The stock market is plunging at record speed, your checking account balance is much lower than normal, but there is one thing that is rising rapidly. It is the discounts being offered at the local shopping malls. They are increasing daily and, of course, you are extremely tempted to visit and take advantage of this great opportunity, especially now when you have a long gift list and want to make everyone happy. There are some precautions you should take before visiting the mall and spending all of your money, or running up credit card debt that you will be paying for many months from now.

Before you go to the mall, be sure to eat. Eat any meal you want, but do not shop on an empty stomach. Most of us know that we should never visit a supermarket hungry as we will buy all sorts of additional things. The same holds true for mall shopping. Statistics prove that hungry shoppers spend 40% more than those who have full stomachs.

Never shop with your children. Leave them at home and you have instant savings. Once they accompany you, the requests are endless and you eventually give in to buying them something. They will haunt you about what you do not have and cannot live without. Don’t even think about bringing them along.

Before leaving the house, make a list. This is of the utmost importance. List the names of those you want to buy gifts for and the gift you feel is most appropriate. Check the comparison shopping sites on the computer for the best deals and visit those stores. This way sale signs will not divert you from your shopping goal.

If you do not need an item and it is not on your list, do not buy it no matter how much the discount. Remember, if you do not buy it at all, you will have saved 100%.

Do not cut out gift giving. It is much better to scale down the gifts. If you have a large family, encourage each person to pick a name out of a hat and buy only for that one person. This is a great way to have a gift exchange without spending a large amount of money.