Save Money While You Shop
More than likely, you will have noticed the price of your weekly shop increasing as of late; slowly yet consistently. Products are getting smaller and prices are getting higher; that’s an unfortunate fact of the economy we now live in. Of course, it is the consumers who are picking up the brunt of this change and with most people trying to keep tighter purse strings; we could all do with knowing how to go about saving some money when we shop.
- Search the whole aisle: A cunning supermarket ploy is to place the most expensive products at the customers’ eye level. If you look up and down and search thoroughly through the whole of the aisle, you can dig out some much cheaper alternatives.
- Eat Healthily: By focussing on meals and cutting back on unhealthy snacks, you will not only benefit your health but you can save a surprising amount of money too.
- Buy in season: Certain meats, fruits and vegetables are only ‘in season’ for a specific period of the year. Outside of this time, additional efforts will be required to produce them or they will need to be imported. This in turn pushes the price up, so buying in season can save you cash.
- Eat more vegetables: You do not have to eat meat every day of your life. Fresh cuts of meat can be expensive and so opting to eat vegetable, rice or pasta based dishes a few nights a week can be a great way to cut back on your food budget.
- Plan ahead: Writing out a meal plan means you know exactly what ingredients you need and you can hit the shops armed with a list. This stops you buying food you do not need, reducing expense and waste.
- Shop online: Shopping online is a great way to avoid the temptation of nice looking snacks and seductive ‘bargains’. The majority of the time, they are goods you will end up throwing out and if you shop online, you can just search for the things you know you need.
- Avoid designer: This works for food as much as it does for the likes of clothes and shoes. The more high profile a brand is, the more expensive their products will be. You do not have to sacrifice on quality to find more affordable options.
- Buy second-hand: This is best avoided with food – for obvious reasons – but is great if you are shopping for more expensive goods like clothes, cars and electrical products. Be it a friend, an ad in the newspaper or an online auction site, you can find some great quality bargains when you buy second-hand.
- Try the opposition: Being used to a specific shop does not mean you are committed solely to them for life. Trying others can help you compare value for money so you can be well informed enough to shop in the places that best suit your needs.
Saving money is hugely satisfying, especially when it feels increasingly as though businesses are trying to take it from us in whatever way they can. Luckily, it is easier than expected to save some money when you shop, as it is often the smallest of changes that add up to make the greatest difference.
Share this:
Category: Saving Money
