Every time I go shopping, I often find myself facing the same problem; a problem that I’m sure is common among many of us. I never go into a shopping trip knowing what I actually need.
I go into my usual stores almost every time, and as I make my way through all of the new and exciting clothing that just arrived, I find myself getting too caught up and I grab everything I could possibly be interested in. I like to try new things a lot, especially in the way of clothes, so this usually means I have about 20 items in my hand, including the pink sparkly ballerina-inspired top I would never actually wear.
The problem with shopping like this is that if I don’t go into the trip knowing what I want, I’ll end up buying ten shirts that I don’t need because I already have enough shirts to clothe my entire graduating class back home. I also waste time on items like the pink top because I’ll say that I don’t have something like it, but then when I try it on I realize why.
Another problem that comes with not preparing ahead of time is coming home with clothing that doesn’t actually match anything else in my wardrobe, or having a shirt that can only go with one skirt, so I’ll end up wearing it once and letting it sit in the back of my closet, untouched for months. Doing this wastes a lot of money and it gives us the false sense of not having any clothes because we can’t wear anything in our wardrobe anymore. In reality, we have more than enough but nothing to pair it with.
If you do a little research ahead of time, and make a list of what you need, you’ll be saving a lot of money and get a lot more wear out of your clothes. It doesn’t need to be complicated at all, it can simply be making a mental note every now and then of things you keep seeing people wear that has caught your eye for a while.
Another helpful hint is that because almost every clothing store has its product online, you can shop ahead and plan exactly what you want to get from your stores, so you don’t get distracted by other things you don’t need. This saves a lot of time and is actually really fun! There are also many magazines and websites that will have a list of wardrobe essentials that are up-to-date with each season.
Another alternative is if you are someone who likes to sometimes splurge on new things, put your money towards accessories instead. Buying new jewellery and handbags adds another layer to your outfit and can help change the items you have, and make old items new and exciting. Accessories are great to mix and match with anything.
Although it’s exciting to go shopping sometimes with no expectations in mind, by preparing ahead for your trips, you will be saving a lot of money and get much more wear out of your clothes!