Buyers got smart last year. The surge in gift vouchers given at Christmas demonstrates our sales savvy - we knew sales would be bigger and better than any previous year. But that also meant that our indulgence over the holiday season didn't stop at our kitchen tables! Many of us raced out to grab what we've lusted over before Chrissy. Despite the crowds dying down, those sales signs still manage to plague us. Here are some tips to avoid 2010 sales getting the best of you (and your credit card!)

 

 

1)   Avoid shopping...for as long as you can!

2)   Use cash

 

3)   Budget your cash

Give yourself a certain amount to spend in cash. It's a deceptively simple budget strategy. If you want to have the joy of armfuls of bags, you need to stretch that cash as far as it can go, often forcing you to rethink silly purchases that may mean you lose something potentially more beautiful!

 

4)   Obey the Gift Voucher rule

Sorry to break it to you... but being in possession of a Gift Voucher does not mean you can spend more! The rationalisation that, "I was going to spend this much..." doesn't mean that you can spend more than you initially intended to!

Treat your Gift Voucher like money - after all, that's what it is, just in a different form! Make an achievable extension of the Gift Voucher rule, for example: only $20 over the Gift Voucher value counts as a saving. Don't try to justify a potentially expensive $200 purchase by using a $100 Gift Voucher and paying out the rest. It's still lost money that could've saved you spending any money at all!

5)   Don't buy if it doesn't fit

Seems obvious, but you know the kind of things that we try and justify for a ‘bargain'! Something that does not fit is not something that you should buy! Too small is not inspiration to lose weight. Too big is not something to ‘easily' alter. It ends up either costing you time and/or money. And that, does not constitute a good bargain, we say!

6)   Put it on hold

If you really want it, it won't matter how much time goes by. You will know by the time you finish browsing other stores and see what else is out there whether or not that is the purchase for you. It's a sure fire way to ensure its' rightful place in your wardrobe.

7)   Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it's a bargain!
A $30 top does not necessarily equal a good buy. If it's 100% silk or heavy with well-done embroidery, consider it. But, consider this: how much is a cheaply constructed man-made fabric piece worth to you? I thought so.

Always check the inside tag to find out what it's made of and where it was made to determine how much the garment is worth. Natural fibres like cotton or silk are value, man-made fabrics like lycra are not!

8)   Ignore the original price

This is my favourite justification tactic. Ask any friend about her purchase, then ask her how much did it cost. Chances are, she'll reply, "Well! It was $270, but I got it for $150! Can you believe it?" The only time this information is relevant, is if you planned to buy the item pre-reduction. Then, you have potentially made a saving. But keep your head on your shoulders - the price you pay is the price that counts - not the imaginary saving that floats so convincingly over the tag!

9)   Avoid online spending

We all know that the plastic is dangerous - it's always easier to put down the card than green stuff itself! Online sales can be ensure huge savings, but take heed - there are also potential problems with fit and style, extra shipping costs (especially purchases from overseas!) and the old dilemma of self-control. Stay smart and buy only what you really can't get in stores.

 

10)  Check the terms and conditions of returns

Most stores during sales do not offer exchanges or credit notes. This puts pressure on you to either buy or lose the purchase - but don't feel pressured. Allow it to help you to decide if the purchase is worth the possibility of losing the money.