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Home Money Buying Controlling Spending The Problem with Wal-Mart

I have a problem at Wal-Mart. I don't buy everything there, but rarely get out of there for less than $100. I usually go weekly and we're a family of 5. These are the things I've done that seem to help.

1. I always take a shopping list and try to stick to it. Not everything we need gets on the list, and sometimes, something we use a lot is on a great sale, but a list will help with the impulse shopping. Keep all of the things that you picked up, but weren't on your list, together in the cart.
   
   
2. Don't go into departments/areas that aren't on your list.
   
   
3. If you think of something you've been wanting to get when you're already at the store, unless it's something you really need right now, put it on the back of your list and don't buy it this trip. When you get home, add the item to the new list. When you're ready to shop again, review the list and remove any items you've changed your mind about.
   
   
4. When you're ready to check out, look at the things that are together in your cart that weren't on your list. Try to put at least five items back. You probably won't actually have to run around the store to put them back. Just give them to the cashier at the beginning of your order and tell him/her that you've changed your mind about the items.
   
   
5. Try keeping a price book of items you buy most frequently. In your case, it won't be for comparison-shopping. Instead, it will be for estimating how much you'll need to take with you. Then you can try the cash idea.

"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a story that could help save time or money please send it by mailto:MyStory@stretcher.com

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