Top Three Biggest Shopping Mistakes

Shopping can be extremely fun, but it can also be dangerous territory. Luckily, believe it or not, there are actually rules out there to stop you from making major shopping mistakes.

The following is a short list of common shopping blunders that will cost you your hard earned time and money.

Shopping Blunder #1: Buying Gift That Are (Too) Personal
When you’re buying gifts, unless you really know that person, it’s best to keep the gifts general. Clothes, for example, are extremely hard to buy for other people, because fashion is so personal. Plus, you never know if they’re going to fit. The same goes for shoes. Items on the safe list? Gift certificates, lotion and/or bath sets, music, DVDs, and books.

Shopping Blunder #2: Leaving it to the Last Minute
People do foolish things when they’re rushed and panicked. If you leave shopping until the last minute, you’re much more likely to buy just any old thing you see. So here’s my mathematical formula for the day—the likelihood of having to return an item goes up exponentially with the degree of frenzy with which you bought it. Give yourself some time to think, and your purchases will improve. But if you’ve got a particularly hectic schedule (and who doesn’t) it can be hard to get out to the stores. And it can be darn near impossible to get out to the stores early. So for all you busy shopper, try online shopping. No commute, no parking, no lines.

Shopping Blunder #3: Getting Sucked in by Sales Signs
Sometimes sales seem like such a good deal you can’t possibly pass them up. But they can also sucker you into buying things you don’t really need. After all, just because a toaster is half off, doesn’t mean you don’t have a perfectly fine toaster at home.

Always remember, even a little money spent on something you won’t use is still money wasted.

by Liz Herrin