10 ways to save money on shopping at the supermarket

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Go to the store without children and a smartphone. And practice counting in your head.

We spend about 30% of our earnings on groceries every month. This item of expenditure is vital, you cannot refuse it. But there are several ways you can help you shop smarter and leave less money in grocery stores.

1. Turn off your smartphone

Shopping for groceries is not very interesting. Therefore, some, pushing a cart in front of them, no, no, and yes, they will check for new messages in messengers or scroll through the feed in social networks. If you do this too, then you risk buying more than you planned. And then they discovered that, in addition to the necessary products, they brought home chips, chocolates and all kinds of unnecessary trifles.

This is because social media, audiobooks and podcasts distract you and spend more time in the store. And the longer you walk between the aisles of the supermarket, the more you buy.

2. Be careful about discounted items

When we see bright red and yellow price tags, then at some point we stop reasoning sensibly. Therefore, before sweeping discounted products off the shelves, check the expiration date and think carefully if you need these 10 packs of dumplings from an unknown company. Indeed, very often the store lowers the price, because in a couple of days the products will deteriorate or because they are simply tasteless and are reluctant to buy.

3. Don't fall into the trap of marketers

Supermarkets are specially designed so that you leave as much money as possible there. Huge teams of people have worked on this for years and have learned to use all our weaknesses to get us to buy. If you go to the store, remember at least the basic tricks of marketers.

The most expensive and often unnecessary items are displayed at eye level. Therefore, if you want to save money, do not forget to look at the lower shelves.

Basic products - cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, bread - can be easily bought if you move only along the perimeter of the store, without going deep inside. Because in the center of the supermarket, as a rule, there are shelves with sweets, semi-finished products, juices, household chemicals and small rubbish like toys and goods for a summer residence. That is, with those goods that you can do without, but which we sometimes throw into the cart mechanically.

4. Count in your mind

While you are adding items to your shopping cart or cart, add up the cost so you know exactly how much you will pay at the checkout. This will keep you on your toes and prevent you from gaining too much.

5. Avoid packaged goods

It is much easier to buy tomatoes on a substrate, already wrapped in cellophane, than to put them in a bag and weigh them yourself. But the cost of a packaged tomato tends to be higher, which means you'll spend a little more. The same goes for sliced cheese or sausages.

6. Do not take children with you

If possible. Even adults can not always resist the temptation to grab a chocolate bar in a bright package from the shelf. What can we say about babies, who are trapped in supermarkets much more temptations: from sweets to toys and children's magazines.

Resisting children's pleas and tears can be very difficult, especially when a disgruntled queue sighs behind you.

So try to go shopping without kids. Or negotiate in advance what and how much you can buy.

7. Take a bottle of water with you

You've probably heard the recommendation to eat before going for groceries more than once. If you come to the store hungry, the mouth-watering sights and smells can provoke you to unnecessary purchases. But the same goes for thirst. We can not always distinguish when we are thirsty and when we are. And when we think we are hungry, we start grabbing everything from the shelves. A few sips of water, especially during the hot season, can relieve you of these false sensations.

8. Conduct an audit of the refrigerator

As well as kitchen cabinets. If you know exactly what products you are missing, then do not buy too much and then you will not have to throw out unused food.

9. Make a menu for the week

It will take time and effort from you, but it will save you from thinking at the store shelves. If you know exactly what you are going to cook, then you can easily make an accurate list of all the foods that you need. This means that you will not buy too much.

In addition, if you have taken care of the menu and the products for it in advance, there is less risk of getting lazy and ordering ready-made food.

10. Order online

Some supermarkets have such a service: you can select products through the website or app, and then just pick them up at the store. Or wait until they are brought to your home. With this approach, you will have more time to think about your purchases, compare prices, look for discounts. In addition, you can cancel or re-checkout if you realize that you have typed too much.