I love shopping in all of its forms! Shopping in stores, shopping through catalogues, shopping online, shopping my favorite fashion bloggers’ Instagram feeds, and even window shopping. Window shopping might even be my favorite. It’s a great way to stay in your budget while still getting inspiration. So often I already have what I need in my closet to recreate a great look. The key to successful window shopping is knowing when to love your new finds (and actually take them home) and when to leave them.
Window Shopping: Love It Or Leave It
The true spirit of window shopping may be to only look and not buy. However, we know there will come that moment on any window shopping adventure when you find something you absolutely LOVE! This guide will help you make window shopping decisions you won’t regret.
Questions To Ask Yourself When Window Shopping
When I feel like I need to take something home with me, there are a few questions I ask before lunging into the wallet.
- Is this something I’ve seen (and loved) before? This is a great question, because it helps you to decide if you are drawn to something just because it’s new or because you’ve really been keeping your eye on it. Thinking your ready to take the plunge and bring it home. If you are drawn to something only because it’s new and trendy, you might get it home and never wear it. Leave it at the store, and see if it calls out to you the next time you visit.
- Do I need it today? You could find the perfect pair of hiking boots while window shopping. But do you have any hikes planned in the near future? If you aren’t a regular hiker…leave it at the store. If you’re planning to visit the beach for 3-months, you can probably wait until a later date to buy those boots. Leave it at the store.
- Is this cheaper today than it will EVER be again? You know. Not just a regular sale, but one of those “this store is going out of business and they are basically paying me to take things off of their shelves” kind of sale. If so, today might be the day to take the plunge. But if it’s 10% off at Old Navy, you can usually expect that sale to roll around again in a few weeks, anyway. No need to rush into a purchase today. Leave it at the store.
Not All Budgets Are The Same
There are two important budget considerations you have to think about before you make a window shopping purchase.
- What I Will Pay For Specific Items: I have a set amount that I won’t go over for every kind of item from shoes and accessories to full outfits.
- Secret Shopping Budget: This is the money I set aside each month for impulse buys. I like to pretend like doesn’t exist, so I don’t plan on spending it ahead of time. You can set aside as much as you like, but I find I’m less likely to use this fund if it isn’t sitting in my regular bank account. My Grandma always use to tell to pull in the reins and don’t buy unless you really need it! Smart women she ways! I definitely think twice before I pull out my secret shopping budget to make a purchase. Ha!
If I’m window shopping and find something I absolutely LOVE it needs to be less than the amount I am okay paying for that specific item. Otherwise, it’s something I can put on a wish list and think about buying at a later date.
Will I Come Back For It?
This works best if you are window shopping at the mall. Leave the store and walk around. Get a pretzel. Keep window shopping. Before you leave the mall, think back to that thing you LOVED – is it worth walking all the way back across the mall to get it? If not, you probably just saved yourself from bringing home something you didn’t really love as much as you thought you did in the moment.
Do you enjoy window shopping? Tell me your favorite store to visit when you don’t plan to spend any money!
XOXO,
BLENDstyles