How To Cut Down Shopping Bill?

“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to shop.” Among the many joys of life, shopping is one of the greatest. Don’t believe me? Just stand outside a Mall in any city and you will see people coming out with lots of bags in their hands.

Americans love shopping. The French love shopping. Indians love shopping. Well….everyone loves to shop. Unfortunately, shopping costs money and money is a finite resource. If you can say, money is not a problem. I can afford anything I want. You are definitely among the lucky few in our country.

If you are not among the lucky few, you need some tips to cut down your shopping bill. Shopping is not a crime. Wasting money is a crime. Want to learn how to save and invest? Just leave a missed call on IndianMoney.com financial education helpline 02261816111 or just post a request on IndianMoney.com website. IndianMoney.com offers Free, Unbiased and on-call financial advice on Insurance, Mutual Funds, Real Estate, Loans, Bank Accounts and capital markets.

Tips to cut down shopping bills

 Go to the Mall with a shopping list

 This is really simple. Sit at home and make a list of things you want to buy. Simple yes…But the benefits are really great. You must be wondering how something as simple as a list, can cut down shopping bills. If you go to the Mall without a shopping list, you are very likely to make an impulsive purchase (A sudden unplanned decision to buy a product). If you don’t have a shopping list, you will buy any item you set your eyes on. All your money will be blown away.

Let’s take a look at what happens if you go to the Mall with a shopping list. You go to the Mall and see a lovely box of chocolates. You are tempted to grab this chocolate box and chew on those lovely toffees. This is when you remember your shopping list. You take a look at it. There’s no box of chocolates written on your list. You won’t buy the chocolates and this will save your hard earned money. You become a smart shopper and a happier person.

What happens if you buy the box of chocolates? You have brought just enough money to buy all the items on your shopping list. You will have to skip buying some of the items on your shopping list. What happens if you do this? You will be sacrificing a need for greed.

 Never go hungry to a Mall or Supermarket

 I don’t have to tell you what happens if you go hungry to a Mall or a supermarket. You will grab what you see, without taking a look at the price tag. A few of these trips to the Mall….You’re broke even before you realize it.

 Never make an impulsive purchase

 You have just read how a shopping list saves you from making an impulsive purchase. But…What if you fall in love with that lovely smart phone? You just have to buy it.

Simply follow the Time Rule. This is a cooling off period where you give yourself time to get over the urge to make an impulsive purchase. Leave the Mall and just take a walk. Give yourself a couple of days to decide whether you really need that item/smart phone. An impulse buy is usually forgotten in two days. If after two days you still want to make the purchase, then go ahead and do so.

Never make shopping a social thing

 If you are the type who loves to shop, just to look good or show off, you have a serious problem. You definitely are not in control of your emotions. When you feel the urge to shop, just to look good in the eyes of others, remember what Will Smith has to say “Too many people are buying things they can't afford, with money that they don't have... to impress people that they don't like!"

I will end this article giving you a really great tip. Do you like hanging around with friends at the Mall? You will end up buying things you don’t need, just for the heck of it. Cut down your fun trips to the Mall, where you spend endless hours roaming its corridors. You will soon find a lot of money in your pocket to buy the things you really need. Be Wise, Get Rich.