and those last few inches hanging around their thighs and tummies. Well, while shopping, stay true to reality. If you are buying something now, at the moment, buy it in the size that you are currently in. Do not make purchases for the future You. This way you are only dumping your money.
4. Sales are there to Tempt, Hold Your Guards Strong – Sale season is always designed by brands to up their sales volumes and profits, rather than to sell their products cheap and benefit the buyers. Research says that 90% of the customers end up spending thrice the amount buying the sale items than what they would spend normally. The entire sale strategy is designed in a way to lure your senses and make you purchase everything that you do not need. Be sure of what you want to buy and stick to it, only then will you benefit from the reduction in prices. And almost never fall into the pit hole of ‘Buy 3, Get 1 free’ or ‘10% discount on the purchase of Rs. 20,000 and more. These are only a way to make you spend more. Opt for flat discounts on a single product. This way you save money on your purchase and make the best of the sale season.
5. Resist Peer Pressure– Most of us go shopping either with our friends, siblings or spouse. Maybe your friend is picking up a lot of stuff from the most expensive of luxury brands. It is quite normal for you to feel the itch and also be aroused to spend big bucks just to satiate your self-esteem. Resist it. Never spend money to prove your worth. Similarly, when the family says something looks good on you, it is natural to go and make the purchase. Even if the outfit is not particularly to our liking or personal sense of style. Resist this urge too. Always stick to your guns and beliefs while spending big on the brands. There is no point buying something in the moment and then going back home and never wearing it. Every penny spent is only worth it if you feel excited as nuts to wear it and flaunt it.
6. Lastly, Every Penny Saved is a Penny Earned – If you are short on funds or wish to spend within a certain budget, always bear this saying in mind ‘Money saved is money earned’. If you think you do not really desire those expensive heels or that exorbitantly priced face primer, do yourself a favour and save some money. Beauty bloggers and fashion influencers advocate a lot of products and recommend a lot of fashion brands, but do not feel pressured to have all of them in your wardrobe. This is their job and they get paid to do this. You bear no social obligation or a fashionista’s burden to adhere to every recommendation. Be wise with your money and only buy the best of what’s suggested. Do not let social media force you into impulsive buying.
With some sense of balance and self-control, you can still indulge in retail decadence; make some fashionable purchases, yet save all the extra money that you were going to spend callously.
Love,
Team LadyInRoseGold
