These tips were originally posted in August, but as the Holiday and Christmas Season is the biggest time of year for shopping, I thought it might be worth posting them again (some have revisions) as reminder to us all…

a.  I bring a couple of big, sturdy bags with me where I can stuff several stores’ worth of goods inside with the logic being the less packages you have to carry, the less likely I will lose or leave one behind in the fitting rooms or when I take a breather and sit down at a coffee shop or restaurant.  Even better if your sturdy bags are very distinct with loud patterns and such (many eco-friendly bags have such designs… hint, hint) so that you can spot/see them easily.

b. I also keep all my purchases’ receipts and never leave the receipts in their shopping bags for 3 reasons - if I go home and am unhappy with the item I bought, I can go back to the store for a refund and not just an exchange because I have the receipt; I can calculate how much I spent; and in the odd event that someone lifts one of my packages and I catch him/her I can prove to security that the package and items are mine because I have the receipt.

c. I look at the purchase total before I sign a credit card receipt or punch in my debit card number and I never let my cards leave my sight while they are with retail clerk.  (Once a harried retail clerk handed me back another person’s credit card!)

d. I count my change carefully while still at the till after a cash purchase.  (Too many times I have been given back the wrong amount of change)

e. On a particularly large shopping spree, I take a break and bring the packages I currently have to the car (if I drove there) before continuing on to buy some more.  Makes for less things to carry and therefore less likely I will lose a package.

A little extra attention to the above details while shopping at any time has saved me from more costly errors!  And I hope they help you save some cash, too.