• How to plan a Shopping Trip within budget

• by: Avocados  |  last updated: June 19, 2008

• Category: Smart Shopping |  Tags: planning a shopping trip, tips to shopping , budget shopping, budget shopping trip, how to plan a shopping trip

• Shopping is always said to be more of an impulsive nature where many times we end up buying things we never really need and are way above our budget. Some people shop only for basic necessities while others shop whatever catches their eye. In both cases, it is always better to have a planning about what you need to buy and what not to buy.
  
  Shopping is exciting and fun when one gets to buy the best bargains. But that again is a challenge, to find proper discounts and on-sale bargains.

• Planning your shopping

• 1. Keep a tracker:
  It is always a good idea to plan out your shopping in order to save up money. One can always keep track of monthly items to buy and a date to buy those things.Always keep a pen and paper close by on the refrigerator or the kitchen counter. This way you can list down all the things that are getting over as and when it happens. This also helps you to keep track of these things when you go to buy them, and you don't have to rack your brains over whether you missed something.
  
  2.Make a habit to analyze before buying:
  In order to conquer the habit of impulsive buying, count till ten and think hard whether you really need it. Stick to the basics, and remind yourself how you felt the last you made an unnecessary impulsive buying. It helps to see the bigger picture. Think of all the money you can save and use it for something more purposeful.
  
  3.Keep a day aside for shopping:
  This way you never have to feel the rush or forget buying something you use on a daily basis. Keeping a day aside for shopping helps you to keep all the things moving in your house, esp. with groceries. Going shopping for groceries once in a week or once in a month helps you to focus completely on the shopping task at hand. You can do it without worrying about reaching work or another particular place in time and don't have to rush the shopping at the risk of forgetting something.
  
  4. Make a shopping list:
  This helps you to not get diverted or forced to buy something else. With reference to your tracker, make a list of all the things you need to buy. You can also list the quantity you need to buy. This helps for people who do shopping maybe once in a month or week. These are usually people who have to travel a long way to shop.
  
  5. Check out for sales and discounts
  Always check out what discount rates are going on in a shop or for sales. This is the best time to buy some extra items. But be careful to only buy those things you use on a regular basis. Just because something is rated less and you don't use regularly, it becomes a luxury and not a necessity.
  
  6. Bargain
  You can always bargain for certain commodities. Always try to save up money on certain items.Being a regular customer, this is the least the shop keeper can do for you. Do not feel bad of having to haggle. If you think you are being overcharged always clear it with the person at the counter.
  
  7. Calculate your expenses Always try to calculate your expenses. This will help you from being ripped off with having to pay extra. Keeping an account of your purchase will help you to memorize the prices and rates of items. So next time you buy them you will have an idea if the price has gone high, then you could look for a substitute that is cheaper.
  
  8. Set a fixed budget
  This will help you to stick to a particular amount to spend. Setting a budget will also encourage you to avoid impulsive buying, helps you to bargain more.

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