Kalysha Clark

Saturday, I was invited to the mall by a friend of mine, but was completely broke. I decided I would tag along just to hang out and work on my self-control. I spent a mere $0.82 there, which was only on food. I walked away without buying anything I didn't need. While I was there, I thought up a few tips that I feel are essential to have a successful shopping trip.

1. Make a list of what you plan/want to buy.
By making a list, you'll eliminate the chance that of buying something you don't need on impulse.

2. Set a budget and bring ONLY cash!
I am a big debit-card user. It's easy and you don't have to dig for the correct amount of money. However, it is very difficult to stay under budget when you're just swiping your card and not really tracking what you're spending. Whenever I go back to school shopping, I only take cash because once it's gone, it's gone and I don't have to worry about over drafting my account or spending more than I planned.

3. Look for sales and promotions at other stores before buying the things on your list.
Stores like Forever 21, H&M, Wet Seal and so on have lots of similar items, especially basic items like tank tops, belts, bags, etc. Check out other stores and make notes of their prices before you buy something. It's a shame to buy a shirt for $20 and find out that another store has one very similar for 50% off.

In addition, some stores offer nonstop discounts. For example, Charlotte Russe offers 10% off (regular priced items) if you have a college or military ID!

4. If you're clothes shopping, wear a tank top under your clothes.
Even though I didn't buy anything when I went shopping, I did try some things on. I tried on a cardigan at H&M but because I wasn't wearing a tank top, I had to run around the store to find one to put under the cardigan. It'll make your shopping experience much easier if you wear a tank top!

The list is short, but I feel like these are important tips. As a shopoholic/impulse buyer/broke college kid, I follow these rules as best as possible to make the most of my shopping. Good luck!