There’s no doubt that Americans love to shop. Whether you’re just looking for the basics or indulging in some retail therapy, shopping is a great way to spend your time. Unfortunately, you might not love what it can do to your bank account.
If you’re trying to save money but don’t want to give up on your favorite pastime, there’s some good news. There are a variety of shopping tips and tricks to help you spend less while still getting everything you need.
Let’s get started.
- Make a Shopping List
As fun as spontaneous shopping trips are, they can get you in a lot of trouble. Without any idea of what you need to buy, you’re more likely to just look around aimlessly and purchase things without thought. This is what will make your receipt a lot lengthier than it should be.
So before you go shopping, make a list of everything you need to purchase. Stick to that list and don’t buy anything outside of it. This will help reduce impulse purchases.
- Wait For Sales
It’s no secret that stores mark their items up. That’s why it’s great to go during sales when you can get things at a reasonable price. Not only can you find out about sales by checking the store’s website but you might see the sales advertised as you walk around the mall.
You can also talk to the sales associates who might know about any upcoming sale. They might even go out of their way to suggest what day to come in to get the particular item you want on sale.
- Try Everything On
This might only seem exclusive to shopping in person but it applies to online shopping as well! When you’re in stores, be sure to try everything on before purchasing so you don’t spend your money on something you don’t really love. While you may not be able to do the same when it comes to online shopping, be sure to look at the return policy so you can try it on at home and return any items you don’t love.
- Don’t Shop When You’re Bored
Do you know how people say to not buy groceries when you’re hungry? The same logic applies to pretty much any type of shopping. If you’ve got nothing else to do, you’re more likely to just browse for things to buy.
There are simple things you can do to curb this. If online shopping is the problem, install an extension that blocks websites over a certain period of time. When you go shopping in person, be sure that you actually have something to buy and it’s not because you’re bored.
- Go Thrifting
One of the best ways to save money and find some great clothes is to go thrifting. Not only is it more sustainable since you are reusing clothing but you can find designer items for a low price. Thrift stores aren’t limited to clothing either, there’s plenty of inexpensive home goods and accessories as well.
- Ask About Price Matching
This one is less for clothes and more for electronics but it’s sure to save you money. There are many places, like Walmart or Best Buy, that will match the lowest price for an item.
All you need to do is pull up the item on your phone from the other store, show them that the price is lower and they’ll match it. Some department stores are known for price matching so be sure to do your research.
- Use Student Discounts
Not only can you find discounts if you have a student ID but many stores have veteran and teacher discounts as well! This can cut up to 30% off your total order. Not all stores offer this but plenty do and it’s worth spending some extra time finding out where you can get these deep discounts.
- Let It Go if You Aren’t Sure
Picture this: you’re in the dressing room of your favorite store and you can’t decide how you feel about what you tried on. Maybe you call your mom or best friend for some additional advice but that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. If you’re looking to save money, it’s best to put items you don’t love back on the rack.
- Check For Promo Codes
Promo codes are a great way to save some money when you’re online shopping. You can get them through a store’s mailing list or browsing through the web for them.
The best part about promo codes is that you can often still pick up the item if you don’t want to wait for shipping. Of course, this only applies if the item you’re purchasing is in stock at a store near you.
- Check Clearance Section
One of the best shopping tips to save money might be obvious but you’d be surprised how often people forget it! The clearance section of any store you go to is your best friend, especially when you’re trying to save money. Take Walmart clearance items, for example, you can find all sorts of products at a big discount.
- Don’t Sign Up For Store Credit Card
Store credit cards might sound like a good deal when they’re offered to you but they won’t send you money in the long run. This is because they encourage you to spend more money by making it easy to use the store card and it can accrue interest on any unpaid bills. Unless you can manage a store credit card responsibly, it’s best to politely decline when offered one.
- Do Sign up For Mailing List
Even if signing up for a store credit card isn’t the best option for your shopping budget, signing up for the mailing list is! You’ll get all types of coupons that are exclusive to people on the mailing list, promo codes, and early announcements for any sales. All of these benefits without the drawbacks of a store credit card.
Shopping Tips to Save Money
There’s no reason to put your love for shopping on hold because you’re worried about spending too much money. There are a variety of shopping tips that will keep you from overspending and also keep your wallet happy. These tricks apply to both online shopping and in-store shopping, it’s important to cover all your bases after all.
Looking for more articles like this? Check out the budgeting section of our blog!