Purchasing Tips
Helpful shopping hacks to save you money
Shopping is part and parcel of life. There will always be things that we need and desire. It can be difficult to know how to balance our desires rationally and ensure that we make beneficial purchases. By following some of the tips below we can learn to save money and enjoy our purchases more, without the added guilt of frivolity.
1. Rule of 7
Fashion Mumblr has a great trick when it comes to knowing if your purchase is a good investment. The rule is that you need to know if the item you are purchasing will go with at least 7 items in your current wardrobe. If it doesn’t it means it most likely won’t be a worthwhile purchase. By following this rule you can ensure that you make the most out of your purchases and hard-earned cash and also ensure that your wardrobe is more cohesive.
2. Price per use/wear
This is another helpful hack from Fashion Mumblr. When making purchases consider how much use you will be getting out of that item. For example, if you wear a pair of £100 boots once you have spent £100 on one occasion. However, if you wear those boots a thousand times then they only cost you 10p per wear. This is a great economical way to think about your purchases. Ask yourself when purchasing how many times am I likely to use this item? Then divide the cost by your answer. If you are satisfied with that answer then make the purchase.
3. Purchasing treats when you earn them
If you don’t have the budget for an item you desire or you’re trying to save, then attach what you desire to a goal. This can be the best way to rid yourself of guilt from an inevitable purchase. By doing this you can not only achieve more but also feel happier about your purchases. When you make purchases only after you’ve achieved goals you add to the pleasure of your purchase because there will be positive associations attached to it. This trick can also save you money because you will stop just randomly feeling like treating yourself but do it because it means something.
“Reward yourself for your accomplishments”. — Dr. John Demartini
3. Add browser extensions
Adding browser extensions enables you to get many perks from purchasing including, cashback, discounts and coupons. I use a lot of browser extensions and sometimes they even work together. My favourite is Topcashback. In the past year, I’ve made £39.88 back from purchases. It can take a long while for the money to come back to you but it does come! There are also lots of times during the year where they do bonus deals where they give away cash prizes. The other extensions I use which are also great are ‘Honey’(If you sign up from this link each of us gets 500 points free), ‘Karma’ and ‘Give as you live’. ‘Give as you live’ is a charitable extension whereby a charity that you select gets money from your purchases. Also instead of shopping with Amazon use SmileAmazon so that some money from your purchase can go to charity.
4. Always look for a discount code
It’s always worth checking google, karma and honey for these as they can save you a lot of money.
5. Sign up for loyalty cards
Often sites will offer discounts and treats when you sign up. By being a member of different sites you can get all kinds of perks; including free gifts, birthday vouchers etc. In the past, I’ve received some amazing freebies including free flowers, £5 vouchers and deluxe samples.
6. Set specific browsing time
This way you won’t be constantly bombarded with desires. If you allow yourself time to browse online then you won’t be distracted during the day when you need to work. It’s also a good idea to install some website blockers which can allow you to focus more, limit how long you are on different websites and time block. This blog has a great list of website blockers https://zapier.com/blog/stay-focused-avoid-distractions/
7. Wait on purchases
Rather than purchase items as soon as you see them, save the items you desire on Karma. Then after a month if you are still thinking about that item purchase it. That way you can ensure you are not just purchasing on a whim. You can also use this tactic to save more money on the item and wait for it to be reduced. I’ve even waited for 6 months before making some purchase decisions.
“Patience is the companion of wisdom” — Saint Augustine
8. Use google to compare prices
Often there are common items that are sold at multiple places. It can be worth checking which merchant sells it the cheapest. However, take into consideration one merchant might have a good discount code and there may be shipping fees to account for.
9. Invest in quality
Although we all want to spend less. It is not wise to spend less on things that will not last. That is inefficient, counterproductive and can cost you more in the long run. My Grandfather taught me only to buy quality products. His belief was that if you buy quality then it will last and you won’t have to buy it again. He especially recommended doing this with electrical devices. I can attest to this advice as their washing machine lasted 30 years and their TV and microwave are still working 20 years on. Quality products last. Quality does not mean you have to buy the most expensive, or well-known brand but it does mean that you need to spend some time researching. It’s worth waiting and saving up more money to buy better products that last.
“ Quality is an investment in the future” — Anon.
10. Utilise eBay and Charity Shops
If you peruse eBay by brand you can get some quality products for heavily reduced prices. You can also browse in Charity shops in good areas and get some amazing bargains.
Wishing you luck in your shopping shenanigans
Much Love
Naomi Leila Xx
P.s. If I find any other helpful hacks I will update this
P.p.s. What’s your favourite tip? Do you have any hacks that I haven’t mentioned? Please leave a comment I always love hearing from you and learning new tips.
P.p.s. This is not sponsored but I have used affiliate links. If you do decide to use them thank you ❤
