SHOPPING TIPS

BY CHARITY BISHOP

I've been out of my parents' house for some time now, and through trial and error have learned a few things about saving money, getting respect in department stores, and minimizing my stress around the holidays. Here are some of the things I have learned that might help you college girls, stay-at-home moms, or even just some old pros looking to streamline the process.

There are some tips and tricks from my friends as well as impute from my mother, who has been around the block a few times and knows how to shop for Projects of a bigger variety (that is, for some of you do-it-yourself ladies!)

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Make lists of people and gifts.

This helps a great deal with Christmas shopping, particularly if you're doing it a month beforehand like I do. What works for me is to purchase it, pay for it, and wrap it when it arrives. That way I can see name tags and know, "Okay, I spent this much on this person, and got him/her however many things. That's good enough." Why we often over-spend at Christmas is because we buy something... and then buy something else... and then at the last minute wonder if we got whoever something good enough. Write down a few ideas for each person on your list, and get as much as you can online unless it's cheaper in store.

Price Check.

Something might be $49.99 online at Barnes & Noble, five dollars more in the store, and ten dollars less at Amazon.com. You can save a lot of stress and excess finances if you take ten minutes to look around online first. Wal-Mart sometimes has sales on DVD's around the holidays, so drop by their site -- don't just stick to the basis. Hit Circuit City, the Half Price Store, anywhere you might get five bucks less. You'd be surprised at the price ranges, and the smart shopper knows what she wants and where to get it.

Do the easy shopping first.

If you're at all like me, you have the easy people to purchase for, and the hard ones to purchase for. Uncle Ernie who has everything, and Little Molly who gives you a ten-page "I want..." list the day after Thanksgiving. What I suggest is to think about these people weeks (if not months) in advance. Listen to them. Pay attention. Write down if they ever say, in passing, "I wish I had..." or "That's so pretty!" Shop for everyone who you know you're getting the perfect gift for, and get it out of the way. Then do some serious thinking on the "hard" gifts in the last three weeks before Christmas.

Have a spending limit.

If you decide up front how much you are going to spend, and intend to take it out of your checking account rather than put it on a credit card, you'll spend a lot less, because in the back of your mind you'll remember your bank balance. This will help you make wise decisions and not just say, "Well, these earrings would look great on her .... and she might like that too... and the purse is too cute..." If you tend to over spend, take however much money out of the bank you're going to spend, and pay in cash. Some stores will even give you a discount for cash payments, because they don't have to pay a card charge.

A word about gift cards.

They're easy, they're great... but read the fine print. Find out about deadlines, and choose your store wisely. A card for Hobby Lobby is not a smart choice for someone who never does crafts. A wiser choice is a universal card that they can use anywhere (Visa offers these) or a gift card to a specific place where they shop a lot.

Shopping for books.

If you are shopping for books, check your local library first. Whether you like the book has as much to do with the "feel" of it, the illustrations, and the overall look of it as does the content. It's real easy to find other books on the subject, too. If you like what you see, then go shopping... with a LIST, of course!

CLOTHES SHOPPING

Dress up to shop.

Particularly at boutiques! They will treat you with much more respect if you walk in wearing a black pair of dress slacks and a button-down shirt. Why? Because you look sophisticated, savvy, and business-like, which to them means you're a smart, classy shopper and not afraid to spend money to look fantastic if the product is worth it. I was in a department store over the weekend to check it out, and no one paid any attention to me in my blue jeans and t-shirt. When I went back three days later to purchase a dress, wearing a classy pair of slacks and button-up shirt, several sales clerks wanted to help me!

I did walk out with an outfit, after two sales women fawned over me, gave me fashion tips, brought me different sizes, shoes, necklaces, scarves, and whatever I wanted. They made me feel like a princess, and I felt good about spending my money there. My purchases also got me three discount cards for the next time I come in. A lot of boutiques are doing that right now, hoping that you'll come back for the holidays, which means there are some fantastic deals you can take advantage of if you're smart about it. Those discount cards will stretch my Christmas money a good long ways.

Kari's Tips:

Find a shopping buddy.

If you're shopping for yourself, a good shopping buddy can be invaluable, but choose your company wisely. (For example, you don't want to go shopping with someone who will encourage you to buy everything, make you feel bad for your purchases, or tell you to buy things that look bad on you.) Shop with someone who is familiar with your style preferences, won't push your budget, and will give you an honest opinion. It's also awesome if you go with a friend who will suggest new things to you. My mom and also a couple of my closest friends are my favorite shopping partners for these reasons. If I try something on that looks way cuter on the rack than it does on my body, they'll tell me. Sometimes they will encourage me to try things on that I'd never think about (such as when my mom encouraged me to try on a vest, and I thought "Eww! A vest, yuck." It ended up being adorable.) We're pretty familiar with each other's styles, and we'll often seek out things that remind us of one another.

Don't get tied down to a size.

Especially with clothes. (Shoes aren't quite so bad.) You might be a size 6 in one store and a ten in another - or even within the same store - so grab multiple sizes. The number is just a guideline, not an "attractiveness assessment." (From Charity: most department stores are making their sizes larger, so you might ordinarily fit a six and have to go down to a five to get your ideal fit. Bear this in mind when choosing which clothes to take to the dressing room with you.)

Try to have a sense of humor and adventure while you're shopping. Try on the ugly polka-dotted prom dress cut down to here - no one else has to see you in it, and you might get a laugh out of it. On a similar note, don't judge a book (or a dress, or shoes, etc.) by its cover. The cute pair of shoes might give you killer blisters after half an hour - not worth it. The plain-looking dress on clearance might be the most gorgeous thing ever on your body. You never know until you try.

GROCERY SHOPPING

Sign up for in-store discount cards. 

The stores love giving them out because it means you're more likely to shop there, and you'll love it because you can get a dollar or more off each marked purchase. Use that card every time at the checkout, and purchase as much as you can that comes under a "... for King Soopers' Card Members..." price tag. You can often purchase their brand at a lot less. I saved $35 at the grocery store checkout this morning because I bought King Soopers products instead of mainstream brands.

Never shop when you're hungry.

Something that might not look good when you've had a decent lunch looks delicious on an empty stomach. Most purchases made on an empty stomach are spontaneous decisions that run up your ending cost and are often high in fat (chips, soda, sugar products, candy). Eat something before you go, and you're less likely to come home with Mars Bars.

Mom's Tips:

Check prices on prescriptions.

If you are purchasing prescriptions, it pays to price check. Most larger stores will price match (except prices you get online). Online pharmacies are only practical if you have time to wait for the prescription to arrive.

Make lists.

If you're shopping for groceries, have a master grocery list of items you need regularly at home so you can check the pantry before you leave for the store. Shop with a list and leave kids at home who constantly ask for things. Like other stores, it gets expensive if you have to go to the store for a gallon of milk.

PROJECT SHOPPING

Mom's Tips:

Measure before you leave home and take a tape measure with you. Most people who work at a craft or home furnishing stores will teach you how to figure how much material you will need (whether it's cotton, silk, or drywall).

Do price checking before you leave home. That's what the computer is for.

Think through the entire project before making a materials list. It gets costly to have to go back to the store for a hand full of screws or a spool of thread.

Pick your fabric before you pick your paint. It is much easier to match paint to fabric than vice versa. If you're buying bedding, again, measure the thickness of the mattress. If you have a pillow top mattress, you might want to get the next bigger size, and make sure the sheets you pick fit thicker mattresses. All packages contain overall measurements.

Watch for sales. Keep a "wish list" in your day timer and delay your gratification if you know these items go on sale from time to time. Craft stores give huge discounts on baskets, frames, silk flowers, and decorative boxes, but you have to be patient and wait for the sales.

Dress for the store. Like Charity said, if you're going into a nice clothing store, dress really nice. If you're going into Home Depot, leave the heels at home and look like a contractor who might spend a lot of money there. Do your homework and learn the names of things so you can ask where the items are. Use the people who work there to help you find the items. Ask questions. Take notes and go in with a good shopping list.