Smart shopping strategies to buy what you really like

It's nice to have new things but sometimes, when you go shopping, you end up buying things that you realize you don't really need or don't like as much as you thought you did.

To become smart shoppers, we need to develop shopping strategies to make sure we buy the things that we really, really need and like so we don't end up wasting our hard-earned money.

Here are some of my learnings after so many shopping mistakes!:)

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1.  Have a Want List.  When you think you need or want something, don't rush to the mall right away to buy.  Just put it on your list.  You'll be surprised when you revisit your list, you'll realize that (1) you don't need some of them after all, (2) there's no need to buy that soon yet, or  (3) you've lost interest and like something else already.

It's the same for online shopping.   Just put the things you like in the shopping cart but don't buy yet.  Every time you visit your cart, you'll notice that items easily get trimmed down.  Just don't visit your Wants List too often. Visit it once a week or once a month.

It's really important to give thought to purchases especially major ones to avoid buyer's remorse.  Money could be saved instead of spent on something you end up rarely using or don't use at all.

My only exceptions to this rule are comfortable shoes and good fitting pants because it's hard to find the right size and nice fit when you need them the most.

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2.  Find pleasure from just seeing beautiful things.   There are a lot of things that I find pleasure from just looking (and not buying).  For example, I enjoy seeing furniture, artworks and home accessories - whether in stores,  houses or even in photos.  Even if let's say hypothetically I could afford any of them, I don't think I would buy just thinking of the upkeep and maintenance.

I used to have a fully-furnished place but last year, I decided to give away my furniture with the intention of getting new ones.  But after experiencing how easy it is to clean a place when you don't have so much,  I didn't end up replacing all of them.  I just ended up getting 3 pieces of furniture.  Haha...

Big, luxury bags are also nice to look, but again, I find pleasure from just seeing them in other people's arms because I find them too heavy to carry.  And I like it better when I am using a bag which won't stress me out if it gets wet or dirty.

So it's good to develop the habit of appreciating beautiful things from a distance.  And you know you've succeeded when you get your fix by just looking at them without any desire or urge to necessarily acquire them.

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3.  Know what you really, really like and go for quality if it's something you're going to use it frequently or long-term.   

To save on costs, sometimes you settle for something which is just okay then later on, you find yourself dissatisfied with your purchase so you end up buying another one, and another one.  If you combine all the costs of all the similar items you bought, you could have bought a high quality one which you really, really like.

For example, this happened to me when I wanted to get a pair of sunglasses to protect my eyes from UV rays.  I didn't give much thought to what kind of sunglasses I needed so I initially purchased a cheapo one because it had a sticker that says the lens screen UV rays.  But the lens was too dark when I drive.  So I bought another one that was a little more expensive with a lighter lens shade but every time I walk, I feel like I am falling because the pavement seems uneven.  Finally, I thought about what features were important for me - UV protection, light shade and quality lens that won't make me dizzy.  So after researching,  I got a pair of Ray-ban Ambermatic.  The lens remain light when the temperature is low and darken when the temperature is high. Perfect.  They are 2 years old now and I still love them.  They are my official driving sunglasses but I have another pair for a different purpose (a darker pair to cover my eyes when I am asleep during travels! Haha...).

I am a photography enthusiast and there was also time when I kept on changing cameras because I didn't spend time understanding what kind of camera I need.  Finally, about 3 years ago, I identified the most important camera features for me -  compact size, shoots well in low light, good macro capabilities and touchscreen so it's easy to focus on a subject.  I got a Canon S110 and haven't lusted for any other camera since then - even with newer models out in the market because my current camera still meets my most important criteria.

When you get something that you really like that meets your needs, you won't have the urge to get a new one for a long time.   Among my gadgets, I think my kindle holds the record.  My kindle is a 2nd gen (kindle is now on its 5th gen!).  The paperwhite experience is what I love most about it so a colored, touchscreen e-reader (no matter how hi-tech) won't be able to tempt me to shift in any way.

So the key is - when you buy something, understand your needs and identify what's really important for you to help you determine what you really, really like.  Because if you get it right, you won't think about buying another one for a long time. :)