Window shopping is a great way to enjoy shopping ventures without spending money. However, it takes restraint to keep the cash and credit cards tucked away. Adding structure to this pastime can make the process easier and more fun.
Schedule Shopping Trips
The greatest downfall of shopaholics is their tendency to head out to the stores on a whim. While spontaneity can be a great personality trait, the impromptu shopping trip creates a forward momentum for risk-taking that can easily end in an impulse buy. Psychologically, the purchase (whether or not it is actually used or worn) becomes a reward for shopping on a whim, and becomes more likely to occur again.
Avoid creating this cycle by scheduling shopping trips. Rather than producing a quick thrill, this gives a person something to look forward to. Treat the shopping trip like an important occasion or special outing. Get dressed up for it. Call girlfriends. Spend the day at the mall or at the local outlet. Consider it a reward for having control over personal spending.
The best days to go are those when there is no work or school, and there will be at least three to five hours available to browse leisurely.
Try Things on Now
A big mistake that impulse buyers make is not trying things on (or out). This is unfortunate because a great deal of items end up unused or unworn with price tags still in them. They don't fit, they don't look good, or they are simply unneeded.
Window shoppers try everything. This means picking out all desired clothing and hitting the fitting room or really inspecting that end table or desk lamp. It also means asking oneself important questions, as if the items were going to be purchased. Does this item have a practical use? When can it be used or worn? How long will it last? Is this the right item to add to the house or wardrobe?
The most enjoying part of window shopping is imagining the possibilities. Fantasizing about owning the items chosen in-store and how great they would look on one's person is something like children playing house or dress-up. It is an adventure created by the person, not by the items themselves. This reframes the entire premise of shopping for pleasure, where imagination rules over spending.
Make A Loose Commitment to Buy Later
Buying is fun, but one doesn't have to spend money in order have a great shopping trip. It is the planning, the anticipation, and the imagination that come together to form an enjoyable and memorable experience. Make a tentative decision to purchase top picks during the next outing, provided that they are tried out a second time before finalizing anything. In most cases, the items are forgotten and what becomes more important is planning the next window shopping adventure.
Related article: Frugal Shopper Spending Habits.
Nadia Santiago - As a contributing writer, I hope to share with readers the knowledge and expertise I've gained through experience and research in a ...
