We all deserve a treat from time to time but there’s nothing worse than wasting our money on something we later realise is actually pretty pointless.
Those sentiments ring especially true when money is tight. There is nothing wrong with spending, just make sure you spend well. Here are four tips to ensure you stop falling for the traps you’ve probably experienced a thousand times before.
Take Your Time
One of the main problems we have as consumers is that often let our hearts rule our heads. When it comes to shopping, a calculated decision is often better than buying on impulse.
Research and preparation are key factors behind making any major decision, whether that be choosing a diet or selecting which university to attend. Shopping should not be exempt from these guidelines and it’s always worth taking your time over any decision. Unless it is genuinely a product you physically need right now.
Browsing your various options might not just save you money, it could also open your eyes to a better alternative.
Can We Fix It?
Sometimes, our biggest downfall is giving up on a product too easily. Human nature dictates that we get frustrated when things don’t work as they should but it doesn’t mean they always need replacing.
Take a laptop for example. The second it starts acting strange, we want to buy a new one. The truth is in many cases a simple repair will get it back to its original best.
Of course not everything can be fixed and sometimes our products do need replacing. However, it’s always worth checking if a cheap restoration process is possible.
Choose Function Over Aesthetic
Another pitfall too many of us fall for is buying a product whilst forgetting the reason we actually needed it in the first place.
This can be particularly hazardous when buying home appliances or items needed for work. Clever advertising makes it easy for products to catch your eye and can make it easy to jump into a rash decision without checking it actually does what you want it to do. it’s crucial that you make sure it does. For example, if you need a storage unit boasting Accuride drawer slides then you shouldn’t make any purchase that doesn’t have that function.
If you make a list of the features your item needs it will leave you in a far less vulnerable position. Even an ugly product that serves a purpose is better than a beautiful one that doesn’t. Remember that.
Lose Your ‘Buy More To Save More’ Habit
Shops will often run special promotions to entice customers in. We’ve all seen ‘Buy five for the price of four’ or ‘Spend £100 to get £10 off’ offers in the past and we’ve probably all been tricked into buying stuff we didn’t want or need.
It’s a well known marketing plan that many of companies employ to encourage increased spending. We know this, but yet we still fall for it time and time again.
That’s not to say these offers can’t be great. After all, if you do genuinely need five items and can get one free then it would be foolish not to do it. The key is to recognising when a deal is good for you and, more importantly, when it is not.
Cutting out that mindset will save you tons in the long run.
