Tips for Shopping that Create a Hassle-Free and Mindful Experience!

Are you an avid shopper? Do you love to indulge and spoil yourself from time to time? Shopping is a great stress relief, and is a recognized form of self-care. So why not partake in this luxury as much as you can? 

We want to share with you some shopping tips to make sure your next trip the mall is stress-free and fun! 

1. Have a plan. 
One of the biggest time killers when out on a shopping spree is the constant trek to and from various stores. Budget your time wisely by planning in advance what stores you want to hit-up, so you can visit them according to where they are in the mall, rather than running back and forth all day long. 

2. Ditch online shopping once and for all. 
As convenient as the world of online shopping has made consumerism, it may be worth it to shop the "traditional" way. Being able to see and touch things in store allows you to better imagine what you can do with that item, whether it be clothing, home decor, or another treat. Whenever you pull out your credit card to shop online, you risk ending up with items you do not really like in person. Plus, think of all the packaging you're saving by shopping in person, instead of shipping items across the country. Being eco-friendly is always in fashion. 

3. Purchase clothing items during their off-season. 
The best time to buy a winter coat is in the Spring, and the best time to buy a swimsuit is in the Fall. Seems counter-intuitive right? If you can, buy all new clothing items during their off-seasons as that is when companies begin offering huge markdowns on items to sell through the remainder of their stock. 

4. Pay with cash. 
It can be easy to lose track of your spending and go over budget when you're simply swiping your credit card all over town. Pull out as much cash as you intend to spend when you go shopping so you can keep a constant eye on your budget. Plus, watching your hard earned cash exchanging hands all day may prompt you to save a little more than planned for!

5. Find your favorite retailers on social media. 
It can really help to follow your favorite brands and stores on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as sometimes they post about sales, deals, new products, and contests. Follow @shorttripsca on Instagram and Twitter if you have not already, as we post coupon codes from time to time as well!

6. Recognize when to save and when to splurge. 
While it is great to be frugal with money and always search for the best deal available on a particular item, sometimes it can really pay off to splurge a little. Some items are a lot higher quality than others. Take shoes for instance, if you buy a cheap pair that only lasts a month, you will be forced to buy 12 pairs per year. Whereas if you spend $200 on a good, sturdy, pair of shoes, it will be cheaper in the long run. 

7. Don't fall for bells and whistles. 
Whenever you see fancy and expensive gift kits, such as perfume sets, a large portion of the cost is going to cover the packaging. Keep that in mind.

These tips are sure to help you out with your shopping needs. If you love to shop then check out our upcoming New York shopping trip here: https://www.shorttrips.ca/new-york-state-shopping-trip.html