Why Shopping Like A Man Could Be Good For You

[caption id="attachment_832700" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/african american young girl in boutique clothes shopping concept[/caption] Women love shopping. Men aren’t allowed to say that—it is offensive when they say that. But this is a safe space where we can (after scorning a man for talking about our shopping habits) turn to each other and say, “Okay but seriously, I love to shop. So much.” Why is that? Maybe we are just visual creatures who express ourselves through shapes and colors and our bodies are our canvases. Maybe the cavewoman who produced the most offspring had the freshest cloth pieces in her cave-hood and she spread her genes throughout centuries of women. Whatever the reason may be, it’s in our blood. And while shopping is fun, it can also feel like a compulsion that controls us and it’s expensive. So, let’s never tell men we discussed this but; here are ways shopping like a man could save you money and make you happy. [caption id="attachment_621437" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

Only go with a goal

Do not go shopping unless you have something you need to go shopping for. Shopping should not be an aimless activity like walking on the beach or strolling through the park. Men rarely go shopping unless they know, “I need a new pair of jeans” or “All my underwear have holes in them.” They don’t let the stores tell them what they need.           [caption id="attachment_693984" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Skip the other sections

Once you have your goal (i.e. I need a white blouse) walk into the store with tunnel vision, ignoring every section except for the blouse section. B-line it for those blouses and the white blouses specifically (if that’s what you need). The other sections do not exist to you.         [caption id="attachment_702384" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Shop for designated activities

Men also shop based on activities and specific destinations for their clothes. In other words, if they have a new office job and need new office clothes, they shop for office clothes. If they’re going on vacation and don’t have swim shorts, they shop for swim shorts. They do not make up scenarios that probably won’t happen to justify buying a sequin mini skirt.   [caption id="attachment_712175" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t schedule a shopping day

Shopping should not be the day’s activity. Once you say, “On Saturday, we’re going shopping” you’ve mentally allowed yourself to spend four, five, six…hours on shopping. And once you go down that road, you automatically buy more items. Men are in and out when they shop. They treat shopping for clothes like an errand and can buy a shirt, get their car washed and stop by the dentist in one afternoon.   [caption id="attachment_702584" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Just buy one thing per need

If men need khaki slacks they buy one pair of khaki slacks. They don’t buy one pair that is creased, one that isn’t, one that is slim-fit and one that is bootleg (does this habit sound familiar?) They don’t do that because all of those pants will fulfill the same need in their life, so why do they need five pairs?       [caption id="attachment_695063" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Research ahead of time

Men often compare and contrast brands before even leaving their home. They may look online to see what five neighboring stores respectively charge for jeans, look at the quality and material of them, and even ask friends for recommendations. They do this before going to the stores. This prevents the accident of buying $100 jeans from one store when the place across the street sold the nearly identical pair for $60. [caption id="attachment_617033" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis Images[/caption]

Don’t go with a friend

Shopping is not a social activity for men. When you go with a friend, you enable each other. Those happy hormones are flowing and you want to try on more dresses and tell each other how cute you look and—oh, before you know it, you’ve spent $200 when you went out to buy a pair of sandals.         [caption id="attachment_701068" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Disregard trends

Men just don’t keep up with fashion trends as much as women do, which is a good thing. If you try to keep up with trends then you need to shop a lot. Men know what their personal style is, what they’ve always liked to wear and always will like to wear, and shop within those confines.         [caption id="attachment_618197" align="alignleft" width="426"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Know that a t-shirt is a t-shirt

You may tell yourself that this white t-shirt should cost $40 because it is so soft and it fits just right. But when you’re in a rush, throwing together an outfit and need a white t-shirt out of your closet, you’re not going to notice the difference between the $12 t-shirt and the $40 t-shirt. Especially once you put a sweater over it and add a necklace.   [caption id="attachment_617901" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Shop online more

Men actually make up a significant amount of the online shoppers out there, according to some studies. Shopping online could help you buy less since you aren’t standing physically in the middle of 30 outfits you want to buy, and you aren’t confronted with the pushy sales person. [caption id="attachment_609505" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t look at the mannequins

The mannequins are there to create a vision, a story—a feeling. Don’t look at them. They tempt you. Men barely look at them, which is why you might notice that male mannequin displays are far less inspired than female ones.       [caption id="attachment_707609" align="alignleft" width="495"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Handle retail people with caution

It feels great when the retail person tells you how cute you are, and how pretty you’d look in this, and great that top could compliment it. When they come to your changing room it feels like you have your own personal shopper. But don’t give into the temptation. Men will tell the salesperson what they need, and when the salesperson suggests something else, they turn them down. [caption id="attachment_620632" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Find a store you love and stick to it

Guys are loyal to their brands. When they find a store that makes clothes that always fit them, feel good, and fit their budget, they do most of their shopping at that store. This reduces the time spent checking out other stores, and seeing more clothes you’re tempted to buy. [caption id="attachment_701870" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Buy what you love in bulk

When men find a useful item that fits like a glove and can be worn with just about everything, they buy it in three colors. Why is this helpful? It means they don’t need to go shopping again in a month when they realize they need that item in a different color. The less time spent in stores, the better.       [caption id="attachment_609502" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Do not sign up for newsletters/coupons

When women hear they can get 30 percent off something, they just think about how much money they’d be saving; when men think about getting 30 percent off something, they ask themselves if they need that thing. If they don’t need it, then even if the price is still low, it’s a waste of money.

The post Why Shopping Like A Man Could Be Good For You appeared first on MadameNoire.