6 GENIOUS WAYS TO MAKE SMART SHOPPING CHOICES

If you are on the track to making smart decisions when it comes to your money, then holding on to the urge of buying your favorite things must be a jaw-clenching experience! Well, to save money does not only mean that one should keep a check on their inflows and outflows. It is one of the most important aspects of saving money but not the only one. Even when you have set a budget and you can spend within budget, the questions of how much and where you are spending your money are important too! You can also benefit from any ongoing promotions and alternative places that sell you the same product but are more economical.

Are you wondering how can shopping be a smart choice? Below are some of the most common and everyday shopping mistakes we make:

• Getting carried away when feeling sad, bored, or anxious.
• Always in a partying mode and buying to satisfy the partying pseudo lifestyle.
• Drifting away in the marts and often forgetting what you actually went to buy to the store and instead of bringing a load of extra items you never needed in the first place.
• Being too brand conscious and compromising the money for the sake of the brand name. Not even waiting for sales because impulsive buying is a trend at this point.
• Having a credit card which encourages you to be reckless with your money. You pay the credit card bill though remember?
• Always relying on takeaways or dining out.
• Paying for the gym membership but never really going to the gym.
• Buying unnecessary subscriptions.

Are the above points relating to your current habits? Well, it’s time for some self-analysis and self-tuning. You need to know that while you might be having a good item, even multiple income resources, still you should save money and spend it wisely. There are many ways you can make smart shopping choices to keep your spending within a budget and to keep yourself financially stable.

1-    WHAT IS MY NEED!

Determine your monthly groceries need. It is easy to get carried away while walking in a Mart with a shopping cart and a credit card. Every other thing might seem essential, and you may end up buying more than you need or even buying grocery items you do not need. For example, you want to buy pasta and a marinara sauce. But you also end up buying a bunch of other pasta sauces which you won’t immediately need but you were tempted to try!

Once you have made a groceries list, you’d have a purpose and a clear vision for buying things you need. This would help you from overspending and also appreciate the joy of not being trapped by the consumerism trap. Consuming what you need rather than what you think you might need is a smart choice! If you are a newly independent person who is trying to discover financial freedom or if you are a person who has just started thinking about the value of money, then this tip is good for you!

2-    SELF DISCIPLINE

When it comes to money, every individual should make conscious choices to increase money management in their personality. It requires mastering the art of self-discipline. But how can this be achieved? Self-discipline is a trait that benefits one in the long run and in many ways. Disciplining your money-spending habit is a difficult task especially if you are just starting on this path. But do not be discouraged.

Simply restrict the money you carry. This means whenever you go outside shopping, instead of carrying a credit card that offers unlimited purchasing opportunities, restrict your options by carrying as much cash as you’d need ONLY. By doing that you’d be smartly building a habit of spending within your means and suppressing the attractive urges of impulsive shopping.

3-    KNOW ALL YOUR OPTIONS!

When you want to buy something try to find alternatives. The best thing about rising e-commerce is that it has empowered the customer. So people can buy what they want, whenever they want, and at whatever price they want. Many websites offer price and feature comparisons of different products and brands. Information is surplus. So you can make your research before handing all your money to the cashier.

For example, if you want to buy a plane ticket websites such as EasyJet and Skyscanner can provide great analysis and good pricing. If you want to buy any house accessories, you can compare different prices offered by vendors on Amazon vs Walmart. In this way, evaluate alternatives before making a purchase decision. This is your way of being smart with your money without compromising on the quality of the product you need!

4-    BORED DOES NOT MEAN BLOWING UP YOUR MONEY

Many of us are guilty of being a bit reckless with our credit cards when we are bored or when we are feeling anxious. So, what is the solution for boredom other than spending money? There are many options. For example, you can tap into your creative instincts to indulge in an engaging DIY. You can dance and create a mini home concert, or if you are looking for something more calming and steadier, take a walk in nature.

You can watch your favorite shows on free websites rather than paid subscriptions that drain money. Why don’t you prepare a meal and have a juicy dinner date at home? You can create the ambiance by being a bit creative with your decorations on the balcony or in the dining room! Not only would you be able to kill boredom, but you’ll also be able to refrain from spending money on unnecessary things due to boredom.

5-    THRIFTING

If you are stuck with a stigma that thrifting is for the poor, then you should watch the Youtubers who create adventures from thrift shopping and save money! Thrifting is a great bargain! One can buy great things at a lower price at a local thrift store. Suppose you have to go to a wedding, and you need a dress. The dress is something you’d wear just once or twice. Spending hundreds of dollars just for one night’s dress is not a smart decision. A thrift store might have just the dress for your evening, and you can save a hand full of money!

You can also be creative with the things you get from the thrift store. Suppose you can buy a set of killer heels and add studs/ rhinestones to make it cuter! This has double benefits. You’d not be over-spending while making great use of your skills and time. Plus, who doesn’t love a little customization on the products they use! It’s like your own personalized statement. Remember: Good things come to those who thrift.

6-    HAVE A SET OF SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS

Psychology gives proof that our everyday choices are influenced by external factors such as our peers. Hence, the term peer pressure holds significant weight and value. If you are on a journey of financial management and financial freedom and your friends do not support your vision, then you’d succumb to peer pressure and end up spending more money than saving it!

Feel free to surround yourself with people who share common goals, maybe join a Facebook group that shares money-saving tips, or create your own. Alternatively, maybe you can find someone who has a youtube channel that you can follow as an inspiration for your own goals. Don’t lose focus and give up, simply learn to adapt by trying again and again. Finding supportive friends who will motivate you to accomplish your goals can be beneficial to you!

DON’T RIDE SOLO

Well, when you embark on a journey alone, it is difficult to keep your motivational level high. So, get your friend or a family member to join you on this journey of making smart shopping decisions. When you are involved in a common goal with a family member you can lead by example and set a blueprint for the future generations to follow. Furthermore, when you are together with a friend on the same journey of smart choices then the journey becomes twice as fun. You’d be able to discover your own smart shopping decisions You’d reach your goal faster and in a fun manner.

This era is all about smartphones and smart choices. You can make smart shopping decisions and see amazing results just within a couple of months. Once you embark on the journey of making smart shopping choices you become addicted to it because the possibilities of saving money and having a quality life are endless. These opportunities are veiled under ingenious marketing to make you feel you need to spend your money all the time. For example, how many times you have bought a product just because you saw it in an ad? It ends now. Let us know how many of these tips you used, or comment with your very own!