Are you a smart shopper? Do you buy only the things you intended to buy?
By Masmasika
@Masmasika (1921)
Philippines
October 7, 2008 9:02pm CST
When we go shopping we sometimes have a list of things we should buy. Buy sometimes we really don't only buy what we have listed, instead we scour for bargains and end up buying other things instead of buying what we need.
When i go shopping, I always make a list of the things I need to buy. Once in the shopping place, I see some bargains and start scouring not meaning to buy at first and just looking. But looking is bad because once you see things you wanted, you end up buying them even if you didn't have a plan to buy them. The issue there is the cheap prices of the goods. One would feel bad not buying things that are on sale which often are fifty percent less than the original price.
I have a friend who is very smart when shopping. She makes sure she buys just the items in her list. She doesn't look at the items on sale if the item isn't in the list. How I envy her guts. She tells me that the only things one needs is discipline and control.
My friend's advice is to buy only what you need because sometimes goods on sale are only white elephants in the house.
Have you something to share? Let us hear from you about shopping.
3 people like this
20 responses
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
11 Oct 08
At least 9 out of 10 times I do. I always have a list with me and will not go through any part of a store unless I need something from it. There are times though when I take my sons with me to the market, those times I alwasy end up with a few extras in the cart.
@lizard211 (240)
• United States
9 Oct 08
I must admit, I am not a very smart shopper. I rarely make lists. I don't think I spend alot or spend more than I was expecting to spend but I just grab the closest thing and stuck on getting certain brands. I think I could definitely spend less if I actually spent time looking for bargains or just looking to see what brand is on sale for a particular food item.
Did you see Oprah today? She had somebody on that uses coupons (internet and Sunday paper coupons), who racked up a $128 grocery bill. However, with coupons, ended up paying like $30!!!
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
8 Oct 08
For the most part I do think Im a smart shopper. I can usually stick to what we need. The one thing I do thou is when shopping, if I have coupons to make something that we always use cheaper I will stock up on them. Like last week I had coupons for dawn dishsoap and I got 3 for almost 50 cents each. Now I wont have to buy it for a bit and I saved money.
I always make a list of what is needed and from what stores if Im hitting a couple of them, I use envelopes with the name of the store, the list on the outside and the coupons in them for anything I might have written down that I have a coupon for. I do look at sales as you never know what you will find, however I will only buy if I know we will use it. I love looking at the sales when they are changing seasons. For isntance last year I looked and found sun block for 50 cents and this was the huge bottles. We have used it all this summer and was well worth that dollar $1.00 I spent for 2 containers.
I also look at clothing if there is money to buy for next year, like shorts and such. Such a discount when they cut the price to move the products!
@aphroditely (53)
• China
9 Oct 08
for me, I am not good at shopping; I just buy what I need and do not compare lots of them; just take it and pay it. sometimes, I will buy some others that attract me very much.
@amlegend (945)
• Pakistan
8 Oct 08
i and my father have this habit and we make our mind before entering the shop about what we want to buy and how much to pay for it and what are our substitutes if we aren't able to get it in that price but mostly we do get it.this helps in saving time and making quick decisions and sometimes we even surprize the dealer and i just enter the shop, head straight for the article and pick it up and see the price tag, have the money go to counter and way home.
never waste time on window shopping as time is money but still many find it a great entertainment and i too agree with them at least there is something that we don't have to pay for and get entertained too while shopping!!
@daniel_2866 (4)
• United States
9 Oct 08
I usually clip coupons and only get the things that turn out to be free or next to free.
We have a store here that doubles the $1.00 off coupons making it $2.00 off
and I get toothpaste for about 10 cents to 50 cents each tube
I just got 9 of the ACTIVE DANNON Yogurt 4 packs 100% free
they have a take a coupon for $1.00 off at one store in front of the yogurts
and I took 9 of them and went to the store that DOUBLES the coupons
THEY YOGURT was 2 for $4 which is $2 each.. but the $1.00 off coupon is doubled :)
I got them for $0.00 each
@nengs10 (3180)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
Sometimes I am especially when I really have to budget the money that I have in the meantime. But oftentimes, I tend to overspend and be an impulsive buyer. Though I have controlled myself at times, there are still moments when I can't resist.
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
8 Oct 08
I do not think I am a reasonable poeple.
Sometimes I can not understand why I did that kind of things after I have done them.
Comes to buying things, sometimes I will think a long time for an essential thing, while at last do not buy it. While buy a lot of useless things for they are cheap.
So I now, in order to save time and money, I try my best not to go shopping.
@ravinder18 (868)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 08
I think I am smart shopper. I will only buy the things I needed. I usually will make list for what I need to buy and follow the list. I won't buy any things I don't need even it is on sale. I think the sale is just a trick. Unless the thing seldom have sale and really are the things that I used.
@ganda8831 (816)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
I used to be a really bad shopper, but now that im older and wiser i transformed into a good shopper. I only buy the things that i need. I buy only the necessities. In this times of financial crises, we should be wise in spending our hard earned money. I dont go to shopping malls that often anymore because i'll be tempted to buy something i dont need. Though i dont have a list, i try to stick with the list in my head.
@sugarplum9084 (1771)
• United States
8 Oct 08
I am a pretty disciplined shopper I would say, it takes a lot of want for me to actually buy something, and I make a budget on what I am allowed to spend, if I have extra money in my budget I usually save it, but I give myself to option to buy what I have been thinking about buying. Usually in the store I may like something and want it, but I do not let myself get it, because if I go home I may say to myself, "why did I buy this?", so instead I see if my attitude will be the same a week later, and then I might allow myself to spend some money. I want to make the best possible decisions with my money, unnecessary things are just regrettable and don't give much amusement for long anyway. You can discipline yourself, just keep trying, perhaps in small strides 
. Happy mylotting and have a great day or night!
. Happy mylotting and have a great day or night! @gracie04 (4549)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
i used to be a very impulsive buyer but since i moved out from our house and decided to live in a condo, i've learned how to prioritize things. i tend to buy things that i really need like food, appliances and other stuffs that i can use on a daily basis.
@alankor (478)
• Singapore
8 Oct 08
ur friend is correct.we should all learn to be a smart shopper in our expensive society.buying only the necessary things not only save you money,u also discipline yourself.too often,i have seen people buying more than what they need because they do not plan before buying.they just brought this and this and this because they are not sure they even need this.what a joke!i say to all out there,plan before your shopping trip before it becomes a shopping spree and burn a hole in your wallet.
@zeroflashx2 (2491)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
Well, I'm more of a typical shopper. Not that smart and not that impulsive. 
I often times have a list of things that I need to buy like groceries and other stuff (usually electronics) and I always go straight to the shop where I can buy them without having to stop and look at other shops. After I buy what I need, it is then that I ease out and look around other shops.
Well, I've been an impulse buyer as well. If I see something that interests me I would still consider buying it if I have something extra. Especially if I suddenly find something that I've been looking for quite some time. I usually buy it. But with my present situation now, I'd have to go for the essentials all the way. No extra money for extra stuff. Take care.
I often times have a list of things that I need to buy like groceries and other stuff (usually electronics) and I always go straight to the shop where I can buy them without having to stop and look at other shops. After I buy what I need, it is then that I ease out and look around other shops.
Well, I've been an impulse buyer as well. If I see something that interests me I would still consider buying it if I have something extra. Especially if I suddenly find something that I've been looking for quite some time. I usually buy it. But with my present situation now, I'd have to go for the essentials all the way. No extra money for extra stuff. Take care. 
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
8 Oct 08
I am not much of a shopper,and my mom is the one that usually does the shopping when it comes for stuff for the house,and our family,but sometimes me and my fiance will go with her to do the shopping,or if she is really busy we will go do a little shopping for her,we always have a list with us,and we always make sure to try to just buy what is on the list,even though sometimes my mom will find something that we need,that she did not put on the list,but I am sure that happens to everyone every once in a while.
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
Well, I'm only a smart shopper insofar as the canvassing goes. When I need something I make sure to check for sales or better deals in other stores. My mom gets impatient with me all the time because it takes me forever to decide on what to buy. Sometimes I try on some clothes and don't end up buying any. But I do buy things I don't need especially if it's on sale.
@mjmlagat (3170)
• Philippines
8 Oct 08
Sometimes I am and sometimes I'm not. I usually do wise buying/shopping in the sense that most of the time I am buying stuffs that I need instead hoarding products I don't use. On the other hand, I sometimes recline to bein g an unwise shopper when I see products on sale that I cannot yet use right then and there but I just buy it because they cheaper.
@redsponge (557)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 08
I am trying to be a smart shopper on my monthly household items. If an item is on sale, say the dishwasher, then I will purchase for the quality that enough for 2 months or more. I think this is a good way to save money.
@Vivian_Studio (275)
• United States
8 Oct 08
I used to buy things I didn't really need. I love to shop fpr cloths, fashion. however, I have too many cloths that I just wear for only 1 time...Now I am getting smarter, I write a shopping list, and learn to follow it. (Not buy any stuff that are not on the list). Try and force yourself just concentrate on your shopping list...
