How Not To Break The Bank When Shopping

For a family of five and with growing kids too, budget allotted for clothing sometimes get cuts down or worse, totally spent on other necessities. Though this mom has always claimed that she’s at the right place at the right time when shopping, she learned that there are  other great ways to save.

First, it is wise to understand needs versus want, it is helpful to make a list of both – the ones you need to buy and pay first, and then what you want to have. Knowing the difference can save you lots of headache, and while far from it, may also save you from bankruptcy, learn more about that here. You can get a budgeting tool to help you break down expenses for the month. Or you can ask advice from financial planners on how to properly budget your money.

To avoid getting into debt because of compulsive shopping, here are some things that might help, and tips on how not to break the bank when shopping.

Know When to Shop

That’s buying stuff for summer during winter inventory sales and buying for winter during summer inventory sales, getting spring and autumn items before the season actually starts. You don’t need to spend a lot to look like a million bucks, you just need to know when and where to shop.

Also know when to stop. ? You should always be careful when you spend, even for items that are on sale. Ten 5$ is actually 50$ and that’s a lot, small amounts accumulate to a bigger one, and it’s not just on clothing. Always follow your list of needs to buy before starting on wants.

Use Coupon Codes

There are a lot of coupon codes and discounted items from/of brochures and online newsletters from frequently visited stores that one can use. For example, Walmart has a page for coupons you can print at home. They have one for a wide-range of items, from books to home stuff, from baby stuff to gadgets and a lot more.

But since were talking clothes and shopping, I suggest Forbes coupon codes here – they list down discounts on favorite brands. There are also traditional coupons that one can clip from printed advertisements but doing so could eat up a lot of time and if you have to buy a newspaper or a listing for it then you don’t really save that much. Sometimes, there are items too that you don’t really need.

Ebay, Amazon and Company

There are a lot of new items on these sites that you can get for half the price or lesser. And if you bought something that doesn’t really fit you or the kids, you can also sell them there. I often find items that didn’t fit the a seller being sold at half the price, sometimes a gift that isn’t a good match that’s why it’s being sold. I get the item for less, and the seller gets cash for the item, win-win!

Many other websites sell items for less, you just need to get notified of their price-down deals, it is best to subscribe to their newsletters, or follow them on their social media accounts. You can get first dibs on their mark-down prices easily.

Scout for Deals

I love deals and how I get to discover wonderful restaurants serving good food. Get a professional haircut for 80% the original price, visit a lovely city for 3 days at a hotel with breakfast for the price of a day and more.

You also can get items, buy 1 and take 1 free at grocery stores. They mark down items that should be cleared of the shelves, so watch out for those. Another way to spend smartly,  is to collect loyalty points and use them to get a discount on your next purchase. This is not just for stores and shops, having one for your favorite airline can get you a free flight at some point.

I’m sure you have a lot of tips on saving up and budgeting, and how not to break the bank when shopping, whether for clothing or other necessities. I would love to hear them too. Comment away!