Dos and Don’ts of Shopping for Your Trip

When preparing for a trip, it’s common to have to buy new items including toiletries and clothing.
While you may want to splurge on new clothing and accessories or even luggage and trinkets. Before you head out to your favorite stores to shop for your trip, take a look at these important tips on the Dos and Don'ts of Shopping for Your Trip.

These tips will help you prepare for your trip and help you make smart shopping choices before you travel. Not only will you spend less money, you’ll also buy fewer things that you may not need and you will easily be able to fit all of your travel necessities into your suitcase.

As you prepare for your trip, keep a running list of the items that you need and want. Check with
family or friends to see if you can borrow any items on your list that you will only use during your
travels. This will not only save you a trip to the store, but extra money in your pocket as well.

If you have household items lying around that you can use such as reusable bottles for your shampoo and
conditioner, use those rather than buying new travel sized products. Once your shopping list is
complete, research what you need and compare prices and brands to ensure you’re getting high
quality items for the best price.

Once you finish researching the items on your list, set a budget for each individual necessity that you plan to purchase. You should also set an overall spending budget. Base your budget on what you can afford and how long the item is going to last.

As you shop, try to buy items for less than the manufacturer's suggested retail price by shopping at discount retailers like Burlington or factory outlet stores like Express or Gap.

You can also cross items off your list for low prices by shopping at thrift stores. Many thrift stores, including online consignment shop thredUP, carry a variety of items from well-known brands. Build your travel wardrobe for a more affordable price by shopping secondhand.

You can score comfortable travel day clothing and even high-quality athletic gear for your adventures from trusted brands like Lululemon for half the retail price.

Credit cards make it too easy to spend money. Just swipe your card and you can bring home a whole new vacation wardrobe, designer footwear, and loads of other luxury travel items you probably don’t even need.

It’s much more difficult for us to let go of our hard earned cash when we can physically hold it and see it. Try handing over $100 cash for a pair of jeans. You’ll most likely find that paying in physical dollars is a lot harder than just swiping a card.

In fact, studies show that people who use credit or debit cards to make purchases, spend up to 100 percent more than they would using cash. Keep this in mind as you shop for the items on your list. If you do have to purchase items online or in-store using a debit or credit card, be sure to stick to your list to avoid splurging on items you don’t need.

If you’re someone who enjoys the shopping experience, you may find yourself spending much more time in local shops than necessary. Be sure to always set a time limit when you go out shopping.

Once you get into the store you don’t want to get off track by going down every aisle. This will cause you to steer from your list and make impulse purchases. Go shopping with the intent to buy something specific from your list and stick to your time limit. If you follow your list, you should be able to get all of your travel needs within your allotted time.

No matter how much you may like an item or how good of a deal it may seem to be, do your best to avoid making impulse purchases. If you stumble upon an item in a store that you want that is not on your list, think about how often you would use it and if it’s something that you really need.

After thinking about it, if you realize the item could be used repeatedly and enhance your trip and you feel good about purchasing it, buy it. If not, put it back. It’s hard not to buy stuff you didn’t plan to, but if you stick to your list and follow the tips above, these items will be easier to resist.

Before you set off on your shopping trip, be well rested, especially if this is just a comparison shopping trip where you may make no purchases.

This can be an exhausting task and if you’re already tired, you might make a purchase just to get it over with rather than buying the most affordable and reliable option.

Do yourself and your wallet a favor by getting a good night’s rest anytime you plan on shopping for your approaching trip, you won’t regret it.

Of course it’s fun to shop with friends, but it can also lead to impulse purchases. If you want to shop smart, go alone. This way when you do find a good deal and only one is left, you and your friend don’t have to fight over it.

You also won’t have to worry about any peer pressure to make a purchase you are not comfortable making. When your friend starts pleasure shopping, you won’t be tempted to jump ship and join. Remember that sometimes it’s better to listen to your own voice of reason while you shop as opposed to your friends and family.

When you create your list, that’s it. Don’t buy anything that’s not on your list or that you’re not specifically shopping for. If you’re shopping for a small carry-on bag, don’t buy a full set of new luggage. It might seem like you’re getting a good deal, but you’ll end up spending money on things that you don’t need. Stick to your list.

Now that you have The Dos and Don'ts of Shopping for your trip you can head out to your favorite store to shop for your trip.  You can rest assured if you follow these simple tips that you will only buy what you need and you will be ready to enjoy your long awaited trip.

The Newedentravel Team hopes you find this article helpful and we wish you a safe and enjoyable trip. Please give a share with friends and family so they can also benifit from these awsome travel tips.