I have in recent times developed a love of online shopping. Like most people I am sure, I have made some very bad purchasing decisions and ended up with things that looked nothing like what I though they looked like online, were so small that they would not even fit a small child, or I didn’t really need the item but the price was such a steal I couldn’t resist! Due to trial and error, I have become a more savvy on-line shopper. Online shopping is another choice we can add to the mix of choices in our busy modern lives. It is a great choice to have access to since it has become so easy and we can purchase just about anything at the touch of a few buttons even using our mobile phones. Never has consumerism been so easy. Bargains are a plenty as well as choice of products and availability. Having said this there are a few perils! Resistance is futile you might say! It was so easy, cheap and I just had to have it! Being kind to ourselves means using the choices we have available to us wisely and ensuring we are left feeling good at the same time. Here are some tips and tricks to maximise your online shopping experience and be kind to yourself in the process:
>Question every potential purchase! Just because something is easy, doesn’t mean it is good for us! The reverse is sometimes true. Your first question should be “do I really need this?”. I found the answer to be no about 90% of the time. Ouch! Also ask yourself – can I afford this purchase? Will I need to use credit? If so can I afford to pay off the credit? Does the worry of paying for the purchase outweigh the benefit of having the item?
>Window shop online instead. I love nothing more than going to a big shopping centre and just window shopping. I have nothing in mind and I just cruise and check out what is on offer, see the latest fashions and I might even mentally choose something to look out for when the specials are on at a later date. I now do the same thing with online shopping. I window shop away and enjoy the process of just looking. This way I get my “fix” of shopping without the guilt of purchasing things I can’t afford, don’t need or really want in the long term.
>Put it in the virtual basket. I constantly put things into my virtual shopping cart but then never end up going to the checkout! I get the buzz of choosing and selecting things without the guilt or expense. It really is one of the great things about online shopping! It is like I get to have my cake and eat it too.
>Online shopping saves you time. You can purchase just about anything online now. If you know exactly what you need, you can save time having the item/s delivered directly to your door. This saves travel time, petrol and shopping time. You can avoid the crowds during peak times as well. Delivery can sometimes cost you but it might be worth it in terms of the time you save and the commute costs. Time can never be reimbursed!
>Is there no substitute for real retail therapy? I do love seeing things in real life and when it comes to clothing actually trying items on. For me there is no substitute in this regard. I would not have purchased certain clothing had I seen the quality of the material, the shape or way something draped, the true colouring and how I looked in the item. Returning items takes time and sometimes there is a cost involved. What you see and what you sometimes get can be 2 very different things.
>Everything is on sale eventually. Delayed gratification is therapy in itself. Most of my favourite retailers have regular sales of up to 30% or more. Gone are the days when we had to wait for sales only once or twice a year. I have snatched up so many bargains and dressing well has never been easier, especially for fashions that come and go. If I see a good classic piece that I know will last the distance and probably not be available at sale time, I may not wait!
>Budget for wants and treating yourself. If you feel you don’t have a handle on self-control when it comes to online shopping, set yourself a monthly budget for purchasing items. This will help alleviate the guilt you feel when you do purchase things because you have given yourself an allowance. You will also be more selective when spending your allowance. Setting limits and boundaries is useful for many things!
>Online shopping is great for needs / essentials. I am yet to try out online shopping for groceries, but my friends who do it rave about it. Once a month they order their pantry essentials in bulk and have them delivered to their door. Delivery is free if you order a certain amount and you can still access special deals. I must give this a go! I do however like to hand pick my own fresh produce, so I don’t think I will be ordering that online, but there are plenty of places that supply fresh produce by the box directly from the farm gate and it is all online.
>Know which sites to trust. Most of our local retailers are now online so getting help or returning things post purchase is relatively easy. I have had too many mixed experiences with overseas retailers so I do proceed with great caution. Things often seem very cheap but what turns up is also cheap or bears no resemblance to what I thought I had purchased. I often google the company and look for reviews or messages about scammers.
>Monitor your online shopping habits. When are you most likely to do it? I discovered that most of my online purchases happened late at night after 10pm! I even did it while soaking in a long hot bath! I did it because I was either bored, feeling lonely or down. Not the most mindful practice of purchasing.
>Keep your credit/ debit cards separate to your phone or computer. Being able to grab these at a moment’s notice can be all too easy. Many sites also allow you to store these details on your user login for future purchases. I always say no to this option. It makes it all too easy for next time.
>Credit card or debit card? Which should I use? Credit card companies give buyers more protection than debit cards. I have been able to intercept and prevent payments to potential scammers with my credit card. This option is not available if I use a debit card. Credit cards also have their own perils since you are essentially borrowing money to purchase things for which you have to pay later! The purchase may not feel so great when you get that credit card bill further down the track plus interest if you could not make the payment on time. Using a debit card is using your own real money here and now. Remember the first question – do I need this item? Can I afford this item?
Happy online shopping, especially during COVID. Online shopping has an entirely new meaning now with COVID! Be careful. Be responsible. Still enjoy shopping. Be kind to yourselves.
Be Kind to Yourselves - BK2Y 