6 Foolproof Ways to Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season
With the holiday shopping season quickly approaching, I thought I’d post a few tips on how to avoid overspending when shopping at the stores. (If you prefer to shop online, I’ve included an online shopping guide).
How to Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season
Keep in mind that there are many tricks that the stores use to get you in the shopping mood, which causes you to spend more money than you originally planned.
Follow these six tips to avoid overspending, and let’s outsmart the stores once and for all! 🙂
- When visiting the store, try to go during the week before lunchtime or in the evening about one hour or so before closing. Fewer people are in the stores at those times, so you can take your time, ask any questions, and experience shorter lines at the register.
- Dress comfortably, especially if you will be trying on clothes. A T-shirt, jeans, and slip-on shoes should do the trick. This will keep you from getting cranky so that you won’t make impulsive purchases.
- Take multiple sizes into the dressing room when trying on clothes. I know you are ALWAYS a size 2, but sometimes the factories make mistakes with the sizing. 😉 Some of my clients make this mistake, and when they get home, the clothes don’t fit, and they forget to return or exchange them.
- Don’t always trust the mirrors in the dressing rooms! If the mirrors are hung at an angle, you will appear taller and thinner than you really are. That’s why when you get home and try them on again, you say, “What happened?” Well, you were tricked. Be sure to try all the clothes on again when you get home and return or exchange something immediately if you’re not happy with how it looks.
- If you are not planning on purchasing something, don’t touch it! Once you touch the item, you are emotionally attached to it. This has gotten me into trouble more times than I’d like to admit. Take my advice: Look, but don’t touch.
- Here’s an interesting piece of info to keep in mind. Stores know that most people are right-handed, so they set their stores up to use it to their benefit. Because righties look to the right when they enter a store, the most expensive items are placed to the right. Stores will hang certain displays on the right to get you to move in that direction. Of course, they also put their sales and clearance in the back of the store, so you have to walk past the more expensive items.
So, there you have it! Hopefully, these tips will help you save money and your sanity while shopping at the stores.
Please share any additional tips to avoid overspending this holiday season in the comments below! 🙂
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lol at the factory making mistakes with the sizes. That’s happening more and more with me, I find.
I know! I’m noticing it more often as well. 😉
Great advice!! I didn’t know that about how a store sets up based on right handedness…interesting. Thanks for the awesome tips!
You’re very welcome. More to come! 🙂
Excellent – thanks! Also enjoyed the other readers’ comments/ideas too!
You’re welcome! I really enjoy reading the comments as well. I always learn something new!
Point #5 is totally backed up by several studies. Very sound advice. Point #6 is something new entirely (to me). I’m shopping tonight, and I’ll keep an eye on the right to see if there really is a stark difference. Thanks for the insight.
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks for commenting!
How interesting about the right-handed thing! I’m a rightie, yet I always go to the left when I walk in… or straight ahead. Maybe I’m just naturally in tune with seeking out bargains. Ha! ~M.
That’s funny! I noticed that I do go to the right and start singing along to the music!
Good tips, thanks.
I definintely always try to shop while other people are still in bed. Early Saturday mornings or before I go to work (I work nights for now). Anything to avoid those crowds! I also take in more than one size. Been doing that forever because my body can’t decide on what size it wants to be smh I also don’t dress up too much to wear layers when I go shopping for clothes. Too much of a hassle to change with layers and extra jewelry and such. And if I can help it, no makeup as I don’t want to get any make up on the clothes especially if I don’t end up buying it.
Great point about the make up. I have seen that a few times. Thanks for your comment! 🙂