Smarter Shopping

Included in my suite of services is budgeting advice - assisting clients with understanding how and where they spend their money and thus how to better achieve their financial goals. Part of this, (mainly for my female client base), includes a suggestion of better (cheaper) ways to purchase personal items (clothes, makeup, shoes) without sacrificing style. The result - my client still looks great but now can also afford to implement a savings plan. Nothing sexier than a well dressed, financially independent woman.

As an accountant and mindful of sticking to a budget I tend to lean towards purchasing style staples. Seeing some of the silly prices in sales time can lead to impulse buying so it is important to always stick to your plan and remain disciplined!

Internet Shopping is nothing new. However, currently, Internet shopping has never been so good. Our dollar is strong not only against the USD but also the GBP and EUR. And, as more and more retail companies join the net, competition is fierce, making for even better deals to be had.

There are some obvious downsides of shopping on the net:-

Security – some people are still dubious about safety of sites on the net when entering credit card details. A couple of rules to follow are 1. Check the site is safe and well known and 2. If you are really worried, setup a Paypal account or a separate credit card with a low limit.

Sizing – sizing is not standard across countries as most people know. But if you know your size in a particular designer, chances are this is going to be the same for a lot of items in their range. For example, if you know you are a 26 size in say Joes Jeans, then you are a 26 on their website. The best advice I can give you is this (and this is not exactly Australian Retail Industry friendly) go to a large department store and try on the clothes. Work out your size and then apply this to your Internet shopping. Most of the sites I use and recommend have 1. A brief description of sizing on line, 2; a sizing chart on line and if you need it 3. very competent staff who can help (via email or telephone call). These sites also have an excellent return policy and in some instances will even pay for the shipping of the item should you wish to exchange for a different size.

Sensory Satisfaction – this is probably, for most women, the biggest downside. Seeing and feeling is what makes us want to buy something. Because I live in Adelaide and our range of clothes is limited I don’t have this problem. I get my kicks from viewing collections on line. But for most, this is an obvious hurdle to overcome particularly as buying direct from the US or London the collections likely won’t be available yet in Australia. What to do? See the upside below, calculate the annual savings and you’ll soon get over your sensory urge guaranteed.

The Upside.

The upside is pretty compelling. A larger range of clothes for a cheaper price. Need I say more.

Now is the perfect time to snap up some fantastic summer bargains both in the London and the US.