I’m one of those people who hates to shop, but since the universe is always looking to achieve some kind of balance, I was given a sister who’s an avid shopaholic – she shops for the both of us while I babysit her kids, the perfect trade-off for both of us. Since we’re mostly taking trips and vacations together, I do know something about a shopaholic’s behavior. For one, they’re always worried about money, if they’re responsible shopaholics like my sister, that is – those who swear by the credit cards are not going to have any worries until the bills start mounting; for another, their noses are always trained to sniff out the best deals and bargains in town.

The perfect dream for shopaholics would be to maximise shopping at the minimum cost, a balance that hardly anyone seems to achieve. However, with just a little thought and a fair amount of effort, it’s easy to make the most of being a shopaholic and spend the least amount of money in doing so:

• Set a budget: While the best possible way to do this is to limit the cash you carry, leave your cards behind, and spend within the amount you have, this is not a very practical situation. I would suggest you use cards that have upper limits on how much you can spend, or use debit cards that provide access to accounts with limited amounts of money to finance your shopping. This way, you’ll avoid buying that extra pair of black ladies boots and are forced to choose according to your budget.
• Make lists: Save yourself both time and mental anguish by making lists of all that you need and sticking to them as much as possible. But since you’re a shopaholic, you can allow yourself a certain amount of leeway outside the list, and put aside enough money for one or two small extravagances as well. You get to enjoy the “have your cake and eat it too” experience of shopping this way.
• Wait for sales: Spend less money and shop more – which shopaholic would say no to this great offer? Hold your horses and wait for that time of the year when it’s cheaper to shop and buy more stuff for the same amount of money. You could also look for off-season discounts and stock up if you’re looking for great bargains.
• Don’t go on impulse buying sprees: Perhaps a shopaholic’s worst nightmare and best dream are intermingled – an impulse shopping spree that provides the greatest amount of happiness followed by the depths of despair. However, the sorrow lasts longer than the joy, so temper your impulse to shop impulsively and wait instead for your designated shopping trips. Your gratification is only deferred, not stolen from you.
• Use your common sense: Finally, use your common sense when you shop, because there are no hard and fast rules in shopping. There are times when it makes no sense to travel great distances just for a few dollars’ worth of discounts, and there are times to strike when the iron is hot. Remember, it’s all about buying as much as you can and spending as little as you can simultaneously, so use your common sense and make your shopping experience enjoyable.

Guest blogger: Tara Snyder, who writes on the topic of Online Training Schools . She can be reached at tara.snyder42(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

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