![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.imoney.my\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/27141631\/12_12_sale.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>1.\u00a0It’s all about budgeting<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nLike all things involving money, a good and well-planned budget is the key to ensuring that you don’t go broke while pursuing your goals. And yes, this applies to your shopping budget too. This might seem like something basic, but never underestimate how much a budget plan can save you from a massive financial headache.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOnce you have a budget planned out, you will begin to pay more attention to that big limit that you placed for yourself. Even the most undisciplined spender will have that limit somewhere in the back of their mind. One more advantage that a budget offers is that once you end up over the limit, you might end up thinking about what to filter out of your cart to keep within your budget. You might even realise that you can live without some of the items you wanted to buy for a little while longer. Setting your budget does not just keep you from overspending, but to spend more wisely. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>2.\u00a0Planning ahead<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nAnother tip that may seem elementary at first, but will go a long way to helping you keep costs low and within your planned budget. November and December are big spending months. Some people might have anticipated this shopping spree for weeks, if not months. As such, it is no surprise if people start endlessly browsing and adding more items to the cart that they might want but not necessarily need.<\/span><\/p>\nIn order to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, plan ahead before partaking in the shopping fest. List down all the items you need first and how much they cost. Once all the necessities are sitting comfortably at the top of the list, then you can start adding the items that you really, really want. These will likely be things such as additional hobbies that will likely keep you happy for months to come. If you still have some leftover cash in your budget, then you can start noting down items that you would like to have, but can live without for the time being.<\/span><\/p>\nWith this, you will have a decent list to help you stay on budget. Even if you do go over budget, the list should be able to help you filter out what you can\u2019t afford to buy for now.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>3.\u00a0Research your purchases<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nFor those who are less \u201cshopping inclined\u201d, online shopping is a lot more\u2026complicated than you might think. For example, let’s say that one of the things you need is a new television. So all you have to do is go online, look for a TV, click add to cart and then buy. Simple right? Well, what about the size of the TV? Can it fit in your intended area? Is it wall mounted or standing? What features are you looking for? Do you want a 4K TV? Or maybe even an 8K one? What brand should you go for?<\/span><\/p>\nAs you can see, there are many different types of the same item from different brands, all with different specifications and price points. A TV with all the specifications you want might be way too expensive for your tastes, but a similar TV from a different brand might cost less. In order to avoid the hair pulling stress of trying to figure all of this out on the day itself, take some time to do some research beforehand. That way, you can identify what item you want, as well as a bunch of backup purchases if the discount for isn\u2019t as high as you expected.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>4.\u00a0Make sure it really is a discount<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nOnline shopping and marketplaces are great. However, they also leave plenty of room for dishonest merchants to shortchange you. One common trick that certain merchants use is to quietly mark-up their prices prior to a big sale date, such as 11.11 or 12.12 before adding a discount. <\/span><\/p>\nThis means that you might still be paying around the regular price even after hefty discounts. To ensure you do not get tricked by these shams, do your research weeks before a big sale and note down how much an item you want costs and which vendors are selling them. You will also want to look at similar items being offered by different vendors so you can have a backup plan in case dishonest merchants want to fleece you of your cash.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>5.\u00a0Make full use of any cashback<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nWith all the purchases that you will end up making this month, it makes perfect sense for you to take advantage of as many cashback opportunities that you can get your hands on. Keep an eye out for any apps that offer cashback. Those who have cashback credit cards can also put them to good use. Like vouchers and coupons, the number might seem low at first glance, but it really does add up in total.<\/span><\/p>\n
Once you have a budget planned out, you will begin to pay more attention to that big limit that you placed for yourself. Even the most undisciplined spender will have that limit somewhere in the back of their mind. One more advantage that a budget offers is that once you end up over the limit, you might end up thinking about what to filter out of your cart to keep within your budget. You might even realise that you can live without some of the items you wanted to buy for a little while longer. Setting your budget does not just keep you from overspending, but to spend more wisely. <\/span><\/p>\n Another tip that may seem elementary at first, but will go a long way to helping you keep costs low and within your planned budget. November and December are big spending months. Some people might have anticipated this shopping spree for weeks, if not months. As such, it is no surprise if people start endlessly browsing and adding more items to the cart that they might want but not necessarily need.<\/span><\/p>\n In order to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, plan ahead before partaking in the shopping fest. List down all the items you need first and how much they cost. Once all the necessities are sitting comfortably at the top of the list, then you can start adding the items that you really, really want. These will likely be things such as additional hobbies that will likely keep you happy for months to come. If you still have some leftover cash in your budget, then you can start noting down items that you would like to have, but can live without for the time being.<\/span><\/p>\n With this, you will have a decent list to help you stay on budget. Even if you do go over budget, the list should be able to help you filter out what you can\u2019t afford to buy for now.<\/span><\/p>\n For those who are less \u201cshopping inclined\u201d, online shopping is a lot more\u2026complicated than you might think. For example, let’s say that one of the things you need is a new television. So all you have to do is go online, look for a TV, click add to cart and then buy. Simple right? Well, what about the size of the TV? Can it fit in your intended area? Is it wall mounted or standing? What features are you looking for? Do you want a 4K TV? Or maybe even an 8K one? What brand should you go for?<\/span><\/p>\n As you can see, there are many different types of the same item from different brands, all with different specifications and price points. A TV with all the specifications you want might be way too expensive for your tastes, but a similar TV from a different brand might cost less. In order to avoid the hair pulling stress of trying to figure all of this out on the day itself, take some time to do some research beforehand. That way, you can identify what item you want, as well as a bunch of backup purchases if the discount for isn\u2019t as high as you expected.<\/span><\/p>\n Online shopping and marketplaces are great. However, they also leave plenty of room for dishonest merchants to shortchange you. One common trick that certain merchants use is to quietly mark-up their prices prior to a big sale date, such as 11.11 or 12.12 before adding a discount. <\/span><\/p>\n This means that you might still be paying around the regular price even after hefty discounts. To ensure you do not get tricked by these shams, do your research weeks before a big sale and note down how much an item you want costs and which vendors are selling them. You will also want to look at similar items being offered by different vendors so you can have a backup plan in case dishonest merchants want to fleece you of your cash.<\/span><\/p>\n With all the purchases that you will end up making this month, it makes perfect sense for you to take advantage of as many cashback opportunities that you can get your hands on. Keep an eye out for any apps that offer cashback. Those who have cashback credit cards can also put them to good use. Like vouchers and coupons, the number might seem low at first glance, but it really does add up in total.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>2.\u00a0Planning ahead<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>3.\u00a0Research your purchases<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>4.\u00a0Make sure it really is a discount<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>5.\u00a0Make full use of any cashback<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n