The time is here. After months of waiting the new Ballito Junction Regional Mall is finally open.
Questions of protests and traffic aside, the new mall will see thousands of locals flocking to its halls to engage in some good old fashion retail therapy.
After a long and frustrating day, few things feel as good as heading into your favourite stores and emerging laden with bags full of goodies – it’s the knock your bank balance takes that makes this less than ideal.
Shop for gifts
Generally retail therapy means loading up on goodies for yourself – but if you want to avoid the nagging guilt that comes afterwards, buying gifts for others is a good way to do that.
Next time you feel the need to spend a little, buy a present for someone on your Christmas list – no matter what time of year it is.
You are going to spend money on a gift for them eventually anyway, so your shopping trip will save money in the future while at the same time saving yourself the stress of Christmas shopping at the height of retail season.
Make a list of what you actually need
Keep a list of what you need or want – especially things you could buy anytime.
Buy what you need and save those ‘wants’ for days when you seriously need a pick me up.
Think of this like the emergency bag of sweets in your desk drawer – wait to enjoy it till it will give you the boost you are after. By limiting yourself like this, you will both protect the contents of your wallet and ensure that when you do treat yourself, it will be worth it.
Use vouchers and gift cards
Using coupons, vouchers and gift cards will usually result in discounts at many retailers.
Get your gift cards ahead of time and stick to spending only what’s on the card – lock your wallet in your glove box if that’s what it takes!
Be a mystery shopper
If you have a bit of a problem with retail therapy, consider turning your habit into a part-time profession by becoming a mystery shopper.
Mystery shoppers get paid by companies to go out and buy their products, and then report back on their experience – meaning that you get all the psychological pleasure of purchase power without having to spend as much of your own cash.
Mystery shopping will obviously not be as flexible as a random trip through the aisles for the first thing to catch your eye, but it will certainly help keep costs down.
Don’t discount the joy of window shopping
Sometimes you just cannot afford to go on a shopping splurge – but that does not mean you can’t go have a cup of coffee and indulge in a little planning for your list of things you want and things you need. It will also give you a chance to see when specials, sales and the like are happening.
Let’s face it, the browsing is half the fun of retail therapy anyways.
We’ve all felt that surge of guilt that comes after a reckless spot of spending, but if we can find a balanced way to approach this “alternative therapy” there’s no need to deny ourselves psychological boost of a few bags full of goodies.
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