Let’s be honest; holiday shopping has the potential to be awful. You have to brave crowded malls and overpriced items. But your shopping experience doesn’t have to be that and simultaneously leave you broke. Try these tips to shop smarter and have a much happier holiday experience.
Make a list and stick to it
It would be nice if we could shower our friends and family with unlimited expensive gifts, but the truth is that most of us have a limited budget. Before you head out for your festive shopping, make a list of what you need. Take this list along with you and stick to it.
Save petrol (and time) by shopping online
Avoid crowded shopping centres altogether by doing the bulk of your shopping online. Just order your gifts far enough ahead of time so that you don’t have to pay extra expensive fast mailing.
Avoid using a credit card
Although it gets extremely tempting during this time, one of the best ways to shop smart this season is to avoid charging more than you’ll be able to pay off. Don’t get talked into starting a credit card or even using the one you already have. It’s usually not worth it. Keep close track of the money you spend and know your limits.
Quality Over Quantity
If you’re shopping on a budget, it’s tempting to head to your nearest shop and pick up a bunch of clothes. The only problem with that is the quality isn’t always that great. Those jeans will probably rip in a couple of weeks and you’ll have to buy new ones. That’s why you should always opt for quality over quantity. You might have to pay a little bit more for the clothes you want and you won’t be able to buy as much in a single trip, but you’ll get way more use out of them.
Most importantly, shop alone (If you can)
While shopping alone doesn’t sound as fun as bringing along a friend, it will save you time and potentially prevent you from being influenced to make big spur-of-the-moment purchases.
