Prepare in advance
Lists are everything when you want to simplify your shopping. They are unlikely to help you save money and not to buy too much, but they will allow you not to forget anything in the hustle and bustle of the New Year. After all, it’s important to remember about gifts for everyone, party outfits and food for the New Year’s table. And lists can also be a great itinerary. You won’t have to walk around the mall looking like a confused Travolta from the meme. You’ll confidently walk into only the right shops and grab what you need. What a time saver!
But for lists to work, it’s worth preparing to make them. For example, writing “gift for mum” is fine, of course. But what exactly will you be looking for? It’s best to decide in advance. Ideally, if you do a mini-investigation on the internet and find out which shop sells it.
And do that with everything. So, don’t go looking for an outfit for a New Year’s Eve party before you’ve gone through your wardrobe and found out exactly what you need. Holiday dresses are quite expensive before New Year’s Eve, and after the holidays they will hang with discounts of up to 70%. Is it really necessary to overpay?
All in all, preparation is an important part of shopping and it can really make the process more enjoyable.
Determine a budget for shopping
The previous point orientated us to careful planning. But let’s be honest and admit that pre-holiday shopping is also fun. Lists are lists, but a Christmas ball or sequinned top thrown into the basket in a hurry can bring more joy than the brightest fireworks. If you are not very limited in funds, but just trying to save money, it’s a pity to deprive yourself of such things. But it is still worth it to limit a little.
Allocate yourself a budget, which you will spend on the necessary – gifts, groceries – and follow it. But also determine the amount you can spend on things you impulsively like. If nothing catches your eye, well, there’s money left over. But if something catches your eye, you can buy it and not beat yourself up. Self-mobilisation has never made anyone’s life better.
