A bustling metropolis is full of luxury shopping malls and in the US, it has become the top-notch destination for the weekly and monthly shopping of urban families. The mall culture, as economists call it, has opened avenues for tremendous shopping and business activities. Shopping in malls was earlier considered expensive but with a large number of malls sprawling in the recent years, competitive pricing and discounts have made it affordable for most of us. Here we will inform you about some tips for shopping at a mall. Have a look. How to Shop at a Mall If you are a newbie in the world of shopping in malls, you must know the fundamentals of visiting a mall for shopping. Shopping is one of the favorite pass-times of many people. Before you step into expensive places like shopping malls, ensure you are aware of the critical difference between needs and wants. If you have enough money to splurge, then you can enjoy shopping but if you have a tight budget, be careful with your spending while entering into one, as it can be expensive for your pocket. Avoid Weekends: Shopping on the weekends can turn out to be very exhausting due to a huge crowd and congested environment. Prefer week days to shop. Leave from your office early some day and then go for shopping. Plan the Shopping: Shopping malls are a storehouse of all brands and you will literally never get bored of shopping and splurging extra, if you are unaware of what you exactly want. Hence, to manage your budget effectively, shop with a proper plan in hand. Social Media Offers: Facebook fan pages will often inform you about some amazing discounts on branded apparels. So if you have a facebook account, do check frequently about the latest shopping offers from the greatest brands. Don't Just See Labels: Just because it is Levi's or Denim, doesn't mean it will fit you. Unless you are not satisfied by trying the accessories and clothes, don't buy them just based on a hunch or merely because you like it. Wait for Festivals: If you don't have urgency for shopping and you can wait for a few days, always do that. Malls across the country give special discounts during festive seasons. Festival sales are always huge crowd pullers in the shopping malls. If You Want, Rest: Bookstores in shopping malls are a great place to give some moments of relaxation to your tired feet especially if you are shopping alone. Read something and relax the feet after hours of shopping in the mall. Arrive Earlier: If you arrive earliest in the mall, you will get a better parking lot that is a big advantage in festive seasons when people have to walk hundreds of meters to just park their car! Plan Your Attire Well: If you are planning to try several clothes, it is logical to wear shorts, T-shirts and slippers, so that you can easily change every time you are in the trial room. Be Aware of CP: Don't just focus on prices in a single mall. Be aware of the competitive pricing of brands. If you can get the same clothing or brand at a cheaper price in a nearby store, it is worth saving some money. Use Gift Coupons Wisely: If you are in possession of some gift hampers or coupons, store them at separate places in the purse so that when the need comes, you can easily take them out. Don't mix them with other papers in your purse. Also, use the gift coupons smartly. Mall Shopping Safety Tips Shopping malls attract significantly high number of people of all ages. This gives miscreants and notorious pickpockets sufficient opportunity to take advantage of unaware shoppers. People who frequently indulge in shopping at malls must keep in mind the following safety tips.

• Never leave your belongings and purchased items unattended even for a couple of minutes.
• Try to limit the number of shopping bags you carry in malls. Prefer one large bag, or at the most two, so that you can keep a track of everything.
• Men must make it a habit to keep their wallets in the front pocket.
• Women, if they carry purses, must make sure that they hold it close to their body. If there are two people, the bag must be held in between the two people. This must be done during peak sale seasons when there is a huge rush in the malls.
• Never leave a child unattended outside malls, in a store or toy house. Always take them with you and keep a watch on them. Malls are the places where kidnappers are on the lookout to abduct kids.
• Avoid using washrooms that are situated very deep inside the mall or at the end corner of it.
• Never allow a child to go to the washroom without your assistance.
• If you're shopping at night, request mall security officers to escort you to the parking area. This is most important, if you are alone.
• Avoid staying inside the large halls and top floors of a mall, especially, if it is the closing time.
• Assist kids aged below 6 years while using the escalators.
• When taking your kid to the mall, if possible, take another adult with you.
• Don't look for items near warehouses in the malls or places where only the staff is allowed to enter.
• Be careful when standing in line, as children drift away from the line, while you are reading about some product or looking elsewhere.
• Don't overburden a trolley by making more than a kid sit on it. If needed, use more than one trolley.
• Avoid using lifts or stairs, at night in the mall, if you suspect someone with restless or suspicious behavior.
• Push the cart on your own and don't let it be pushed by the child. Children are unable to see shoppers coming in the front and they may bump into them. Let them smoothly move with the traffic.
• Don't carry strollers on escalators. Use elevators for that purpose.
• Inform your child that he or she should be careful with using the escalators and must stand comfortably instead of leaning on the sides or trying to do something different.
• In case a person or child meets with an accident while using the escalator, don't immediately rush back or jump. Instead press the alarm button provided at many places on handrails in elevators. If you start running back on the escalators, even you may fall.
• It is good to read safety pamphlets distributed by the shopping malls, every time you visit a mall.
• If shopping with toddlers, it is vital to bring good strollers and you must be accompanied by another adult. Right timing and weather conditions are also important determiners when taking toddlers out.
• Don't park in areas very far from the vicinity of the mall. It is ideal to use the parking area.
• Be careful while withdrawing money from close by ATMs near malls. Pickpockets are mostly in hideouts, watching your every move. They target careless and casual shoppers. Make sure you are alert.

Shopping in malls is going to be here and rule the heart of people. While malls have become the perfect places for families to indulge in some shopping and luxuries of life, questions about safety issues in crowded places are certainly a matter of concern. By using the aforementioned shopping tips, you are surely going to get the best deals! Happy shopping!