by Mario Carini

Created on: November 21, 2009

Money and time always seem to be in short supply especially as the holiday season approaches. While everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, how they use that time often spells the difference between having enough money and barely getting by.

Money is a variable, but no less important as time. Like time, how money is used spells the difference between wealth and poverty. Rare is the individual who knows how to use both money and time to the best of his advantage.

There's simply no better test of how both time and money are used than when shopping. Too many overspend simply because they haven't created a budget. They waste a good deal of their lives because they haven't learned to organize their time.

If you want to be more efficient, you need to employ some useful tips that can save you a great deal of both time and money and insure you stay healthy and stress free all year.

Make a List: If Santa makes his list and checks it twice, so can you. And you can be sure that Santa has lots of places to go and things to do on Christmas eve than take a few trips back to the North Pole to pick up a few gifts he forgot. Making a list simply helps you get better organized. It also helps you stay within your spending budget.

Save Time and Shop Online: Rather than take a number of unplanned trips, you can shop online for the best price on what you want to buy. Today you can buy both food and non-food items and have them delivered to your door. Many sites are secure so you can order your products safely.

Shop Smart: Take a look at those fliers you get in your mailbox. You may find some items on special or come with coupons you can use to buy what you need at a discount. Many online shopping sites offer coupons you can print out to use on your next shopping trip. Consider buying in bulk, but only those items you can actually use. Smart shopping means eating something before you do your shopping to avoid impulse buying and getting rest before you shop.

Shop at Non Peak Times: Saturday is the time when you'll most likely to find the mall parking lot full. Not only will you waste time looking for a parking spot, but you'll stand awhile waiting at the checkout. Those magazines and treats at the counter are designed for you to browse, munch and ultimately buy while you're waiting. The beginning of the week is usually the best time for you to speed through the aisles to pick up what you need.

Pay in Cash or Debit Card: Credit cards are convenient, but what you buy is more costly when you don't pay off the balance at the end of the month. It's difficult to stick to a shopping budget with a credit card with a large spending limit. A debit card helps keep your expenses under control.

Time your Shopping Trips: The closer the holidays get, the more likely you are inclined to drive around town to pick up what you want. But travel from one end of the city to the other wastes fuel and time. Before you go out, plan your route, so you'll get the most done in the least amount of time spent traveling. If it's necessary to buy something halfway across town, set aside a day to shop within that area.

Shopping can be fun. Organizing your time means having more time to relax and browse more while you shop. Keeping within a budget helps to relieve stress, lower blood pressure and provides the organization skills that you can employ to everyday affairs that will lead to wealth and happiness.

Learn more about this author, Mario Carini.
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