By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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W omen mostly shop for themselves and family. However, staying on a budget could be quite difficult if there is no proper planning.
Shopping on a budget means that you decide in advance how much money you have to spend and then stick to your limits. Overspending means the money has to come from another part of your budget that is why it is very important to give careful consideration to any changes before implementing them.
Therefore, it is pertinent to make good choices and think very well before spending any money in order to help you stay within your limits.
Here are some tips to help you have a better shopping experience;
Plan ahead: Before you decide how much you have to use for shopping, figure out your income and then the budget for essentials such as housing and utilities. List expenses in order of importance and use your income to pay for the essentials in that order. Keep to the budget you have set for yourself and avoid impulse buying.
Pay cash: According to financial expert, people tend to spend more when using debit cards, putting them over their budget limits. If you are not careful, it will hit your budget hard, adding substantially to the cost of anything you buy. It is therefore advisable to pay cash if possible so that you spend exactly what you have in your pocket.
Shop online: Shopping online for many of the items you need gives you access to many more choices than you typically have in one geographical area, plus it helps you to avoid impulse buying.
You can often get the same brands you would buy locally from an online store for considerably less money. Be sure to factor in the cost of shipping and read the fine print to make sure you are getting what you pay for . Look for discount coupons and free shipping offers to get most from online shopping
Food: Make a list before you go to the store and then stick to your list. Shop at discount stores and other places where you can get good buys on high-quality foods, such as at your local farmers market. Avoid buying junk food since these tend to be expensive and provide little nutritional value. Also purchase food in bulk as much possible to save cost.
Buying extras: If you are to live on a tight budget, the best way to shop for the extras you want is to save up for them.
Instead of going overboard on a big expense in a single month and coming up short in other areas, put away a portion of what you will need every month for several months in advance.Once you have the entire amount saved, you can pay up – front for what you want.