The whole point of shopping is that you spend money… but there are ways you can cut back on how much is spent. In this blog we’re going to teach you about some of the tricks of the trade on how to save money whilst shopping!
Discounts
Who doesn’t love a bargain right? Discounts are everyone’s weakness. But do you ever wonder why you’re shocked when you get to the till and the end cost is still a whopper?
“But these were all on offer!”
Yes, there might have been a discount but don’t be fooled… it could be a trap! Sometimes a store’s sales strategy is that customers are willing to buy more if certain items are reduced, thinking they’re spending less but actually they’re purchasing more products than they would if the items were the original price. In fact, according to a survey by RetailMeNot, 51 percent of shoppers agreed that they were influenced to purchase more when deals, discounts or sales are lingering.
Just remember, a sale COULD BE a good way to save money whilst shopping, but don’t go overboard because at the end of it the price might still shock you! Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean you NEED it, think carefully and PRIORITISE.
Seasonal trips
Did you know that shopping at the end of a season is a great way to save money whilst shopping? Of course, when the newest collections are in-store it’s so tempting to spend £35 on that ONE skirt from River Island… but prices are their highest at the start of the season.
What we’re saying is, if for example you needed a new summer wardrobe, it’s actually cheaper to purchase summer clothes at the END of the summer season. This is because retailers will be preparing their shelves with the new seasonal range so the more old stock they sell the better which is why you’ll see huge sales. Why not give it a try to see if we’re right? What have you got to lose!
Plan ahead
Planning is the trick for EVERYTHING. Make a shopping list beforehand, if you know in advance exactly what you need and where you might get it from, there won’t be any time to have a proper mooch and spend more than necessary.
The rule is, you’re not allowed to buy anything unless it’s already on your list, it’ll help keep you from impulse purchasing!
To help you control your expenses you should consider taking cash with you rather than your debit card. Withdraw the cash you predict you will need for your shopping trip and that way you won’t be tempted to overspend because you can’t spend money you don’t have! Trust us it works… so make sure you get yourself to a YourCash ATM.
Comparison Shop
If you’re serious about budgeting, you could try comparison shopping… For example, if you want a new Xbox game, don’t buy it right away. Call around, find out costs from different game stores or wholesale retailers to see who has the cheapest price, check eCommerce sites like Amazon, eBay or Deep Discount. You can also do a comparison shop on your phone with the Save Benji app.
Thrift Shop
Buying second-hand is better for the environment and cheaper than buying new. Before you head anywhere, check out your local charity/vintage shops or used bookstores. You can even thrift on the go with online sites like Ebay and Etsy.
If you have any ideas on how to save money whilst shopping then please tweet us! @YourCash
We have tonnes of blogs about saving money on our site, check it out to give you idea on how to control your expenses better.