Filipino Shopaholic's Guide to Hassle-Free In-Store Shopping

Filipinos love shopping AND bargains. Just take a look at how many people flock to malls during 3-day sales and you’ll get the picture of just how much Filipinos love to shop ‘til they drop. Holidays and special occasions such as Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day, Valentine’s, and graduation also merit some celebratory shopping.

Thanks to this, as well as the rising demand for convenience, online shopping has become more popular in the Philippines in recent years. Still, there’s the so-called “form factor” that can’t be replaced and somehow makes shopping all the more enjoyable for many Filipinos. Sometimes, it’s also a practical choice. When buying clothes, for example, you get to properly check the fit. When getting makeup and skin care products, you can test the shades and get a good look at the colors (which often don’t translate well on screens).

If you love or prefer shopping in-store, it can be frustrating that some stores don’t provide a hassle-free experience. Luckily, we have some shopping tips below to help make it more satisfying and convenient:

Find Establishments That Accept Cashless Payments

When you’re shopping in-store, you spend a lot of time picking out your items to make sure they’re the best you can get. It’s only logical, even reasonable, then, to want to have a smooth and easy checkout at the cashier afterwards. That’s why it’s a good idea to look for physical stores that accept cashless payment solutions, which are beneficial to both merchants and consumers. Not only are these payment methods faster, but they’re also safer and more secure.

Fortunately, there are many stores that accept cashless payments. Whether you’re buying groceries or getting those new hype sneakers, you can find a store that allows you to pay using e-wallets or cards. You can try checking the counter, too, if they have a Maya Terminal scanner or a similar terminal to indicate that they accept tap- or swipe-to-pay options.

Be Patient in Looking for the Best Deals

Shopping to your heart’s content doesn’t necessarily mean emptying your wallet and bank account down to the last peso. In fact, you might even end up more satisfied with your purchases if you got a great deal for them. Be patient in looking for bargains. You can do your research online so that when you go to the store, you can grab the items and go!

Remember as well that a “good deal” can mean a lot of things. It could be a buy one, get one free offer or perhaps a huge discount from the original price. There are also some retail partners that offer cashback and special deals simply by using Scan to Pay and other alternative payment methods. The key here is to define for yourself what a “best deal” is and do your research before going shopping.

Make a Shopping List

One of the many ways you can save money when shopping is by making a list. Now, you might think that this is only for grocery shopping but that simply isn’t the case. In fact, making a list for your lifestyle purchases is one of the best ways to make sure that you’re getting all the things you want. This is particularly important if you’re shopping for gifts or looking for a lot of items (for example, a Halloween costume).

And again, preparing a shopping list can help you save money. When you know which items you have to place in your cart, you can quickly go through the shops and shelves. This can help minimize the risk of impulse buying.

Don’t Shop When You’re Emotional

Did you know that emotions can affect your financial decisions? That’s why it’s not a good idea to go shopping when you’re feeling intense emotions, such as anger or anxiety. Let your feelings settle first before you go shopping. You might end up realizing that you actually didn’t need to shop at that moment you experienced those strong feelings.

Prepare Your Essentials

Shopping post-COVID-19 will be a lot different than what you’ve been used to. Most people prefer to shop online nowadays, where they can pay using their Maya physical card, banking apps, and other alternative payment systems.

Still, if you’re heading out to shop for whatever reason, make sure that you’re prepared with all the essentials. Wear your PPE such as masks and face shields, and don’t forget to bring a personal-sized bottle of alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Try to minimize your time outside as well. The previous tips, such as preparing a shopping list and researching deals, can help with this. For other errands such as paying bills, do it through websites or payment apps instead.

Things have changed over the years, particularly in 2020, but the joy of shopping is definitely still there. If you’re among the millions of Filipinos who love to shop, shop, shop, hopefully, these tips can make the experience even more enjoyable for you.