Hi everyone, now that I am back in Malaysia. I just couldn’t write much about life in China anymore since I’m in a totally different environment. HELLO from the shopping and foodie paradise! I always love malls in Malaysia, especially the ones in KL like MidValley or One Utama. These two are like my regular spots whenever I want to meet friends, or just the occasional shopping. However, I find that shopping malls in Malaysia are designed to make sure that people will spend money in there. Shopping malls in KL aren’t just a place to shop for clothes, they cater to all kinds of crowds regardless of your gender. Pretty much everyone who spends 1 hour in the mall, will definitely spend some cash on little stuff, it can be food or coffee, or it can be an attractive phone case. But how can we avoid overspending our money? I put together a list that we should try.

Plan before you go

Do you have a solid plan of what you want to buy, or are you there just to kill time and walk around. Your purpose of going to the mall will make a big difference of your time there. You can either spend all the time walking from one shop to another, or you can strategically plan where you want to go for your shopping. This way you can save time and spend more energy in other areas. Having a solid shopping plan will also prevent yourself from buying things you don’t want to.

Set a reasonable spending limit

If you’re not planning to buy anything, but just want to “look around”, be sure to set a reasonable budget so you do not overspend. Most people have the habit of buying a drink in the mall, and sometimes one drink is not enough.

a cup of Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂 milk tea will cost you MYR15($3)

“Reena, are you saying I should not get any drink?”

There is no restriction of spending, this article is meant for you to be responsible of your own expense, so that you don’t spend more that what you earn.

Remove the credit cards from your wallet

Credit cards are created for the convenience of mankind, but if not careful, it can be a temptation for you to spend more because you do not see the physical cash “going out” from your wallet. Removing the convenient card will encourage you to spend from what’s within your wallet.

Credit Card Facts
The minimum annual income to apply for credit cards is MYR24,000/year
Source: comparehero.my

Think before you buy

This may seem pretty obvious but it’s always good to ask yourself a few questions before making a purchase.

“Do I really need this?”
“Does buying this benefit me?”
“Could there be a cheaper option?”
“Am I spending too much for this month?”
“ Am I buying something high quality?”

Compare prices online

It’s the internet age, and buying things online is definitely not something new. If you want to be sure you are getting the best deal, be sure to check the prices online before buying. Afterall, who doesn’t like a good deal?

Apps like SHOPBACK or SWAGBUCKS gives you cashbacks for shopping online. You can buy your favourite goods from Shopee, Lazada, Ebay, Sephora, or book your next vacation through agoda. For Malaysians and Singaporeans, check out [SHOPBACK]( to find out more.

Important takeaways

Spending limits really depends on the income and financial goals. So, it’s a rather personal thing and we can’t judge others base on what they buy or how they spend. Everyone is responsible for themselves and each person’s expenditure and rewards are really different. Some people choose luxury brands, others choose entertainment, or comfort food. Whatever it is, the mall sure offers a variety of choices.

So, spend wisely.