5 common shopping mistakes

Ola! How are you doing?  I am back from a lovely vacation feeling absolutely rejuvenated and excited to share more content with you all. Now that I am settling back into routine, I am also thinking about Thanksgiving and of course Black Friday/Cyber Monday!

Do you love shopping? Ah! I heard you say “yes”. So do I 🙂  As much as I love shopping, I am trying to do mindful shopping and avoid some mistakes while shopping. This is a conscious decision taken as a consequence of some of my own mistakes. Also because these days I am purging many belongings that I no longer use and shopping mindfully will help me reduce that clutter too.

So, here are the 5 common mistakes that you can avoid while shopping this season and beyond.

1. Auto-renewal subscriptions 

It all begins with the free trial sign up. I know it sounds awesome and luring especially with the discount offered with the first purchase. But remember they all lead up to auto renewed paid subscriptions. We surely do not want to spend more to get rewards. Unless you are someone who remembers to cancel your subscription before your free trial ends or you really want to continue with the subscription  you may want to think twice before you sign up for free trial. I recently had to hunt down my emails and bank statements just to check for the various subscriptions I signed up for so that I could unsubscribe for the ones I am really not using.

2. Not checking the dimensions before buying 

This is not just a mistake while shopping online. It could happen in physical stores as well. And its not just for clothes and footwear but for other things including decor, furniture etc. Paying little attention to the dimensions before getting something home to check if it fits in well with your need goes a long way. May be try carrying a measuring tape to the store and check before hand the required dimensions. Don’t forget to read the dimensions mentioned in the product description while buying online. Return is always an option but why go through the pain when we can avoid. Sometimes it comes with a cost.

3. Coupon codes and Sales

This could be very luring and is like a chicken and egg situation. Do you buy because you have a coupon or do you look for a coupon because you want to buy? I know its hard! I prefer to do the latter and I am guilty of doing the former. Just think what works best based on the product, the sale season and of course the price difference based on the coupon. This may be important this time of the year as we tend to just buy something because the price is marked down. Well, just ask yourself “Do I really want it? Do I see myself using it?”  Do yourself a favor and delete the coupon email or discard the physical mail instantly if you did not intend to buy a particular thing until you saw that coupon(except for grocery).  Rather, I try to find a coupon or wait until I find a coupon (if the thing is not really a necessity) before I shop for a certain thing.

4. Shopping lists are not for fun 

That was a note to self! Most of us are good with making shopping lists, but how many of us really take them or look at them while shopping and even if we do, stick to it? Well, that is what we got to do. As you get ready for Thanksgiving shopping, make a list of the stuff that you have been waiting to buy at reduced prices and try sticking to it. Brownie point : If you stick to the list, you may want to get yourself just one thing you have not planned for but you just found it worth buying.

5. Waiting until last minute 

When you wait until last minute to buy something, especially which you are likely to spend more as we are desperate to get it so would not mind spending extra bucks to get it. You may not get enough time to do research, compare prices and may also end up buying stuff that you really don’t need but purchased as a precaution.

That’s it folks. Putting this list together helped me introspect my mistakes and work towards correcting them.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping! What is that one thing on your mind you know you are waiting to grab this season?

– Signing off

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21 Comments

  • Reply
    Vrinda
    November 16, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    Let’s practice this 🙂

    • Reply
      Lakshmi
      November 16, 2018 at 1:54 pm

      Yes yes! 1- done! 3 and 4 put into effect this Thanksgiving!

  • Reply
    Adriana
    November 20, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    OMG! I swear by shopping lists! They are beyond useful

  • Reply
    Jeannette
    November 20, 2018 at 11:42 pm

    This is the bain of my online shopping existence–Auto-renewal subscriptions. I always want the deal, but HATE that I forget to cancel subscriptions!

  • Reply
    Elizabeth O
    November 21, 2018 at 4:52 am

    Yes in a rush hour and when you are in a hurry or in the busy days we never notice it at all. This is such a great tips to know the important of details of the items.

  • Reply
    Ashley N Rice
    November 21, 2018 at 9:43 am

    I always try to remember to cancel trail subscriptions. I’m usually always so good at it! Sometimes it slips through the cracks. So, now I have started setting reminders in my phone!

  • Reply
    Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs
    November 21, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    Very good timing as Black Friday fastly approaches! I always make lists to help keep me on track, I would be lost without them!

  • Reply
    Luci
    November 21, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Great tips! Thank you.
    I’m terrible at canceling subscriptions before the auto-renewal happens. But I am very good at keeping a shopping list and looking at it while shopping. I use the Wunderlist app, which is on my phone, my computer and also on my husband’s devices. This way we can both update the list before and during shopping.
    xx Luci

  • Reply
    Catherine Santiago Jose
    November 21, 2018 at 7:07 pm

    I agree with all of these and I an personally always mindful when it comes to auto renewal subscriptions and I was able to request for cancellation before coming the renewal date.

  • Reply
    Khushboo Motihar
    November 21, 2018 at 7:27 pm

    I have faced problems with Auto-renewal subscriptions before. I always forget to stop it in time. I loved your practical tips and advice to avoid common shopping mistakes.

  • Reply
    Christa
    November 21, 2018 at 8:17 pm

    Funny story: I saw a great purse on sale online. It was an unbelievable price. Without checking dimensions, I ordered it. When it was delivered, I was shocked to see it was just barely big enough to hold my phone. Lol. I always check dimensions now. Great tips!

  • Reply
    Geraline Batarra
    November 21, 2018 at 11:32 pm

    This is something that we need to watch for most especially something that talking about auto renewal.

  • Reply
    Maartje van Sandwijk
    November 22, 2018 at 3:56 am

    These are great tips! I’m horrible at subscriptions because I just don’t feel like cancelling them – even if I no longer need them.

  • Reply
    Noor
    November 22, 2018 at 4:29 am

    Discount codes/vouchers are absolutely luring most of the times. Be clever to read the terms and conditions to prevent disappointments. Thanks for the pointing out these shopping mistakes.

  • Reply
    Rosey
    November 22, 2018 at 6:05 am

    Last minute shopping can be fun IF everything is done and it’s just an impulse addition buy. Using it for shopping period, would def. be stressful.

  • Reply
    Preet
    November 22, 2018 at 8:02 am

    This is something I need to remember every single day! I love the topic and how it can be an eye-opener for consumers like me.

  • Reply
    Marcie
    November 23, 2018 at 8:18 am

    Such a good point about subscription services! I always put a reminder in my Google calendar to cancel before it autorenews!

  • Reply
    rhea
    November 23, 2018 at 8:54 am

    It’s black friday here in dubai, and oh my it is madness! I dont usually gets excited but if sephora is included i usually go Gaga over it! LOL. I’m a minimalist and only buy my product empties. I’m so proud of myself leaving the mall with only 3 purchases items. Yes you are right we should know the purpose what were about to buy otherwise it will just add the clutter on our house.

  • Reply
    Bree
    November 23, 2018 at 10:32 am

    I agree to all these – the auto renewal can really suck. You forget then your stuck with bills.

  • Reply
    Amanda
    December 3, 2018 at 10:06 am

    Oh, I’ve done #2 before!! Ordered things that were too big AND too small! LOL

  • Reply
    Amanda Rosson
    December 5, 2018 at 10:47 pm

    Great tips! I really struggle with the coupon codes and sales one – I can definitely be guilty of buying stuff just because it’s on sale! >.<

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