Stress free shopping (Offline Shopping - hints and tips)

Member Name: abbadabbado

Product:	Offline Shopping - hints and tips
Date:	04/03/09 (139 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: can see items before you buy

Disadvantages: have to battle with other shoppers

Being female I was designed to love shopping. Right? Wrong! I have learnt over the years that I want the goods without having to go through the stresses of shopping in the high street and supermarket.
Certain things cannot be bought as easily over the internet where I have become accustomed to doing the majority of my shopping. Items such as clothes and jewellery need to be touched and tried on most of the time to ensure you are getting the right products.
Having a teenage daughter as well as a toddler also means I am dragged round the shops whilst the older one chooses what she wants and needs.

The very thought of battling a busy Saturday afternoon in town makes me want to run for my duvet and hide. I start to get agitated from the minute I get to the car park and have to squeeze my fairly small car into a space designed for a motorbike, before emptying my purse of any coinage I may have to pay for the privilege of getting aching legs and an empty bank account at the end of the trip.
There has to be an easier way right?

I have learnt some very valuable lessons over the years and I hope to pass some on to you.

- Not a lot of parking machines will give you change anymore, so if you really have to park in a car park with upfront payment option then have some small change ready so you don't pay even more than you really have to by giving up the excess change as well. I try to park close by in a supermarket car park that is free etc. I appreciate not everywhere offers free parking local to main shops but have a look around.


- Wear comfortable shoes. Many a time I have been wearing boots in the winter time and really wished I hadn't as my feet have been aching and throbbing after an hour or so. I get really moody when I am uncomfortable so I always wear trainers or flat shoes now.

- Remember that even if it's freezing cold outside, the shops will have their heating on high, so your temperature will be fluctuating as you go in and out of shops. Whilst it's tempting to wear a big coat and scarf and gloves etc, there's nothing worse than having to strip off to try clothes on and get dresses again to walk a few yards down the road to the next shop.

- Plan your trip. I often go out knowing what I need and then getting sidetracked by shops I really don't need to go in. Not only will planning the trip save you time, it may even save you some money as well. Try to do some internet research of the shops before you go so you know roughly what you may find when you're out.

- Take a drink. I know that might sound strange, but it's amazing how thirsty you can get when shopping, and when you get dehydrated you can become ratty very quickly. Fuelling your body will help to make your shopping trip easier and possibly quicker as your brain will be reacting properly.

- Lunch. Either go out after lunch or stop for something to eat if you're planning on eating out. I tend to rush when I am hungry and buy things for the sake of it. I always regret these purchases.

- Budget properly. I find impulse shopping is nice at the time but I always feel guilty about it afterwards, so now I try to only spend a pre thought amount. That way I don't get a shock when I check my statements a week or so later.

Shopping can be great fun in the high street with great atmospheres as Christmas time etc, but it's the queues of people that get me. I always used to move out of the way for people with pushchairs etc, but now I have one, people don't seem to move out of the way for me, and are quite happy to walk into my poor daughter.
Shopping from your own home is much nicer but when needs must, I follow my own advice for a less stressful day.

Summary: how to shop in the high street