Mind you, 85 pesos sounds cheap, but when compounded to 25 or so items, can add up to a lot already. This is what happened to me when I bought 36 cute knick-knacks at the store, while still promising to come back for more. It’s just good that the staff and cashiers are friendly and helpful. Here are my own tips for shopping sanely and effectively in Saizen, the authentic 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop in Manila, after Japan’s very own Daiso chain of stores:
1. Look out for their products labelled Made in Japan. Some of the stuff is Made in China, and if you say China, you might as well look in Divisoria. Japan-made means you’re assured of the quality and the uniqueness of the item, such as those bento picks, onigiri rice ball maker and other kitchen accessories I chose.
2. Have a shopping budget, and stick to it. It’s hard when everything you see is cute and pretty so you might as well set money aside. The difficult part is that the store accepts credit cards, which brings you the illusion that you can have this and have that 😛
3. Be ready with your own shopping list. Related to No. 2. Having a list means you’re guided on what to buy, and will not act on impulse.
4. Look elsewhere before you buy. The shopping savvy would do well being familiar with various shopping destinations in the metro and compare prices. This is so you’ll not be overwhelmed on your first Saizen visit and scoop up something you see at the first opportunity.
5. Shop hungry. This is my own general shopping mantra. I do find that when I am out on an empty stomach, I tend to like things less. Of course it didn’t help that I was in the store till its closing hour and by the time I got out, most of the restos were about to close too.
6. Promise to come back next time. Yes Virginia, there will always ne next time. So don’t fill your shopping basket like there’s no tomorrow. Prioritize what to buy, and you’ll be fine. Happy shopping! 😛
Don’t shop when you’re hungry is about GROCERY shopping, Dear 😀 Seriously, I always throw everything I want in the basket, but then I take a look at what I have, before I ring up – you can do a mental tally right there, or whip out a calculator, and get good numbers. pretty easy, really..number of items, times eighty-five pesos, right?
I don’t have any issue with made in China merchandise, vice made in Japan, but I do look for quality – and that’s where you find the difference in products.
Yes, a shop like Saizen is good for window shopping, so you have ideas, and things you might look for elsewhere, closer to home, where you shop more often.
YMMV 😀
Thanks for the extra tips, Mr. Shopaholic 😀
Yes, I agree… when those teeny-weeny items cost only P85 each, and there are 40 of them…it’s time to let the reality sink in and do the math….ouch!
Your tips make sense. It’s actually good to go shopping armed with specific things and the will to stick with it. Apart from this practice being budget-friendly, you’ll be able to enjoy “just browsing”. The experience will be a whole lot more fun minus all the stress of calculating and making decisions. Hehe.
Where is it exactly in manila? Why would you want to shop with empty stomach? Isn’t it that you tend to shop more when you are hungry?
Sasha, I tell you. It was hard to “just browse” in Saizen 😛
@Shopping, I don’t tend to shop more when am hungry..unless you’re talking about food. 😀
‘The inspiration just hit me: since I have a major home organization project (and a minor budget) in mind, I’ll make a Canvassing table (nope, not suitable for Comelec use): 1st 4 columns on the left–item (basket, rack, etc.) / place (bedroom, kitchen, etc.) / use (spice jars, laundry, etc.) / dimensions (max. depth, height, width); then four columns on the right — Saizen, Daiso (on the same floor in Galle), Handyman, Robinson’s Department Store. Each of the cells under these 4 right-hand columns must contain info on item description (brand / color / dimensions) + price. It might take me 2 hours to complete the canvassing, but then I’d be able to maximize the minimal funds. I hope I don’t suddenly get lazy and just buy in one place… This just might be useful for someone else out there… God bless and happy shopping!
Oh gosh, I just realized that these posts were almost three years old. Well, I believe Saizen is still at Robinsons Galleria, isn’t it? Anyways, the tips are still useful though. Thanks again. Realized so many things by these. 😀