Author: lcvstudentblog

-Jaiden Shoushounova LaSalle College Vancouver

Do you like to spend your day at the mall shopping? Buying lots of nice things before realizing you just spent this month’s rent or tuition on that designer handbag? Don’t worry we’ve all been there. Lucky for you I have a list of my best shopping tips to stay stylish and be smart with your money.

1. Student Discounts – It is time to break out that magical benefit all of us students have, the student discount. Most stores will offer a 10% student discount if you show your school ID or even an SPC (Student Price Card) 10% may not seem like much but it does make a difference in the long run.

2. Setting a Budget – Before you go off and spend all your money without thinking, you may want to consider giving yourself a budget or even an allowance. At the start of every month or every payday, you can give yourself 15% of your paycheck to spend and save the rest. For example, your paycheck was $400 so you’ll set aside $60 for yourself to spend on whatever you would like and put the rest in savings.

3. Saving Receipts – Always save your receipts just incase you end up not liking your purchase, you can get your money back or store credit. Another good reason to save receipts is that in some cases you can write them off during tax season and get money back!

4. Use Cash – Using cash will limit how much you spend, if you’re going shopping just for the sake of buying things you enjoy and don’t need your cards, leave them at home. Using cash will make you consider what you’re buying since you have a limited amount of money and will only buy something you truly love.

5. Technology – Technology has advanced so much there are so many apps and extensions you can use to save money! Download apps for stores you shop at and sign up for text alerts. Shopping online? Try downloading Honey and Shoptagr for your browser. Shoptagr allows you to save items you want and sends you notifications when they go on sale. Honey finds the coupon codes for your purchases to ensure the best deal.

6. Thrift Stores – Who says you have to buy clothing brand new? Thrift stores are a great way to find unique clothing. You can even score big by finding some timeless pieces if you’re lucky! They can be hit or miss but it’s always exciting when you find an authentic designer bag for only $50 at a Thrift Shop.

7. Think Before You Buy – It’s time to use that self-control you have to really hold back and truly think about the item before you splurge. For example, if you find a super cute top, stop and think about what you currently own. Do you have something similar? Will it go with anything you own? Is the price worth it? How often will you wear it? You need to ask yourself these questions to make sure you aren’t wasting your money.

These are my seven best shopping tips to help you save money! You can use these tips on anything you need or want to purchase. The best way to save your money is to be smart about what you’re buying. Think about how often you will use whatever it is you want to buy and if it is worth the cost. Most importantly, if you can afford it as well as your regular expenses. Remember rent, food, and tuition come first before you buy random stuff, but it is still important to treat yourself from time to time.

Proof reading and editing by Amber Rose Aiken