Be a star shopper this holiday season
The end of year is approaching and you can already feel the stress building up! Lengthy to do lists, gift shopping and dinners/ lunches to attend to.
This month’s column is about how to save money, time and also staying sane as you navigate through the holiday shopping madness!
Here are some simple tips to keep in mind the next time you go out shopping.
Shopping
Dress for the occasion
Wear clothes that are easy to change in and out of (less buttons and hooks). So it will be less tiring and more fun to try out more clothes.
‘Clearance/ sale corner’
Make the most for your buck in checking out the ‘Clearance /sale corner’ before looking at the full priced items
Miss independent
The only opinion that matters is ultimately ‘yours’. So why not shop alone to avoid distractions and confusion
Try it on! Try it on!
Clothes are meant to be worn, not to be hung. So how it looks while hung would be completely different to how it might look when worn. So don’t be lazy try it on. You might miss out on something amazing.
Love at first sight!
First impressions count! If you absolutely love the item don’t think twice. Even if it is for a later occasion like a wedding or party, better to buy it right away when you find one. How often do we find good ones when we need?
Get help!
Sales assistants have been made available for your convenience. You could get information on care instructions, return policies, and get sizes or even some style tips! But be kind & respectful towards them, they are human too!
Join the club
Find out if they have memberships or even alert of stores you love, so you would not miss out on new arrivals, promotions and giveaways! It’s hard to find places where you would love the fit, collection etc so when you find them stay in touch!
For your protection
Public places crawl with various types of offenders during the busy seasons. So be aware of your personal belongings. Be aware of the amount of cash in your purse, check your bank statements regularly. Check your wallet/ credit cards every time you leave a store. Also be very careful in parking lots.
Few more pointers:
- Hang on to your purchase receipts and keep the price tags on the items
- Also don’t indulge in body shaming. Different designers have different size standards. So chose the item according to your body, not the label
Hope these help you through the coming Christmas and New Year shopping!
The writer of this column is a young entrepreneur and fashion designer at Butterfly Apparel. She is also the co-owner of the store along with her husband Yasok Nagarajah. You can follow their page on facebook.com/butterfly.apparel
Preparation for shopping
What’s hiding in your closet?
Tidy up your closet, all of it including shoes and jewelry. Sort anything you could also giveaway (so that too is done and dusted for the season!). Take pictures of items you might want to buy something to match it with.
Budget it!
Write a list of all your shopping items and gifts for others. Make sure you also write the size, age and preferences for the gifts so you won’t be wasting time thinking. Also set a budget so you have something to work around.
Hit Cyber Space!
Most retailers have a website, facebook fan page etc so best you check out each one of your favorite stores before you hit the streets. You can also compare prices and find out about any upcoming sales and promotions.
Take care of the basic needs!
Never shop when you’re hungry, upset, sick or tired. Carry a water bottle and some extra cash for food. Take breaks in between. The world was not created in a day!