In the world of commercialism, shopping is no longer a mere chore; shopping is a hobby. Many people in the western world use retail therapy to help them in their day to day lives. It may feel good spending $400 on a new outfit, but when your credit card statement comes through, it will feel awful. It is okay to enjoy a little shopping from time to time. You need new clothes and new things now and then. The problem arises when shopping has become your identity. You don’t need to shop to live a full and happy life. You can keep the same social lifestyle, but cut your spending in half with some simple tips. Here are some easy tips that will help you to curb your spending sooner rather than later.
Purge before you spend
How much do you spend when you go shopping? And, where go you get that money? If the money you spend at the mall is coming straight out of your paycheck then, we have a problem. One way you can make extra money is to purge. Sell your old, unwanted clothes on eBay before you go shopping again. Doing so will mean that you have spare money to spend on new clothes. It will also mean that you have more room inside your wardrobe for your clothes. Learn to let go of things that you no longer need.
Get a short-term loan
If you are getting close to payday, but have to buy something then, you might want to consider a short-term loan. Online lender, Money3, lets you apply for a loan online whenever you want. They will approve the loan within a short period, which means the money will be in your account before you know it.
Shop in thrift stores
Do you usually shop in high street or designer stores? Right now it is trendy to shop in thrift stores, rather than pay expensive prices at the mall. You can often find designer pieces at thrift stores for a fraction of their original value. You will need to set aside half a day or so to spend searching for bargains in these stores. Make an event of it and go with a group of friends. You will feel so much better when you know that you have saved yourself a lot of money.
Cut down on online shopping
Online shopping is a killer for anyone who loves to shop. Buying things online is easy and with just a click of a button you could have spend hundreds of dollars. Make a pact not to do any online shopping at all. Cancel your subscriptions to online accounts and close down your Paypal. There is nothing worse than buying things online without thinking about what you are buying. You have no idea what quality of products you will get when buying online. Online shopping is risky. Make a ritual out of shopping whilst you’re out rather than wasting your money online. Also, if you are online shopping look for coupons online that can help to save money on clothes, you can find more information on raise.com.
Make a budget
It may sound like a lot of hassle, but once you have a budget, you will find that taking control of your money is easy. How much can you afford to spend on luxury items? Be realistic about your income and make a budget that you can stick to in the long-term. If you are having trouble creating the budget yourself then, you might want to get some help from an expert. Financial experts can talk you through the process of starting a budget for your personal finance. There are many companies who will help you sort out your budget, as well as useful online tools.