Shopping Tips to Help You Save Money

When it comes to shopping, it's easy to fall into the same bad habits and end up spending way more than you planned. All You has 10 great tips guaranteed to help you save money on your next shopping trip.

1. Think About the Big Picture

"One thing people do wrong when smart shopping is they save big time on the basic items they're looking for, but then get roped into purchasing costly accessories," says Andrew Schrage, co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finances. "Extras for smartphones, tablet PCs, and laptops can all be purchased at a discount online rather than from a big-box retailer."

2. Overspending For a Deal

Schrage advises against overspending simply because you found a great deal because "according to Money Magazine, online shoppers spend over one-third more when free shipping is offered."

3. Comparison Shopping

Comparison shopping is a necessary evil for smart shoppers that helps curb impulse purchases. "To quickly help with comparison shopping, a good site is products.google.com, which will rank the product you're looking for by price," says Jana Francis, Founder of Steals.com.

4. Repress the Impulse

"I don't think people give themselves enough time to see if something is what they need. We buy on impulse too often. So walk away, give yourself 24 hours, and if you're not thinking about it, save your money," recommends Jean Chatzky, finance expert and finance editor for the TODAY show (whose new online series called Jean Chatzky's Money School starts in March).

5. Don't Forget: Time Is Money

When shopping around for the best price, Chatzky advises not to obsess. People who can't stop looking for the next best deal are never satisfied. You can give yourself a time limit, like 20 minutes, to know what something should cost." Along the same line, Schrage recommends that factoring time and gas is important as well, because "if you have to drive across town just to save five bucks, you're not doing yourself much good."

6. Negotiate

"Not just services, but goods are negotiable these days," says Chatzky. "Sometimes people are uncomfortable asking, but if you don't ask the answer will always be no. It also helps to say, 'I was hoping for less'. You don't have to put a number on it, and you don't have to say, 'Can you give me a discount?' You can say 'Can you work with me on this?' which is a little bit softer and more to some people's taste." Chatzky also recommends doing your comparison shopping homework before negotiating as many stores have price-matching policies in place.

7. Don't Try It On

"We know from behavioral science that when you try it on, your psyche takes possession of it and if you don't buy it, it seems like a loss," says Chatzky.

8. Free Shipping Isn't Always "Free"

Francis advises to "look at the whole picture; you might be receiving free shipping on a more expensive product. E-commerce wouldn't survive if the retailer really were paying for shipping. And that's where comparison shopping becomes an important tool."

9. Don't Go on an Emotional Shopping Trip

Chatzky has three shopping commandments: don't shop sad, don't shop angry, and don't shop hungry. "Sadness feels like a void and you'll shop to feel better. Anger makes you more likely to take risks and you end up buying things that are above and beyond. If you shop hungry it makes you buy everything because it gets your juices going."

10. Learn to Love Your Debit Card

Nicole Lapin, editor-in-chief of Recessionista.com, advises that "you want to spend the money you already have, so cut back on credit cards (although you want to keep them and not cancel them for your credit score, instead put a regular monthly purchase on them like your cable bill)." To take controlled spending a step further, Lapin suggests carrying your spending money in cash " to keep yourself from spending it once it's gone."