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O sullen faces, marathon budget sessions and map-the-shortest-route-to-the-market conferences precede every shopping trip in your household? Does your hubby refuse to accompany you, the driver bunks, your children become miniature cling-ons, and your ma-in-law hands you a mile long list of goodies she must have? And the nightmare just never seems to end.

At the shops you have to deal with rude salespeople, never get the size you want, and pushy co-customers always want to jump the queue at the cashier. Want your shopping sojourns to turn into pleasure trips? Just read our tips on how to become a smart shopper. We guarantee that after this even your man will volunteer to accompany you.

Timing Is The Key
If you want to beat the crowds and steal the best deals, it makes sense to start out early in the day. “Most shops open by 11:00 a.m., so it makes sense to reach the market of your choice by 11:15 a.m. This way you get a good parking spot, the shops are not crowded and most shop-keepers are willing to give a discount to their first customer of the day,” says Kiran Mehta, a 40-year-old homemaker whose fave shopping spot is GK-1 Market, Delhi.

Avoid extended shopping trips on weekends because these are the most crowded days. Apart from braving the swarm of populace, you will find that the availability of trail rooms is low, salespeople are harried, cash counters are jammed and getting a good parking spot is an impossibility. So shop between Mondays and Thursdays and if need be, take the day off.

Get Leashed With A List
Yes, we know it sounds boring to make a list before you go out shopping. After all, isn’t shopping supposed to be a spontaneous experience? Sorry to disappoint you, but being a prepared shopper pays richer dividends than being an unprepared one especially when you have to go grocery, stationary or even festival gifts shopping. “Over the years, I’ve found that making a list saves me time, money and heartache during the festival season,” says Chandra Suri, 35-year-old bank executive who does all her shopping at Ajmal Khan Road, Delhi.

If you plan your shopping trips it will be easier to avoid impulse purchases. A list forces you to take a peak in your cupboard and make a mental note of what you have and what is missing. This way you don’t end up duplicating stuff.

“I love wearing white T-shirts and every time I went shopping I ended with one more for my collection until one day my mom threw a fit,” says Kavita Joshi, 19-year-old student. “She spotted at three similar-looking white tees in my cupboard, two of which were untouched. Now before I go out shopping I make it a point to sift through my cupboard,” says a wiser Kavita.

Budget Your Shopping Soirees
Apart from helping you get focussed, a list also comes in handy when you have to budget your buys. Jotting down the items you need helps you to plan your accounts and prevents you from overspending.

Another great way to keep a check on your spending is to leave credit cards and debit cards at home. Instead, take a little extra cash with you and make sure you spend only what you are carrying. “I have three credit cards and got in the habit of paying for everything even grocery bills, on the cards. As a result I ended up buying stuff that I did not need. When you see an amount on the bill and pay by plastic, the significance of the amount does not hit you till the end of the month when the bills pile up,” says Swathi Kishore, 38, PR manager. Now Swathi keeps her cards at home and shops only with cash.

Watch as the clerk rings up your purchases. This way if your buys exceed your budget you can eliminate the non-essential stuff. Finally, just because an item is on sale, doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good deal for your family. If you won’t use it, don’t buy it.

Map Out Your Strategy
While shopping at a mall, if you cross from one end of the same mall four times, you might have walked as much as six miles. Instead, target the stores you want to hit and shop in turn, so that you don’t go about in circles and get tired.

If you have to shop on a weekend and that too in the evening, it is best to keep your car garaged and hail a cab or an auto. You will save yourself some precious time with public transport, which would otherwise be spent on negotiating tricky turns and impossible parking lots.

Keeping some of these moves in mind when you next go out shopping. They will help transform your shopping expedition into a real pleasure trip.

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