1. no spontaneous purchases

We've all been there: we've actually gone into town because we urgently need a winter coat. But suddenly we see this beautiful blouse hanging there and are blown away. We would love to take it with us right away. However, we should always consider whether we really need the item. Because if we already have twenty blouses in our wardrobe, it makes little sense to buy one. The best thing to do before you go shopping is to make a list of what you really need. That way, we don't get bogged down and end up with one more blouse in our wardrobe that we (almost) never wear anyway.

2. let time pass

If we spontaneously like an item of clothing that is not on our list but that we would still like to have, we should let some time pass. It helps if you simply leave the item in the store until the next day. That way you can sleep on it for a night. If you are still keen on the garment the next day, buy it. However, we often realize that we don't actually need the item. Letting a little time pass prevents us from making bad purchases and is easy on the wallet.

3. always try on

Another big mistake we make when shopping is not trying things on. Of course, we don't have to try on every basic, that's for sure. And if we know that a size M always fits us in our favorite store, then we can confidently take the T-shirt in our size. However, it's a different story with pants, dresses or skirts. We should always try these on to be on the safe side. We also need to be aware that sizes vary depending on the store. So if in doubt, it's better to try on more, even if it takes five minutes longer. Because it's even more annoying if we only realize at home that the item doesn't fit us or simply doesn't suit us at all.

4. store carefully and be honest with yourself

Sometimes the initial euphoria over a bargain is so great that we buy it straight away. Three months later, we discover the item in our wardrobe and realize that we've never worn it. So before we pick something up, we should ask ourselves the following questions in the store: Does the garment go with the rest of my wardrobe? Is there an occasion when I can wear this dress? Does the item suit me or would I feel dressed up in it? Will I actually wear the piece or do I just want to own it?

5. don't let our mood influence us

When we're having a bad day, we often tend to want to cheer ourselves up with a new sweater or a fancy pair of shoes. Although this makes us happy in the short term, it also means that we spend a lot of money unnecessarily. The same applies to days when we are particularly euphoric. For example, who doesn't know the typical vacation spending sprees? But when we get home, we realize that we never wear the items because they are not at all suitable for everyday wear. So it's better not to buy anything on days when we're in a particularly bad mood or particularly euphoric. The risk of making a bad purchase on such days is simply far too high.

Conclusion

Shopping mistakes are easy to avoid if we think about what we need beforehand, never rush and always consider what suits our style. If we follow these simple rules, bad purchases will be a thing of the past.

Author: Ilka-Marie Hagenbücher