Step-by-step guide to shopping smart

Shopping is an everyday activity that is often done without much thought. It is very common to rush into buying something without weighing up your options, which can lead to feelings of disappointment when your item doesn’t suit your needs or simply cost you too much. For small purchases, that’s mostly okay - it’s not worth overthinking every single spend.

When you need to make a bigger purchase - whether it’s insurance, electricity, phone, or ongoing subscriptions - it’s important to shop around. Just a little research in comparing products and assessing your options will help you buy the right thing at the right price. Slowing down and doing this next exercise for larger expenses will bring you confidence and peace of mind.        

Step-by-step guide for your next ‘big’ spend

1.  Complete the three-question test   

2. Get reliable information and recommendations
Where can you go for trusted advice to help you choose?

• • Independent ‘comparison’ websites - e.g. Choice
  • Family, friends or other people with knowledge in this area
  • Product reviews
  • Brands you know and trust
  • Other options?

3. Compare alternatives
This is the hardest step, so use a comparison tool like the one below to help take the stress off. Writing down the advantages and disadvantages will help you compare costs and benefits.

4. Choose
Rank each of the different options from 1 to 5, then ‘go with your gut’ and make a decision. There is no such thing as a perfect decision - rather be confident that you made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time.
5. Enjoy!  
Decision made - well done! The downside of having so many options is that it can make us less content with the choice we do make. So choose to enjoy whatever option you decided on.