Jenni Epperson’s Top 10 shopping tips to live by

Shopping is a pastime that makes most people, especially us women, happy. Until we get our credit card bills.

With all the local and foreign brands, store discounts and the big sale around us, we get excited and we give every reason to justify why we shop. While shopping, we get confused and end up getting what we want and not what we need. I remember a piece of advice a relative told me during one of our trips to an outlet store in the States, “Iha, ang maganda hindi mauubos pero ang pera madaling mawala.”

Sharing with us her shopping tips is top blogger and shopping expert Jenni Epperson. Jenni started out as a celebrity stylist and she is the author of top-selling book Fashion + Food: Entertaining at Home in Style.

She has a passion for style. She also wants to spend more time with her children so she started her blog called Live Style. Her blog won the Best Lifestyle Blog from Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards and she was named Best Online Reporter by Stylebible.ph’s Visual Style Awards. Last year, Jenni and her daughter Aryanna launched a beauty and personal care line called Always Sunday Beauty (www.shopalwayssunday.com).

Read on to see what are Jenni’s Top 10 shopping tips to live by!

1. Buy what you love, not what you think you need. While I do believe that there’s something to be said for staples like white tees or black pumps, I don’t believe in buying something just because you think you’re supposed to. The truth is, a wardrobe can survive (and thrive) without a pair of plain black pumps or a blazer. And if pumps and tailored blazers don’t make you happy and excited, you shouldn’t buy them…or wear them.

2. Indulge in window shopping! Here’s a novel idea.  It’s totally fine if you go on a shopping excursion just for fun — without actually making a purchase. Sometimes, just browsing what’s currently on the market is the fun part — actually owning it is secondary.

3. Don’t go shopping when you’re having a bad day. Bad mood can sometimes equate to blowing your budget just to get a temporary high.

4. Don’t get hung up on the size stated on the label. Every line of clothing is different. Go for medium or even large and cut yourself some slack.

5. Try on something that’s a little out of your comfort zone. You might be pleasantly surprised. Be open to new styles because just like in life, one must try different things to evolve.

6. Shop when you have energy and aren’t worn out from a busy day. It’s easier to focus and make wise choices when you’ve got energy and aren’t preoccupied.

7. Check the price and shop around for discounts on items you buy regularly. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and do your research.

8. When shopping online, stick with trusted brands/shops that have a strong reputation. Online shopping is big business these days. Needless to say, this mode of shopping has caught the attention of cybercriminals who are keen to exploit online shoppers.

9. Save by planning meals ahead of time. By planning ahead, you can make your shopping list based on what you already have, what you still need to buy and what’s on sale.

Illustrations by Jaymee L. Amores

10. Shop only once a week. I believe that the less you shop, the more you save. Reduce impulse purchases and save gas by planning your shopping list so that you get a week’s worth of groceries in one shot.