Today at EOD I am not exactly in the mood in which I started my day off. This post is going to explore two stark contrasting sides of mine.

On a pleasant note, I confess that I am a limited budget monthly shopper. SALE is one 4 letter word that brings out lot of happy emotions in me, times when one can afford high end brands without burning a hole in the pocket. The SALE season doesn't influence my shopping pattern though. SALE has not swept a sleepy city like mine in a big way and most of the regular retailers don’t even know what exactly SALES mean.

Most of the months I exceed my shopping limit and during the last few days of the month I struggle to balance my balance sheet. Now, most of you guys must have branded me a shopaholic or spendthrift. Well, NO!!!I am not a spendthrift as I save 3/4^th of my income. With Dad as treasurer nothing can break my confidence not even the swipe Gods!!!

I have come up with a proper shopping plan that would help me in bringing out little more order in my life and shopping endeavors.

Step 1. Budget

Always define a limit to your shopping buys. Based on income and spending capacity one can tailor make this plan .Always be careful of the limit. If you are defining the limit as 4000 then, separate it out as 3000+1000 .1000 extra for those last minute impulsive buys. If you are strong enough to restrict yourself in that 3000 range then, at the end of the month you are free to spend 1000 as you like.

Step 2. Prepare a list

Most of us end up spending more than what we ought to because we don't have a clue on what we actually need. Making plans is not enough, sticking to it also counts. So beginning of the month list out the items you want to buy.

Step 3. Frequency of shopping

Be aware of the frequency in which you shop. For a 9-6:30 working women like me, Saturdays and Sundays are my only outing options. Those days I end up spending. Buying all the things in your list in a day is not a good idea if you have a tendency to go out in all the four weeks. The problem with the above mentioned is that the next week when you go out and when you see something that you like, you tend to go over the budget.

If you are a 4*1 shopping person and if your budget is 3000, make sure you plan such that you spend only a part of your budget each week. It can be 500+500+1500+500 or 2000+250+500+250.Tailor make it based on your list.

Step 4. Prioritize

Even after step 3 most of us would find our self staring at a list impossible to obtain in the given budget. If that’s the case then make sure you prioritize. Something you have been eyeing for quite a long time can be placed 1st in the list. If something you want will be available in half the price on SALE which will be coming up shortly or if you can get away without having that 5th bag in your wardrobe then shift it to the next months list. Make sure your needs are relevant ones. Why bother buying a new bag of the color that you have presently? .Why bother repeating the pattern in your wardrobe?

Make sure you buy only those items that you want badly. Please understand that something for the future is for the future and if it’s not for the present, we can worry about it later.

Step 5. Find the right shop

This step is the most important one. One may buy stuff on first week only to end up seeing the same stuff at half the price somewhere less. Make sure you weigh your options before checking out things in your list. Surf through multiple stores before making a final decision.

Armed with all these Steps you are good to go. Have a happy shopping experience

Now let's see the primary goal with which I had written up these rules. For the post to serve its intended purpose I have to go through entire steps. So, presenting to you my shopping plan for the month of August.

My shopping plan

Step 1:

Budget for month of August: Rs .3000

Step 2:

List: Accessories

Bag

1 Kurtha+ 1 salwar

1 silk shawl

Step 3:

Frequency 3 weeks* 1day each

1500+500++1000-1500

Step 4:

Prioritize

I can give the bag a miss

Priority List

1. Silk shawl 1000-1500

2.Kurtha+salwar

3. Accessories. May be I can bring accessories allowance to 600-700.

Step 5:

1.Fabindia/Parthas

2.Rangoli

3.Small shop in convent Junction.

Let's see if all ma shopping gyaan works :P