Can we just take a moment to talk about how stressful it can be to shop at the mall can be? December is here and we all know Christmas is coming and last-minute shopping anxiety is creeping up on some of us.
Hey, I get it. We have bills to pay, student loan debt is piling up and here we have graduation around the corner. I’m here to help prioritize how you can shop at the mall and create better spending habits to make your life a little less intense and a whole lot easier. The anxiety of leaving your bed, pushing past people in a narrow hall where everyone is going in opposite directions, and finding parking makes the energy to shop at the mall a task. Shopping, in general, can be mentally exhausting, so I want to share a little guide on how to save money without breaking the bank this holiday season. Take a minute, take a breather, and let’s get out a pen and paper.
It’s tempting to add everything to your basket because the prices are irresistible or it’s the last item in stock. Ask yourself, “is this item worth it? Do I love it just because it’s on sale?
Stop making unnecessary purchases with your eyes. It’s easy to fall into the trap of retail marketing like the Buy 3 Get 1 Free Candle at Bath and Body Works, or at Urban Outfitters Take an extra 50% off clearance. Colors can be used to get you excited into buying more too. For example, Bath and Body Works uses red and white, and Urban Outfitters uses yellow and black. Sales tactics, such as “one day only sale” or “act now and buy before all sold out” create impulsive shopping habits. Impulse shopping creates more problems than anxiety but also debt.
One way to save money is to make a list with an estimated price for what you need to spend. Making a list saves you time and creates less anxiety when you know which store you want to walk into. Speaking to us girls, when you walk into Victoria’s Secret don’t you hate when associates approach you and ask you for a bra fitting or what are you shopping for today? The best answer you come up with is “Oh I’m just looking, thank you” or better yet pretend you’re on your phone to not make eye contact. Making a list even hours before leaving your house gives you a confidence boost while shopping.
Don’t get me wrong, in certain situations where your friends are all busy, shopping by yourself is a part of growing up and learning how to do things on your own. Although going to the mall with friends is fun, going to the mall on your own can be just as entertaining and productive.
Maybe you’re Christmas shopping and they can’t know what you’re buying them, which can be self-productive as well. On the other hand, shopping by yourself may be a problem if you shop to release anxiety or when you’re having a bad day. There could be a reason you know deep down you might have a spending problem and all you need is someone you trust by your side to tell you “Hey, you don’t need that right now”.
I’m talking to all you bargain hunters out there. I for one am one of them. The best way to shop at the mall is to be patient. Make a list in your head of the top 3 stores you love, then dive right into the sales rack. Starting your shopping in the back of the store gets you away from oncoming traffic and you’re closest to the fitting room. You can save a great deal of money knowing what suits you best and you might know a sales associate that may tell you a secret. It’s true that the sales rack is disorganized, and clothes are falling off the hangers but that’s the price you pay for a bargain. Let’s not forget the coupons.
This might be a hard one. Who doesn’t love Hagen-Daz ice cream after a long day of walking? Going to the mall, knowing you’re going to spend money is something you can prepare for but going to the mall hungry can be what your wallet might not be expecting. A meal at the cafeteria can be around an additional $20.There is a pretty good reason why malls have food courts. It’s so you don’t have to leave. What a perfect mind game! Shopping is a sport if you think about it. A typical mall can be two floors and takes about 4 hours to walk, look around and talk on the phone. What ends up happening, you get hungry and decide to buy lunch or dinner before you leave. If you have several shopping bags, you don’t want to put all your stuff in the car. It’s another sales tactic so you don’t leave your big wonderland of expenditure. You may end up paying for more things than the items you came to buy. A simple remedy of making a meal before you leave or carrying a snack to go.
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