It’s that time of year again, with fall settling in we see the kids going to back to high school, the college kids moving to the campus, and the adult crowd gearing up for cooler weather. Inevitably, the fall brings busier times, with colder weather to follow, but it does provide one distinct benefit…our ability to go shopping for a new wardrobe! Keep in mind that a typical family of four can spend thousands on back-to-school supplies, clothes, and general necessities. This is precisely why you need to heed some advice on how to save money on this year’s shopping excursion.
Footwear is crazy expensive, and the fall and winter typically require a few different shoe styles. We need gym shoes for working out, dress shoes for going to work, and then a pair of casual shoes for going out on the weekends. Worst of all, the snow, salt, and ice wreak havoc on those shoes. This is why it pays to save on purchasing them. See what deals you can find on nike.com. That way you will know you get the best gear and will also look great. Put your new gear somewhere that you’ll see it all the time so if you don’t use it, at least it will remind you that wasted your money on something useful.
Shop ahead of time and shop online! Brick-and-mortar stores are a lot more expensive than purchasing items online. They have inventory to store and utilities to pay. Shopping at stores with lower overhead will save you a lot of money. Plus you often aren’t limited in selection, by shopping online you can visit 20 stores in the time it would take you to browse around 1 in person. The key to saving money here is making sure to shop ahead. Don’t wait for the first blizzard before you buy a winter coat and boots. The best deals are always had when the items aren’t immediately needed.
Make a list and stick to it! The mother of all budget killers is the “impulse buy”. In order to avoid impulse buying you need to make a list of items that you need, and occasionally want, and stick to those items only. Stores make a lot of money by strategically placing items where shoppers most often browse, simply because they understand human nature. Avoid the impulse and stick to the list, your wallet will thank you for it.