Online Shopping Strategy to Keep Your Finances Safe
- Category: General Liability
- Date: 22-01-2024
The development of technology changes every aspect of our lives, including shopping habits or behavior. Now if you want to buy anything, you don't need to bother going to the market, supermarket, or a particular store. Just by using a gadget and opening an e-commerce application or social media, we can immediately buy the desired items at the online shop of our choice.
All these conveniences are certainly very positive things. However, it does not mean that these conveniences will not have negative effects. If we are not wise and easily carried away, this technological advancement can potentially harm ourselves. It is important to truly understand how to respond to the ease of shopping today.
Through this article, let's understand various aspects of the convenience of shopping today, namely in online shops !
Online Shop and Current Shopping Trends
Online shop or online store is a place where you can shop online , without having to go anywhere. In this digital era, shopping at online shops is certainly not a foreign activity for a few people. For some people, it is now a daily routine. Are you one of those people who often shop at online shops or vice versa?
Shopping trends nowadays have changed, where various shopping activities are increasingly done online. However, this does not mean that offline stores have been completely abandoned. A survey from the Katadata Insight Center (KIC) actually revealed that the number of Indonesians who actively shop online is still very small, which is around 33.4% of the total population.
There are still many people who shop by visiting the place directly. For example, to shop for basic necessities such as cooking ingredients, especially in very small sizes, either at the nearest stall, minimarket, or supermarket. Reported by the Japo Pendapat survey , 50% of Indonesians shop online to buy fashion products and accessories. The next best-selling product is electronics, with a total of 46%. This number is then followed by beauty and body care products, health and hygiene products, groceries, household products, recreation, and children's equipment.
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Effective Ways to Manage Finances Even Though You Often Shop at Online Shops
Shopping is indeed fun, especially shopping simply and practically, such as shopping at an online shop . However, always remember to manage your finances as well as possible, okay! If not, your financial condition could be disturbed. You can try the following methods below!
Determine Your Shopping Budget From the Start
Setting a budget from the start before you shop is very important to keep your finances well managed. With a set budget , this can indirectly regulate yourself and restrain yourself from spending more than the previously determined budget . Of course, your ability to control yourself when shopping is also really needed. Moreover, shopping is very easy, you only need to take a gadget and open an e-commerce application or social media.
Make a Shopping List of Things You Want to Buy
In addition to determining the shopping budget , making a shopping list of what you want to buy is also very crucial so that your finances can still be managed effectively even though you often shop at online shops . For example, you can make a shopping list in your cellphone notes first, after which you can immediately go to the e-commerce application or social media to shop directly.
Evaluate Online Shopping Expenditures Periodically
Conducting regular online shopping spending evaluations is very important so that you can find out how your financial condition is in a certain period of time. Are you someone who always checks your spending or not? If you haven't done this, try to do it from now on! The method is not difficult because you don't need to record manually, but you can see the shopping history on the related online shopping platform. You can learn from spending that is considered excessive, and so as not to repeat it in the next online shopping moment.
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Online Shopping Tips to Get Cheaper PricesDon't Miss the Beautiful Date or Birthday of Your Favorite E-Commerce Platform
Familiar with promos like 11.11 or 12.12, or other promos that fall on the same date and month? Usually on these 'beautiful' dates there will be a lot of promos in various online shops . At this time, your dream items will usually be very cheap due to promos or discounts. Don't miss these 'beautiful' dates, or you will feel at a loss because you have to spend more to buy your dream items!
Shopping at a 'Weird' Time
Did you know that at certain times, especially at 'odd' times, some promos can suddenly appear? If not, then you should start trying to buy your dream items at those 'odd' times so you can get them at a cheaper price! For example, at midnight when most people are fast asleep, or after lunch when most people are busy with their respective jobs or activities. In fact, you don't have to wait for a 'beautiful' date, promos can suddenly appear at certain times.
Routinely Check Several Related Online Shops For The Same Product Specifics
When you want to buy an item, don't forget to routinely check several online shops that sell the item. Not all online shops will sell an item at the same price as other online shops . Even so, in general the price determined will not be much different from the market price. Choose an online shop that sells the item you are looking for at a price that best suits your finances. However, remember to always check the authenticity and quality of the item first. Don't be easily fooled by prices that are too cheap!
Take Advantage of Promotions Available in Online Shop Services
Each online shop generally has its own strategy and way to provide promos to get many buyers such as buy 1 get 1, a certain percentage discount for certain products, bundling packages , and so on. Well, you can take advantage of promos at your favorite online shop to buy the items you want. Routinely check your favorite online shop , because promos at various online shop services can appear at unexpected times!
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How to Shop Wisely in Online Shops
The ease of technology to shop at online shops without having to go anywhere is indeed very pampering everyone today. However, don't forget to always be wise when shopping online , okay! Here are ways you can follow so as not to be lulled by the pleasure of shopping at online shops .
Prioritize Needs Over Wants
When shopping, we often forget about our own needs because we are distracted by other items that attract our attention. Items that are pleasing to the eye, look cute, and then make us want to buy them even though we don't need them.
Always prioritize your needs before your wants! You can prevent distractions by making notes of what you want to buy before you start shopping. In addition, you can also avoid distractions by going directly to the online shop and looking for the items you want without looking or scrolling further. Shopping is fast, practical, and certainly not wasteful.
Don't be influenced by prices that are far from market prices
Cheap prices are indeed very attractive, and this often happens in various online shops . Before being tempted because you don't have to spend a lot of money, don't forget to take your time to see the market price for the item you want to buy.
Try not to be easily influenced by prices that are far from market prices, okay! Items that are labeled with prices far from market prices in general can potentially be lacking in terms of quality. In other words, you have the potential to buy goods that are not original. Before you regret it because your shopping items don't last long, it's better to prevent it by checking first.
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Is Shopping at Online Shops More Economical or More Wasteful?
If you are someone who often shops at online shops , do you feel more economical or more wasteful so far? Actually, being more economical or more wasteful will depend on yourself. You determine whether you will be more economical or more wasteful after shopping at online shops .
You can follow the tips above to manage your finances effectively, and to remain wise even though you often shop at online shops. The strategy you apply when shopping online will greatly determine your finances. Start now so that your finances can be managed well!
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Which Generation is Most Likely to Shop Online ?
Shopping in online shops is now an activity carried out by all groups from various generations. However, which generation is actually the most fond of shopping in online shops ?
Generation Z
The latest survey from Populix regarding the shopping behavior of Indonesian people in online shops conducted in mid-2023 shows that a total of 54% of people choose to shop at e-commerce , where this number is dominated by Gen Z. Even so, the other 42% still choose to shop offline or directly. The remaining 3% choose to shop at online shops via social media, which is also done in particular by Gen Z.
The survey also explained that in general Gen Z's shopping behavior is influenced by Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) due to exposure to social media. Thus, this generation will tend to be more impulsive in shopping because it is more related to lifestyle and current trends. Even so, Gen Z still has the opinion that shopping, especially shopping for food, is an activity based on needs.
Millennials
Millennials, especially those who already have a fixed income, tend to shop for things related to household needs. As reported by Populix , millennials tend to behave stably in online shopping . Many of them prioritize daily needs, education, retirement savings, and investments with minimal risk.
By following some of the tips above, you can manage your finances more effectively, while still shopping frequently at online shops . Let's start being wise in utilizing the convenience of technology, more precisely online shopping , and manage your finances better.
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