Shopping!!! Most women love that word,and of course! I am one of them. Whether you like it or not we all have to shop at one time or the other. As much fun as shopping can be, it can also cause financial frictions and problems, if spending is not done moderately.

Here are some useful tips to help you spend prudently:

HAVE A BUDGET

Decide on the amount to be spent on shopping. Your shopping budget can be drawn on weekly ,monthly or quarterly basis.

DRAW A LIST

List out the items you need for that week,month or quarter.

PRICING

Have an idea of the prices of the items you want to buy;whether its a dress or shoes or accessories. Prices can be gotten by window shopping,by asking friends or family and also by checking online

WORK THAT LIST INTO YOUR BUDGET

The next step here is to ensure that your list fits into your budget. This a tough one, because you might have to make adjustments by dropping some items from list. Be sensible enough to drop items that are of little necessity.

TAKE JUST ENOUGH CASH

Don't forget your cash ,its your shopping ticket but ensure you take the exact amount need. it is also advisable that you add just a little extra cash, to cover unforseen scenarios. DO NOT TAKE TOO MUCH CASH--you might just end spending it all.

GO ALONE

This might not sound as your ideal way of shopping but it is advisable if you don't want to overspend. You may take family members but shopping with friends will most times lead to impulse spending. If you have to go with friends,ensure that they are ones ,who make wise shoppers.

BUY QUALITY AND COMFORT

You  should  buy items of good quality and that which makes you comfortable ,or else, you be shopping again in no time. This will automatically affect your finances. Remember "you don't have to buy every reigning thing".

  Have you ever gone to cafeteria,ordered for a particular meal and you looked at what the other person got and wished you had ordered what he got?  Sounds familiar huh!

  I got a feel of that early this month. I wanted to make my hair but wasn't sure about the styIe l wanted; I wasn't sure if I wanted  braids, a fringe or even a bob.

   

I set out to shopping for a weave to use. I went from one beauty shop to another. I just couldn't make up my mind on what to buy .Finally ,I settled for a dread weave (I wasn't even sure I liked it). On my way home, I saw a lady wearing a spiraled weave and I was captivated ,the odd part was that I had seen the same spiral weave in the shop where I brought my weave. I rushed back to the shop to change the weave to the one I saw on that lady.

    

I had another dramatic episode with my hair-stylist. She styled the weave in a way I didn't like,because I never gave her clear-cut instructions regarding the style I wanted. I left the salon angry and frustrated. At home, I was brooding over all that had happened that day,and then, it occurred to me that I went through all those stress because I didn't really know what I wanted. If I had known the kind of hairstyle I wanted, I would have known the kind of weave to buy and how it should have been styled.

   

"The best way to get nothing out of life, is to not know what you want out of life." I keep wondering how many people go through life without a defined goal,vision or dream. Don't just say "I want to be great in life", be determined to be the best in that career or endeavour. Quit wishing you were a better Christian,make up your mind to be one who is vast in the scriptures and consistent in his/her walk with God. Stop daydreaming about having a good family, decide to be one who loves unconditionally, patient and ready to discipline and instruct one's children in God's ways.

  I sincerely believe that God guides and leads us. But we have to make decisions,set goals, pray and plan towards it. If God has other plans ,he will guide us into it.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need". Hebrews  4:15-16

Often times we feel we must be "picture perfect" to be accepted by God. So we put on a holy facade and an attitude that say "I have got it all figured" before men and even God. Whereas, we struggle with a lot,even as Christians, we still struggle with bad habits and evil thoughts. Several attempts to do things right ends in failure. We become frustrated and dejected.

In times like this, it is easy to start thinking that God will not think much of us . The truth is, God sees and really understands. Though,his desire for us is to be like Jesus, he also knows that we need supernatural help to get that level. All we have to do is remove every pretense and pour out heart to him. When we do this ,he would equip us with the grace and strength to stand in this fallen world. {HOTF}