It's the end of the month, and neither my wallet nor my bank account is pleased with the amount of self-control I exhibited while shopping lately.

If this sounds familiar, read on to see how you can avoid finding yourself in a similar situation.

Lists are lifesavers

I can already sense you scoffing at being offered such a basic piece of advice. All I can say is, don't knock it till you try it. Your list is your best friend when shopping, not your impulses. Preparing a proper shopping list is exactly what you need to restrain the urge of overspending.

Your ideal list should have all your wants and needs categorised based on levels of necessity and budget-friendliness. Preparing lists ahead of gifting occasions, say Eid for example, removes the stress of rushing to make last minute purchases. It's important to ensure that your shopping list is precise to your preferences. This way, you don't look around for options, because you already know what you want.

Invest in a good budgeting app

When in doubt, consult your budgeting app. The right app won't just give you an overview of your daily expenses, but will also show you how much money you've saved, prepare a hypothetical budget suited to your needs, and assist you in meeting your financial goals as effectively as possible.

The biggest convenience that budgeting apps have to offer is ease of usage. You don't necessarily have to sit down with a 100-page notebook, pens, and a calculator. The app will uncomplicate the math for you. For beginners, Goodbudget and টাকা - আয়, ব্যায়, হিসাব Taka Income Expense Manager might be wise choices.

Keep an eye out for discounts

Every now and then, you will come across an expensive product you really can't do without, and to make things worse, its reasonably-priced alternative won't match up to the desired quality. For me, this is probably my prescription toothpaste. It's not something I can pick up every month, for that'd completely wreck my wallet in ways I can't even imagine. So, here's what I do. I wait for the big sale.

There are always a few big sales coming up every year, especially when there's a big festival or a holiday season ahead. Then we have the seasonal sales and the all-time customer favourite – the clearance sale. The toothpaste that costs nearly 1000 taka including VAT, is now being sold at 550 taka. Bingo!

Versatility is key

Whenever I'm shopping for clothes, I always take into account the versatility of the items of clothing. How many different ways can I style a kurti? The higher the number, the better the odds are of me buying the kameez in question.

A product's versatility is the first thing you should be wary of when shopping, in order to make the most of your purchase. Be it a tin of coconut milk or a pack of washi tape, it is imperative to ensure its versatility in daily usage, for that is what'll keep you from mindlessly shopping for alternatives.

There we go, all the hacks laid out in front of you. Happy shopping!

DISCLAIMER: Given the current situation with COVID-19, we highly encourage you to stay home and avoid going outside unless it is an emergency. If needed, do your shopping online.

Rasha Jameel is your neighborhood feminist-apu-who-writes-big-essays. Remind her to also finish writing her bioinformatics research paper at rasha.jameel@outlook.com