I wasn’t always a smart shopper. In fact, I was the worst kind–determined and impulsive, which is the worst possible combination if you ask me. I’d buy anything I fancied, without even considering its value for money.
Does it fit right? Ohhhh I can always have it altered. (Kaching. More money lost.)
Will I be able to justify the price with the number of times I’ll be using it? Oh, I don’t know. It looks super pretty and I’m sure it’ll look awesome on me. (Once. Just once because it’ll just get lost in the bottomless pit that is my closet.)
Do I have something similar already? I don’t care. This is a tiny bit different! (And the saga continues.)
Is the quality good? Hmmm not so sure but at least it looks good. (Damaged after 2 uses.)
Do I need to save money for something better? Yeah, but I can always save next time. (I think you can easily see the red flag here.)
Should I use my card or cash? It doesn’t matter as long as I get to purchase my baby! (Happy until the bill arrives.)
You see a thought process like this (or lack thereof) is pretty dangerous, especially when it’s time to do some “adulting”. As I grew older and hopefully wiser, I started earning my own money which made me realize money doesn’t grow on trees. I began learning how to save money–not by giving up shopping altogether. (Oh dear Lord, what a nightmare that’ll be.) I just became a smart shopper–a shopper who looks for value for money and knows how to spot investment pieces and avoid impulse buys.
Hey, I’m no finance major, but I do major in shopping. So in the hopes of making the shopping world a safer place, I thought I’d share with you my tried and tested smart shopping tips.
1. Can’t decide if you should take the plunge and make the purchase? Sleep on it, weigh your options, and consult a smart shopper (not an enabler friend).
2. Don’t just buy something because the deal is too good to be true. Ask yourself, do you still like it if it’s not on sale? If your answer is no, then don’t buy it. Cheap or not, that’s still good money you’re wasting–good money you can spend on something you actually LOVE.
3. Quality over looks. (Just like when it comes to choosing who to date. Lol.) The item should be worth its price tag. Is the material good? Is the workmanship topnotch?
4. If you don’t know where or when to use it, then you don’t need it. You’re just wasting your money on something you’ll probably never use.
5. Shopping online? Make sure to read reviews. Don’t get duped.
6. Test an online shop first before you hoard. Buy one product. Get to know how it fits, how the quality is and how long it takes to get to you. Don’t buy a gazillion products only to get disappointed.
7. Canvass, canvass, canvass. Look for other options so you can find the best deal.
8. Be a smart shopper by making sure you’re making safe and secure purchases. Use something like PayMaya, an app that gives you a virtual Visa card that you can use for online purchases and a physical card as well for use in physical stores. With every purchase you make, you get notified via text so you know that you — and no one else — are using it. You don’t have to worry about bringing so much cash with you as well because you can easily go cashless and just use your PayMaya. (Bonus: Smart subscribers even get 10% off on prepaid loads!)
9. Keep track of your purchases. It’s easy to get carried away with credit cards and get buried in debt. But when you use a prepaid app or card like PayMaya, you’re spending real money–money you can keep track of and limit as you can view your real-time transaction history on the PayMaya app. In a way, it’s like you can set a budget to keep your expenses in check.
10. This last tip may sound foolish but it’s a serious problem so listen up and listen well. Don’t go shopping when you’re depressed. Yes, it’ll make you feel better but that cloud of depression looming over you can easily blind the smartest of shoppers. And when it passes, you’ll get buyer’s remorse so bad it’ll feel like the worst hangover ever.
There you have it. My top 10 tips to help you become a smarter shopper. No financial formulas. No scientific explanations. Just simple tips that I’ve come up with based on years and years of experience.
Hi, I’m Camille and I’m no longer an impulsive buyer. Nice to meet you.
Thank you so much for these tips!!!! This is actually my dilemma now. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You’re welcome!
Thanks for these helpful tips!!! Gonna apply this NOW lol pra sure 😅
Haha!
I love it. I was about to buy now online. Thanks for this
My pleasure!
Thanks for the tips! It’s very useful, I will definitely take into account all these tips when I go shopping. Also to add to your list, personally I have a budget weekly and I try to stick to how much I have allotted per week making sure I don’t go over it. One of the trusted places that I order my shoes from is http://www.rustylopez.com
It’s definitely worth shopping from. :)
Oh that’s actually really clever!
It’s like you wrote this post just for me!!! Whenever I’ve had a long day/week, I like to go shopping because it’s cathartic, but I usually get carried away with my credit card! Thanks for reminding me to watch myself, LOL!
You’re welcome! Happy to help! :)
I’m a bargain shopper and over the last few years I’ve been narrowing down my specifications for buying something as well. Especially is it something I will wear a lot and will go with lots of items I have? I also put lots of things in my basket then leave it for a week or 2, come back to it and see if it has sold out or I still wanted it. Most of the time I save myself money by not. And something that now never fails, I look to see the material. If it’s polyester, bye bye. It has to be majority cotton, Jersey, silk, knit or wool for me to seriously consider it. I was fairly thrifty before and now I’m even more so just by considering the materials
I do that basket thing too!!! And yes definitely with the material. I used to buy everything before I became a designer. But now that I know how much the fabric probably cost, I can judge the item’s worth better. :)
does PayMaya was like PayPal? can i use it purchasing intenational online shopping?
It’s different from Paypal but you can definitely use it for international online shopping. What it does is it gives you a virtual credit card number to use for whatever! :)
thank you for information
Now I am careful; when I look at a site, I put my credit card away from me :D :D :D
Haha! Smart move!
can I use paymaya in real shops at malls or only on online shops?
Paymaya gives out physical cards as well so you can use those in physical stores. :)
Thank you so much for these great tips Camille <3 :) Hahaha I'm actually pretty good at self-control, but sometimes, when I see something I really, really like, I can get carried away too! Really enjoyed all of these fun little reminders!
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
We all have our moments haha! Thanks Elizabeth!
I have to be honest, I’m still working on my impulsiveness so I literally can relate to this most especially on choosing a date HAHAHAHA! Pero ang hirap lalo kapag Sale season huhuhu!
True. So if you know you’re weak, might as well just avoid them! :)
These tips are so helpful! I definitely agree with tip #6. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Jenni! Glad you think so!
Can relate to those wildest thoughts when I shop! Haha! Thank you so much for this Cams! Such a big help! :)
My pleasure Jansell!