Helpful Tips When Shopping

Dear Me,

I realized that I have been spending a lot of my weekends in various shopping malls around the metro. Tagging my little boy along, I find it hard not to wander around and check what are the latest arrivals.

Even though I have no plans of purchasing anything, I always end up with a shopping bag. The impulse was just too strong to ignore. I remembered shopping for another bag last week at Trinoma. I just happened to pass by and this bag caught my attention. I stopped and checked it out. I didn't have any further need to buy a new one but I bought it. I was attracted to how pretty it would looked once I donned it.

While paying for it, I got to think how many girls had lined up in the cashier and paid for something that they didn't actually need. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to count them all in a day. No wonder why malls thrive despite the so-called economic crisis.


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With the thought lingering in my mind, I jotted down some ideas that I had in a tissue paper.

1. Try hard not to buy on an impulse. I know how difficult it can be. I, myself, shop on an impulse. Beginning today, I would think of a very important reason not to purchase anything just because I like it. Maybe, the idea of making myself guilty will help. For example, a new bag or a bag of diapers for my little boy? Which will I choose? Hehehe.
   
   
   
2. Compare price and quality. I think this will be a great help. Don't just grab a beautiful item and dash to the cashier to pay for it. Look around for the same item of different brands and compare them with each other when it comes to value and price. Surely, it would be such a lucky day to spend less for the same item, don't you think? :)
   
   
   
3. Do the QA thing. To detain you from shopping something right away, put in mind that that sexy top may have loose stitches. Check and inspect the item before you let the bagger pack that lovely top in the shopping bag.
   
   
   
4. Leave the plastic behind. With only a thin wad of bills in your purse, you would absolutely not be able to pay for all the charming dresses or lovely blouses that you grabbed from the racks. From that pile of silky soft clothes clinging to your arms, you are forced to choose a few or even just a piece that will suit your sorely meager budget.
   
   
   
5. Impulse Shopping Limit. I know that it sounds totally absurd. How can you control something when it is impulse dictating you? Hmm. It is a given that you are in a (regular) mood of impulse-buying. In this case, better (early) acquaint your rational mind in setting a peso-limit to your shopping spree to prevent sabotaging your monthly living budget.

The thing is, it is very difficult to resist the temptation of buying something we don't need especially if we have the cash and the credit card to vouch for our purchasing power. In this persistent economic condition, I think it is just wise for us girls to be smart shoppers. :)