Avoid Starting 2013 With a Shopping Hangover

The gifts have been given, items have been returned and now the sales are tempting you.

Your favourite stores are sending email updates of discount, discount, discount and a work colleague is bragging about the amazing deal they found yesterday.

How can you not want to shop? What if the sales are THAT good?

But friends, you don't NEED to shop. You WANT to shop.

And to avoid going into debt, now is the time to make a resolution to follow these rules so you can avoid a shopping hangover and feel guilty spending any pennies.
To avoid a shopping hangover, follow these five simple tips:

1. Do you need it? Will this item make a difference in your daily life? If it's not practical or absolutely necessary, reconsider the purchase.

2. Avoid those stores that are temptation - it may be a favourite gift store or your go-to clothing store, or even a discount store like Winners or Homesense, but if it's not a necessity, just keep walking.

3. Tempted by the latest movie releases coming to the big screen? Instead of spending money on time indoors, have a viewing party and celebrate some of the films that you got as a gift or see what's new on Netflix.

4. Take time to go through your wardrobe, your storage areas and seasonal items. Although you may be jonesing for something new, you may have forgotten about something older tucked away or something that needs repair or maintenance.

5. If you absolutely, must have - can't live without! - an item and it's on deep discount, super sale and the best deal ever - then buy it. One item can satisfy the shopping desire and keep you focused on saving some money, rather than spending all the time, every day.