As well as being on top of your list of interests, fashion is an essential part of everyday life. However, it’s an essential that doesn’t come for free and that needs clever thinking to make the most of it especially as there are often more pressing expenses than filling your wardrobe with the most killer outfits you can find. One of the easiest solutions to your shopping finances is to transform your shopping habits for the better. When it comes to fashion ask yourself whether you want more of the cheap stuff or less of the quality stuff. Less is often more especially if it passes the test of time and the washing machine. Learning to manage your shopping impulses can change dramatically how you handle fashion shopping and fashion budget.
Holiday shopping
Who doesn’t love going on holiday? The main issue with holiday shopping though is that it’s the kind of thing that you can’t postpone. Deals can be cost-friendly but they don’t last. Unfortunately, while deals can be advantageous in the long term a lot of them require up to 100% of fees to be paid within two weeks of booking and that means that you might need to rely on a same-day loan from New Horizons to handle your holiday booking. Or you could ask your parents to lend you money, but who likes to do that nowadays? You need to plan your holiday budget – yet it doesn’t mean that the budget is available all the time. For instance, if you’re planning to save £100 each month for a big holiday it’s likely that you won’t have accumulated the necessary amount if you book early so you will need to choose a deferred invoice or a loan option. Stick within your predicted saving though!
Car shopping
Buying a new car is exciting, but it can be tricky to stay within your budget- that’s why you need to define very clearly what you can afford, as opposed to what you aspire to own. Once you’ve decided on your car budget it’s helpful to research the different models and makes within this so that you can identify the kind of cars you prefer for your needs. Whatever you do, don’t just pick a car you love the look of, but pick a model that fits your needs. With cars, it’s best to be cautious!
House shopping
If you’re buying your first home you’ve probably noticed that the housing market is full of different options in terms of houses and mortgages. So before you begin your search for the dream home you should have a look at your credit score as this will define the kind of loan you can get. Sometimes it’s even better to postpone the house search so that you can improve your score. Then you need to set a realistic payment for your mortgage: don’t buy above your means or you won’t be able to afford to live! This is one of the most common mistakes new home-buyers make. Don’t bust your budget, buy a smaller house instead. More importantly, don’t forget to add maintenance, tax and utility costs when setting your budget.
Food shopping
According to Money Saving Expert you could save £1,000s on your yearly grocery shopping. As it is the supermarket’s job to make you spend you need to be aware of its tricks- from the magazines placed by the till to the sales-type signs for non-sales items. Take the downshift challenge to slash £1,500 off your grocery bill by cutting brands off and focusing on the value products. After all, value products don’t come at a low quality; they simply don’t have the same merchandising strategy than brands.
In short, don’t ask what you could have if you had the money. Instead, define your shopping priorities and keep an eye out for saving opportunities. The more you save, the more you have available to spend next time! So take the lead and steer your trolley to shopping savviness!
