How Whip-Smart Purchases Can Save Your Finances

Meager income delimits our capacity to save regularly for the rainy days. Every day, we aim at saving even a small amount from our meager income. It is because we all want to remain financially afloat whatever the season is—most especially when economic catastrophes occur. Life is not always a season of abundance. There will be times when the rain falls like it never ends and we need to shell out to provide for our needs, even if we disregard our wants.

Most of us, if not all, are tediously keeping emergency funds. Hence, we always find ways to save. In my previous article, I was talking about how to manage your finances and provided a recommendation to create a long-term financial plan. If you were reading my feature, you will recall that I discussed the money-saving adjustments that you need to deal with to be able to stabilize your financial condition. Adjustments such as cutting down on home expenditures, taking control of expensive habits, wise spending of financial resources, minimizing shopping activity, and practicing self-sufficiency will surely make monumental positive changes to your finances.

Sometimes, however, we have this urge to procure things that we don’t actually need and thoughtlessly buy them just to satisfy our impulse for shopping. While you are eager to save more by the end of the year, I am certain you are also fighting against your compulsion to buy the things that attract you—whether they are beneficial or useless. In this article, however, I will be sharing practical tips on how to save on your purchases.

In this world of rapid technological changes, hi-tech gadgets are always taking the topmost spot on the list of current world craze. Every release of a brand’s latest products puts the world in a sudden hysteria—an intense and tempting episode that allures “can-afford” individuals to spend more. But who doesn’t want to keep pace with technological evolution? Of course, we would all want to be involved in the latest fad. However, if the product is beyond our purchasing power and we still want to maintain the equilibrium of our finances, “imitations” and “low-cost” items will be our last resort. In the long run, we will find out that the consequences of such an impractical move is enormously damaging to our coffers. Certainly, it was a waste of money because those items will surely not last even for a year.

Just like financial planning, you should also consider a long-term plan for your purchases. This is essentially applicable to items that you will be using for a long period like personal gadgets, home theater systems and other appliances, personal computers and laptops, various cleanroom equipment, and other furnishings. If you would consider buying any of these items, you should learn to identify if what you are about to purchase are genuine products, and not imitations, for them to last long.

While we cannot control the indubitable evolution of technology, we are most likely to consider ultramodern creations to replace the outdated pieces that we have. When you are saving, though, you will see this progress differently. You cannot just toss away things you invested a great amount of money in and when you are saving for the future and for your emergency fund, you will learn to value even the smallest amount you can spare for your financial goal. So, if you are looking for smart saving tips, the following should be your simple guides when you are in doubt about what you should “go for” when you are buying things.

Check out the dependability of the product. When I bought my first smartphone six (6) years ago, I didn’t care if the brand had already released its third upgraded model. I thought the price had already gone down because of the newest configuration and I was right. But I was not merely eyeing for the price, I was also scrutinizing its dependability. So, I recommend not to immensely depend on the brand, just make sure that it is reliable.

Read online reviews and ask some friends who already purchased the same item before going to the store to buy it. Recommendations from other people who used the product are good tools to make the right decision with regards to purchasing any product. You can do a comparison of the products after you checked on their specifications. Buy a gadget or device in accordance with the product’s capacity to meet your goal—and without the risk of auxiliary cost.

Any gadget or device should be designed user friendly. Of course, when you are new to electronic devices and or gadgets, it won’t be easy for you to navigate them. There are brands that develop complex configurations to their devices, which make it more difficult for the consumers to use and understand. A complex system may lead to damaging the gadgets and when that happens, you will surely find yourself in a distressing situation for not being able to use it and aside from that, you will be spending more for repairs. So, before buying your gadgets or devices, make sure it is user friendly.

Whenever I buy a device, I always check on its resistance and its maximum lifespan. If you would want to save on your devices and gadgets, you should make sure that those are heavy-duty—could tolerate accidental fall and similar occurrences—and could last for years. When you are confident about the durability of your chosen device or gadget, then be responsible for it. Your way of safekeeping will determine the longevity of your devices or gadgets—you can either extend or shorten its lifespan.

When you buy expensive devices or gadgets, you have to make sure that a clear warranty policy is presented before finally closing the transaction. A clear agreement will be your security when there are possible problems to occur.

Being wise in your purchases will greatly help you keep up with your financial goals. Considering long-term purchases will really make a difference in your capacity to save in the next few months. Buying expensive items that could endure for many years will save you from spending more for the same “low-cost” items but of poor quality. Thriftiness is the key to saving more, but wise spending can save your finances more.