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For those of you who聽set a new year鈥檚 resolution to improve your physical health, getting to the gym and eating healthier at home are probably聽key parts of that plan.

But if you鈥檙e also looking to improve your financial health, a new year鈥檚 resolution focused on your聽聽habits can be just as important.

It鈥檚 not too late to resolve to shop smarter and save more; after all, January isn鈥檛 over yet. To get your resolution-making juices flowing, here are聽five shopping resolutions you鈥檒l want to set 鈥� and keep 鈥� in 2016.

1. Do your homework.

This year, stop shopping on a whim. By doing your homework 鈥� comparing prices between stores, applying relevant coupons and consulting customer reviews 鈥� you could potentially save a considerable amount of dough. You鈥檒l secure the best deal while avoiding less-than-satisfactory products.

But it鈥檚 not just about keeping your eyes peeled for a sale or searching for a promo code. You can plan when to聽make major purchases, simply by knowing that certain product categories reach their lowest prices at certain times of the year.

Need help scheduling?聽We鈥檝e created a聽聽of the year.

2. Pick the right products.

One of the biggest mistakes shoppers make is buying the wrong product 鈥� for example, buying聽the聽聽when the less-expensive Microsoft Surface Pro 3 could get the job done.

Before you make a major purchase, determine what you need in a new product聽and write down聽a list of the聽features you value most. You may find that a less advanced (and more affordable) version will have everything you need.

You鈥檒l cut costs by buying a聽model without extraneous features you鈥檒l hardly use. This especially applies to electronics, including,听,听听补苍诲听.

3. Be a loyal customer.

Prove your loyalty this year by closely following your favorite retailers. Sign up for email lists (new subscribers often receive a coupon to save on their next purchase) and follow retailers on social media to be among the first to know about sales and deals.

Plus, the more you frequent a store, the more familiar you鈥檒l become with the retailer鈥檚 regular promotions. For instance, Victoria鈥檚 Secret shoppers know to hold off on purchasing intimates and swimsuits until the store鈥檚聽聽drops in January and June each year.

Furthermore, you can always use loyalty to your advantage. When negotiating prices on major purchases, such as furniture and mattresses, it can鈥檛 hurt to remind sales associates of your continued dedication. After all, they won鈥檛 want to lose your business because of one bad deal.

4. Put your phone to work.

We bet you already use your phone a lot (or聽maybe聽too much), but don鈥檛 neglect to use it when you shop.

Whether you shop online or prefer the experience of in-store browsing, keep your smartphone handy this year. Load your device with apps like聽听补苍诲听. They鈥檒l make comparing prices as easy as a scan of a bar code 鈥� and you鈥檒l never forget to ask for a price match, when a retailer meets or beats a competitor鈥檚 price for the same item.

Be open to more options too. Other shopping apps notify you of sales happening in your general location (), help you keep track of budgeting for gifts (), and organize all of your tracking numbers for deliveries of online purchases ().

5. Gear up for Black Friday.

Finally, Black Friday may not be until November, but you can聽resolve now to be prepared. Before the hyped shopping day arrives, decide聽which products you want to buy and keep an eye聽out for retailers鈥� sales circulars as the time nears. There are deals to be had on everything from appliances to electronics on the day after Thanksgiving, and you won鈥檛 want to be sitting on the sidelines when all the sales action goes down.

This article first appeared at .