We all love to go shopping and have a lovely time picking out stuff we’ve been dying to get but sometimes we tend to make some mistakes when we go on a shopping spree. Here are some pointers on the blunders I have made and the tips on how I managed to plan better, for a more pleasurable shopping experience.

The Mistakes I Made Whilst Shopping

When I went shopping I used to make quite a few mistakes shopping that would leave me utterly frustrated and I did not enjoy shopping at all.

• Buying items I regret because it was on sale.

Now I have to confess when I went shopping I used to always go shopping when there a monthly end of month sale on everything. I am not saying buying things on sale are a bad thing but my fault in it was buying things in a rush because it was cheap and on sale. Other than that, some of the clothes I bought I never wore again- which was a real hassle for me to create an outfit because the rest of my clothes I did have didn’t go with it.

• Going over budget.

I recognized that I used to always overspend my money on the most expensive things on sale because I never planned out how and what I was going to buy. This ultimately led to me going out of bounds with my budget to get what I wanted that looked good and expensive.

• Sticking in one store the whole time.
• Going in certain sections of the store to buy things.
• Forgetting what you wanted to buy.
• Not inquiring on how long certain items will stay in the store that I was interested in buying.

How I Overcame Them

1. Don’t spend money on expensive merchandise right away, take your time and see what other stores have that can substitute that the over priced shoes or clothes. Thus you won’t regret
2. Spend time exploring the store for things you are interested in buying and do make a plan to check well in advance before the sale starts. I usually go at the beginning of the month to stores I do like and make a note of what I like, for when I stop buy to buy the clothes, accessories and shoes the next time I stop by the shop.
3. Don’t spend all your time in one store because chances are you could miss out on buying other things you would like that are at other stores.I usually got to different stores like Mr Price to get accessories or jackets and flannels; then I stop by at The Fix to get some tops and bags that are there and sometimes I buy shoes from a sports shop or CB stores. Just remember you shouldn’t knock down certain stores because sometimes they could have just what you needed, that fits your style.
4. Sometimes explore other sections of the store you go to because they could have something your closet needs. The guys’ section has clothes that you can try on and reinvent your style- buy a men’s sweatshirt and turn into a dress top that you pull off with some jeans or shorts. Plus it will be super comfy and a great way to slay when you don’t want to be too dolled up.
5. Outline what you need for the season and make a list on your phone of the items you want to get.
6. Bring a friend/sibling along who can assist you in selecting things that suit your style and their honest opinion of what you get from the stores. You won’t regret buying something you feel horrific in plus its always fun to shop with someone who knows your style and you are great friends with.
7. When I am window shopping for things, I always inquire with the store staff on how long the clothes I like will be available for. If the store only provides a certain restricted number of the clothes I want, I usually set up a later date to come and put it on lay-bye. I pay in installments over a course of three months and I don’t have to worry about certain clothes or shoes being gone.

Hope this helps you have a successful shopping trip!