16 Life hacks To Make Your Shopping Easier
Shopping is one of the most stressful things we do. It can be time-consuming and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be.
I’ve rounded up some life hacks that will make your shopping experience easier so you can get back to doing what you love—whether that’s relaxing at home, spending time with friends and family, or even getting out there and socializing.
-
Have a budget in mind before you go, shopping
One of the best ways to make your shopping experience more enjoyable is to have a budget in mind before you go. If you know how much money you want to spend, it will be easier to stick to that amount, which means less stress when you get home with all your goodies.
If you don’t know how much money you want to spend, then set a goal for yourself—like five minutes or ten items—and try not to exceed that number. You’ll be able to keep focused on what you actually need and want, instead of spending too much time trying things on and just wasting money.
And if all else fails? Give yourself permission to splurge on one thing!
-
Always prepare a shopping list in advance
This is one of the best ways to make your grocery shopping more successful, and it’s so easy to do! Just take some time to write down everything you need to buy before you go, and you’ll be much more likely to get what you want without forgetting anything important.
It can be so easy to bring home things you didn’t intend to buy when you’re out shopping. But if you’re not careful, you might end up with a lot of stuff that is just taking up space in your house—and it could even be stuff that’s hard to return.
When you’re shopping, it can be tempting to just buy whatever looks good at the moment. But if you make a list in advance, you’ll have a much easier time sticking to your budget and getting everything on your list—without having to hit up another store later.
If you have an app on your phone that helps you keep track of what’s in your pantry, try using it when you’re making a shopping list. This way, you’ll know exactly how much of each item is left at home and whether or not you need to get more before heading out for the day.
-
Check the expiration dates
Most food products are only good for a certain amount of time, and if you don’t follow those expiration dates, your food could go bad or even make you sick. That’s why I recommend checking the expiration dates on everything before buying anything.
If you see an expiration date that is less than a week away, it may be best to avoid buying that item if it has not been refrigerated. If you see an expiration date that is more than a month away, it will likely be okay to purchase and consume without refrigeration.
If you don’t have a refrigerator at your home, don’t bother foodstuff that requires refrigeration.
-
Buy in bulk when it’s worth it, don’t when it isn’t
When you’re shopping, it’s easy to get carried away with the idea that you need to buy everything you see.
But if you have a limited budget, you can’t afford to do that. So here are some ideas for how to make your shopping more sustainable:
* Buy in bulk when it’s worth it, don’t when it isn’t. If something is really expensive, but only comes in small quantities, then that might be a good time to purchase in bulk. But if something is cheap and comes in large quantities (like toilet paper), then buying one roll at a time is probably fine—you’ll just be throwing away less packaging.
* Look for multi-use items. Rather than buying several different products (like shampoo and conditioner), look for ones that will serve multiple functions (like shampoo/conditioner combo). This will reduce the amount of packaging waste from your purchases and save money as well!
It’s worth it to buy in bulk when you know that you’re going to use the product over time, or when the cost per unit is cheaper than buying a smaller amount. It’s not worth it if you have no idea what you’ll do with all of that extra product or if the cost per unit goes up because of larger quantities.
-
Don’t go to supermarket hungry or thirsty
Don’t go to supermarket hungry or thirsty. You’ll be tempted by all of the delicious-looking foods on display, and if you’re hungry or thirsty, it’ll be even harder to resist those temptations. Instead, go after having eaten a satisfying meal at home (or better yet—after eating that satisfying meal at home). That way, you won’t be tempted by temptation!
-
Bring your own reusable bag
When going out for shopping, it is always recommend you bringing your own reusable bags with you when you go shopping. Not only does this save money (because you won’t have to pay for carrier bags), but it also helps cut down on wastefulness . Plus, if there are ever any issues with your bag breaking or tearing during use (as sometimes happens), it’s easy enough.
-
Buy the right size.
The best way to avoid the hassle of returns is to buy the right size in the first place.
If you’re shopping for clothes, try them on before you buy them—you should be able to fit in one or two sizes smaller than what you normally wear. If you’re shopping for shoes, check out to find out how to measure your feet correctly.
Here are some lifehacks that will make your shopping experience easier:
1. Buy the right size! You may think that buying a smaller size is more flattering, but it’s actually not. A piece of clothing that fits you well will show off your body better than one that doesn’t fit at all.
2. Always try things on before buying them! It’s easy to forget how something looks and feels on your body when you’re looking at it in the dressing room, so always try things on before making a purchase.
3. Don’t buy things that don’t fit! If something doesn’t look good on you or feel comfortable, don’t buy it no matter how much you love it in the store or online—you’ll only end up hating yourself later if you do buy it (and then never wear).
4. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t look good on your body type! No matter how much marketing tells you otherwise, not every piece of clothing looks good on everyone—and if it does manage to look good on someone else’s body type, there’s no guarantee that it’ll look good.
-
Watch out for offers and promotions
If you’re looking for a specific product, check out the website of your favorite store or retailer. They’ll often have special offers and promotions that will let you save money on items you want to buy.
If you’re looking for something specific and it’s not showing up on the website, call the store! They might be able to help you find what you want in stock at another location.
You can also use gift cards to save money when shopping online. Just make sure to check out the terms of the card before buying one—some stores only let you use them on certain products, so read the fine print!
-
Check return policies before buying
When you’re shopping online, it’s easy to fall in love with a piece of clothing and not think twice about returning it. But if you don’t know how the store handles returns, you might be surprised by what happens when you bring back your purchases.
So before you hit “buy,” check out the store’s return policy—and make sure it works for you! If there are any fees or time restrictions, make sure those won’t put too much of a dent in your budget when the time comes to return an item.
And speaking of time restrictions… if there’s an expiration date on your receipt, make sure it’s enough time for you to actually wear what you bought! Don’t buy anything if they tell you they’ll only take returns within 48 hours of purchase—you’ll be stuck with something that doesn’t fit or isn’t quite right for longer than necessary.
-
Shop around before you purchase anything expensive
One of the best ways to save money is to shop around. If you’re looking to buy anything expensive, take your time and look around before making a purchase. If you can find a good deal on something, then go for it! But if you’re going to be left paying full-price for something, then wait and see if a better offer comes up.
Whether you’re buying a car or a couch, it’s always a good idea to shop around before making a big purchase.
This is especially true when you’re buying something expensive, like a new laptop or an engagement ring. You want to make sure that you’re getting the best deal possible, and that means doing your research and comparing prices at different stores.
If you’re buying something expensive online (like a laptop), make sure to check if there are any coupons or discounts available before ordering anything. This will help reduce costs and save you some money!
-
Shop in bulk
If you’re a busy person, it can be hard to find time to hit the supermarket. But if you buy in bulk, you can save time and money by shopping once a month or even once every two weeks. You’ll also be able to use your freezer or pantry to keep things like pasta and rice fresh for longer than usual.
-
Use price matching services.
When you shop online, most retailers offer a “price match” guarantee on identical items sold by other retailers. This means that if you find an item for less somewhere else, they’ll match it and give you the lower price.
First, check for a price match guarantee. Most major retailers have them and will match the price of any other retailer if you can find an item for less somewhere else. If the store doesn’t offer this service or you can’t find it on their website, call customer service and ask about it.
Second, use third-party services to monitor prices for you.
-
Be sure of what you want before you enter a supermarket
It’s all too easy to walk into a supermarket and get overwhelmed by all the options. You see something that looks good, but then you notice there are other things on the shelf you want too. And then you see another and another! Before you know it, your cart is full of things you didn’t really want in the first place.
So how can you avoid this? It’s simple: be sure of what you want before entering the supermarket. Make a list of what meals need to be prepared over the next couple days, and only buy those items. That way, when you get home and open up your bag of groceries, everything will be exactly what you intended.
-
Be flexible – if your favorite isn’t there, get something else
It’s hard to find the perfect product.
And it can be even harder when you’re looking for a specific item in a specific color, size, or style. But don’t despair! There are a few ways to make your shopping easier—and one of them is being flexible.
If your favorite brand isn’t available, or if the exact shade of red lipstick you want isn’t in stock, don’t give up hope! Instead, try something similar. You might find that you like it just as much, and it’ll save you some time and money.
-
Know where things are located in your supermarket
It’s a good idea to know where things are located in your supermarket, but when you’re looking for a certain item, it can be hard to find. Here are some tips on how to make shopping easier:
-First, look at the supermarket layout and know where everything is located. You don’t have to memorize it, but you should be able to find your way around the store easily.
-Second, pay attention to the supermarket’s signs and labels. These will help you find things more quickly and easily when you’re looking for them.
-
Shop online – order products online and have them delivered
Online shopping has never been easier or more convenient than it is now. You can shop from the comfort of your own home on sites like Jumia and Killmall, browse through thousands of products, and even get free shipping on orders.
If you’re looking for something specific, then this is definitely what you want to do. You can search for exactly what you need and find it quickly—and if there’s something you don’t see, then just leave a comment on the product page and they’ll get back to you with an answer!
It’s also great because you can get your order delivered right to your door in no time at all! Just sit back and relax while waiting for your package—it’ll be there before you know it!
-
Go shopping at night
Going shopping at night is a great way to save time, energy and money. By going after peak hours, you can avoid the crowds and enjoy more time with your family.
You can also get better prices on everything from clothes to electronics when you shop at night. This is because most stores have special deals for people who shop during off-peak hours.
If you’re looking for a new television set or other electronic item, you should definitely consider going shopping at night. Many stores will offer discounts for these items at night because they want to move them off their shelves quickly before they become obsolete.
Read>>>11 Best Shopping Malls In Nairobi
-
Keep your receipts
Keeping your receipts is a great way to keep track of your purchases and to get a refund if something goes wrong. For example, I once bought a pair of shoes and wore them for about two weeks before realizing they were too small for me, so I took them back to the store and got my money back.
It’s also helpful if you’re not sure if you want to keep something or not after buying it. You can take a quick look at your receipt to see what you paid for it, and then decide whether or not it’s worth keeping around.