Being an impulsive shopper can get you into trouble sometimes. We've all done it. You had your eye
on a great looking top but when you leave the store you have a whole wardrobe of extra items that
took your fancy. Or maybe you are a technology addict. You decide to get the latest cell phone but
end up with a DVD player and a plasma TV too. Impulsive spending habits can get you in serious debt
before you even know it. Here are some frugal ways to save money and avoid getting into debt.
Lets get the obvious ways to save money out of the way first.
Don't shop on payday. You may have a fat looking bank balance but it will be eaten
up by the various essential bills (and the odd luxury) during the month. If this feeling that you
are flush with cash gets the better of you, you may buy something that you don't really need. And
this may lead to you being unable to pay those essential bills.
Don't shop for groceries on an empty stomach. People will buy all sorts of things
if they are hungry. A well planned shopping list will slip from the mind when the waft of hot bread
baking hits the nostrils.
Think about doing some of your shopping in thrift stores. Believe it or not you
can get some great stuff in these stores. Go to affluent areas and you will be surprised at the
items you can get. In many cases these items are practically new. You can get brand name clothing
that is hardly worn for a fraction of the cost in the store. You can get plenty of other stuff that
has hardly been used from furniture to books.
Don't get sucked into the bulk buying idea unless you really do use those items a
lot. The same goes for all these special offers where you buy 2 and get a third item free.
Free is a very seductive word when it comes to buying things. Do you really need that free item or
will you really use it. And is the price of the two items factoring in the price of the third item
anyway. Step back and think a bit before you see the words 'save' and 'free' next to products in
the grocery store or any other store.
When you are buying services, shop around before making a decision. This may be a
bit time consuming but draw up a list and select the cheapest if money is an issue. Of course
cheapest does not guarantee best, so think about this or develop a checklist that includes other
things along with the price when making a decision.
The holiday season is a stressful time in itself without money problems. You will probably be
buying presents for loved ones or friends. One guarantee is that prices will be more expensive just
before the holiday season than throughout the year. So get organized and buy presents
throughout the year when there really is a sale or you are in a better position to pay for the
items.
If you are really organized and not completely exhausted, then the new year sales might be the best
time to shop for presents you may need at Christmas. And you can be assured that the prices will be
cheaper then than leading up to Christmas.
Adrian Whittle
Get more frugal living tips and other ways to improve your bank balance and deal with debt at
http://www.bankruptcyfixup.com
