How to save money when shopping.

Writing this for those ones that can sabi pick anything for market without considering their budget and the plan they have made before going to the market. Let me tell you something, one gat to spend wisely in this economy(Economy hard o) and reset one’s brain when it looks like those items are luring your eyes.

Let me give you four tips on how you can save money when you next you go for shopping.

1

    1. Plan before leaving home: Before you step out or even dress up, take a pen, sit down and start writing those items you want to purchase. This will serve as a reminder to you and properly guide your purchasing decision. So that when you get to the market, you won’t buy a shoe because of its shiny colors when you didn’t plan for it.

Jot down those items on a paper or on  a Microsoft word on your phone (If you’re shopping at Yaba, Ketu, Oshodi market or those other crowdy markets where people give unplanned hugging, I will suggest you don’t use your phone in order to avoid stories that touch the heart. A paper will do in this case then.)

2. After you have listed those items, budget an amount you will like to spend on each item. If you plan to spend 3, 000naira on shoes, write 3, 000 naira beside it. So that when 5,000naira shoes start to stylishly call your attention, you can rebuke it and tell it to get behind you in order to move on to the 3, 000naira shoes you budgeted for. Write the maximum amount you can spend on each items to avoid overspending.

3. Take the exact amount you budgeted for to the market: After carrying out step two, now calculate the total amount you budgeted for each amount. Take that exact amount with you to the market. (Please don’t forget to include the cost of transportation cos na moto go carry you go market, abi you wan fly?) Also, hold a little change you can use to buy perhaps a bottle of softdrink or water to quench your thirst and snacks. It’s likely you get tired in the middle of your shopping and just needed to munch on some snacks.

4. When the shop attendant or sales man start persuading you, do not consent. These happen mostly with those Yaba sales men and women, they can sabi convince someone that if you’re not careful, you may forget that you have a list and budget you are working with.

Also if you budgeted 3,000naira for shoes and the kind of shoes you listed goes way beyond your budget, just see if you can spare some change if that is the kind of shoes you want or perhaps just go for the next best option that is within your budget range.

My dear sisters and brothers, pleaseee do not listen to the voice of the sales attendant trying to convince you to go for the ones above your budget.

But if the market price goes slightly above your budget, you may consider it to avoid missing out on your choice. For instance if you budgeted 3, 000 naira for shoes and Ms. Convincer the sales attendant says the shoes is for N3, 500, you may want to consider it. But don’t agree immediately she says that.

I remember one time I went for shopping and saw a very colourful bag, I budgeted N3,500 and the sales attendant said the bag is for N4,000. I told her that I can only buy the bag for N3, 000 (Note that I didn’t offer to buy the bag at the maximum cost I budgeted for. I brought it lower than the maximum amount.)

She rejected the offer and said she can only give the bag for 4, 000. After several back and forth, I later offered N3, 500naira which is my maximum budget and she still rejected. I then spoke to my leg and we carried ourselves out of her shop, till Ms. Sales attendant called me back and offered to give me for that amount.

I remember her saying “Aunty, it is because of you I am selling this bag for that amount. Things don cost and no profit for all these things, na only 100naira be my profit for this bag wey I sell for you so. Na cos of you o.”  Sho! Cos of me? A total stranger? How my own be wey you wan sell that kind bag for me for that amount?

The point is don’t let them bobo you with these words. Open your brain and be market smart.

We will continue on this later. In the meantime, drop your comments below and let me know what you think. See you later, my boss calls.