5 Frugal shopping rules

One of the hardest things for me when I started my frugal journey was learning how to change how I shop.

These days I do most of my shopping online and get as much as I can delivered. However, whether I am shopping online or in the store, having a set of rules helps me stay on budget.

I started setting up “shopping rules,” as I called them, when I came up with my budget system. Having good strategies to work alongside your budget helps it work.

Not only do they help you stay on budget, but they also help you if, like me, you are someone with bad shopping habits.

So today, I will be sharing with you my top 5 shopping rules that I use when shopping.

Rule One

Make a List

I know that you have heard this a million times and today is a million and one. So make a list every time you shop, and make sure you take it with you or have it with you (when shopping online).

That’s right, even though I am sitting at my computer typing in my grocery delivery order, I have a list next to me. Having a list and sticking to the list helps you stop overspending and compulsively shopping. Not to mention saves you money in the long run.

But there is more to having a list, like what you put on that list. With the cost of food (well, the cost of Everything) rising. You want to ensure that you only put things you can afford on the list. Plus, you want to make sure that you have planned what you will do with the items on your list.

Rule Two

Plan every shopping trip

Whether in person or online, you should plan all your shopping.

Example:

Every payday, I make my grocery list for Walmart delivery; I also fill my gas tank on this day; on the first of every month, I pick the meat I will get delivered from Crowd cow.

Planning your trips have a lot of benefits. If you have to go to multiple locations, you can make a route that will help you save gas as you make your trips. You can ensure you have enough time to get what you need to be done. You will feel less stressed or overwhelmed. The following is a list of things you can plan ahead of time:

Oil changes or car maintenance

Grocery shopping

back to school shopping

Hardware store trips

Doctor appointments (make sure you prepare for the Co-pay)


Special Events

Dentist appointments

Medication drops off and pickup

Child drop-off and pickup

Animal vet appointments and grooming

Rule Three

Budget

You should have a set number of what you can spend on each trip that you make.

If you are shopping for kids’ school clothes, then you should have a budget for how much you are going to spend, for example:

Let’s say you have two kids (a boy and a girl)

You will budget how much you will spend on each child base on their school needs.

So, your girl is in elementary school, so you budget about $200

Your son is in middle school and on football time, so you budget about $500 for him

Other things you should have a budget for:

Household cleaning supplies

Clothing and shoes

Haircuts and hair care

Car maintenance

Groceries

Birthday parties

Events

Vacations

These are just to name a few things at the moment.

Rule Four

One and Done

This rule is what I use when it comes to shopping for my home. I try to buy things I can use for a long time or last many years. The longer you can use items in your home, the less you have to buy. This saves you money in the long run.

Because of this rule, I also don’t have a lot of clutter in my home either. I don’t have a junk drawer because Everything in my house has a purpose; if it doesn’t, I find someone else who wants it or can use it.

Rule Five

Out with the old, in with the new

I started using this rule to help with my bad habits when it came to shopping for clothes. For a long time, I really didn’t buy clothes that much. Most of the time, I purchased for my children. When I started buying for myself (I just could not stop), I went overboard, to say the least.

Once I acknowledged the fact that I had a problem, I put this rule to work. It’s straightforward, If I want to buy something, I have to get rid of something.

Example:

If I want new sneakers, I think of an old pair.

If I want new pants, I give away an old pair of pants.

Bonus Rule

Well, I could not leave without sharing my most important rule.

Never pay the total price if you don’t have to

That’s right, I get discounts, cash back, clearance, shop sales, and coupons for Everything I buy. I get whatever I need for as low as I can.

Well, that’s all I have for today; I hope this helps you on your journey.

Thank you for reading Everything Frugal.

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