New Year’s Resolution 2018: Shop Smarter

Spoiler alert: January 1, 2018 is no different to any other New Year’s Day. As such, those plans to go vegan or write a best-selling novel will be dead within two months.

Ok, this may be slightly inaccurate, and a small percentage of readers will achieve those goals, and that’s because they want to. In truth, most people set resolutions because it’s a tradition. However, without the type of motivation that comes from within, you won’t keep it up. With this in mind, setting the simple goal of improving your shopping habits may be the smartest things you’ll do all year.   

So, how can you be sure to strut your way through 2018 in style? Let’s take a closer look at how to enhance your shopping, from fashion to food and everything in between.

Avoid Waste

Marketing experts are very smart and know how to entice you into buying their products, even when you don’t need them. Whether it’s a kitchen gadget, a handbag, or something else doesn’t matter. Any product that sits in the cupboard collecting dust hurts your finances and can influence the happiness of the home. Fighting back against those issues should be top of the agenda.

When dealing with fashion, knowing the right color trends and styles for the year ahead can make a big difference. After all, staying ahead of the crowd additionally extends the amount of life you’ll get out of the garments. As for non-essential home luxuries, weighing up the pros and cons is key. Take some time to consider the decision. If the product sells out, it simply wasn’t meant to be.

Know When To Rent

As a successful woman around time, there could be various times throughout the year where you’ll need a special one-off outfit. Forking out a fortune for something that’s only needed for the one event is stupid. Renting the dress or special bag can still create the desired impact. Meanwhile, doing this for each event allows you to maintain a fresh appeal without repeating your styles.

Fashion isn’t the only aspect of your life where those sentiments should be considered. Due to depreciation rates, leasing a car may be more suitable than purchasing one. Likewise, there could be home accessories or electrical goods where the value is in renting. Essentially, you can’t take those things with you after you’re gone. Therefore, losing that need for ownership can make the difference.

 

Seek The Best Value

By now, you should know that shopping around can generate savings. This is something you are likely to use when booking holidays or expensive products. In truth, though, it’s the small regular purchases that make the biggest impact. Securing a 5% discount with the Target credit card will make your budget work harder without any personal sacrifice. That has to be smarter shopping.

Other ideas can include taking advantage of new customer deals. This is especially useful for contracted products such as cell phones and broadband packages. Coupons and special offers can often save you money. Meanwhile, time-sensitive products can become cheaper simply by having patience. When combined with using price comparison websites, you can’t go far wrong.

Be Prepared To Buy Used Items

The potential problems with wanting ownership have already been mentioned. Similarly, wanting to have brand new items can cause issues. Whether it’s home furniture, clothing, or anything else doesn’t matter. There are many situations where opting for a pre-owned item will reduce the costs without impacting your enjoyment. Meanwhile, upcycling can be very rewarding. Embracing them will make 2018 a year of huge improvements.

Likewise, those ideas can be used when getting rid of old items. Thanks to online selling, gaining money from your old products has never been easier. It has to be better than letting them take up room in the garage, and the funds can be used to buy more of the products you want. The fact you’ll be helping someone else out too is simply a bonus.

 

Team Up With A Friend

They say two heads are better than one, and this can certainly ring true when it comes to your shopping habits. When dealing with online purchases, hitting the value needed for free delivery becomes a lot easier when you place a joint order. Besides, your friend may also offer advice that could prevent you from wasting money on an unsuitable product.

Shopping with someone else can benefit your offline shopping habits too. Bulk buying often generates lower unit prices in a whole host of areas. This can even extend to journeys on public transport or arranging carpools. Just be sure that you don’t team up with someone that could be a negative influence, and you’ll be just fine. The positive outcomes should shine through in no time.

Stick To Your Budget

The most important aspect of shopping is to stay responsible. Creating a spreadsheet that tracks your spending is vital as you look to trim the fat. Most importantly, though, you want to avoid late repayment charges and other hidden fees. When borrowing money, even on a short-term plan, doing so in a mature manner is key. Otherwise, you could fall into an unrelenting cycle.

Personal situations may dictate whether you need to go into greater depth or not. It may be necessary to create a food budget, fashion budget, and household budget. One way or another, avoiding that overspend is vital. Not only is it a tough habit to break, but it could mean that an unexpected situation blows your financial security apart. For the sake of your emotional reassurance, as well as finances, you must not make mistakes in this area.

The Final Word

Shopping in a smarter fashion throughout 2018 and beyond will aid your life in many ways. From financial health to general satisfaction levels, those improvements are very noticeable. Given that these are the rewards you look for in most NYRs, this target becomes a no-brainer.

It’s also one of the easiest life upgrades to keep. So, once the festivities are over, putting on that smart shopping hat should be top of your to-do list. Get it right, and it will be a very happy new year indeed. 

Photo | Pixabay

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