8 ways to save money while shopping

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

For many, shopping is entertainment that takes a lot of time and money. Simple tips will help you spend less and avoid buying unnecessary items.

1. Decide what you want to buy before you enter the store

Never go into a store without intending to buy something. It is best if you have an idea of exactly what you are looking for. Stores are specially designed to make you want to buy something unplanned or even unnecessary. This is their main goal.

Think of each trip to the store as a mission to buy something specific. Don't go shopping for socializing or fun. Buy what you need and leave, and look for entertainment outside of shopping centers.

2. When you buy something at a discount, you don't save money

Sellers like to say that we are saving by buying an item during a sale. Of course, if something initially cost 99.99 rubles, but now costs 49.99, we seem to be saving 50 rubles. But it is not so. Buying such a product, you do not save, but simply spend less. Your total capital will still decrease, because you buy something unnecessary.

The discount will really help you save money if you were going to buy some necessary thing and were already ready to spend money on it.

3. Discount cards and bonuses are good, but there is also a catch

Discount programs are designed to ensure that customers come back to the store. And usually, in order to get some kind of card or bonus, you first need to spend a certain amount in this store.

Always be aware of the tricks of the shops. First, often in order to receive a discount card, you are asked to provide your personal information, and then spam is sent. Better to have a separate email account for these messages, which can be checked once a month or less.

Secondly, sometimes we think that having bonuses is a reason to spend money. Of course, with a discount card you will save a little, but only if you were going to buy something anyway. In addition, it is much more profitable to cook something at home than to eat in a cafe or restaurant, even at a discount. And do not forget to compare the prices of any item in other stores before buying it where you have a discount card.

4. When buying used items online, always check if the image is actually original

When you see a photo of a product on eBay or other similar sites, copy the image and check it through a search. If the exact same photo has been used elsewhere, chances are the item you wanted to buy doesn't really look like this. It is better not to buy such a thing.

This rule does not apply to new items.

5. When buying non-perishable goods, consider the unit price, not the packaging

The price on the label usually means little if it's a large package of toilet paper or liquid soap. In this case, you need to look at the price per roll or bottle. If you are buying pasta or cereals, calculate the price per kilogram.

Only by buying the packaging with the lowest unit price will you really save.

6. Clean your pantry and cupboards once a month to save on groceries

If you sort out the kitchen cupboard, most likely you will find some leftovers that will be enough for several full meals. Surely you bought some products when they were sold at a discounted price, and you could well forget about your stocks.

Cleaning the kitchen will solve this problem. Make a list of what you can make from the available ingredients and what you need to buy.

This will prevent spoilage of products that can be stored for a long time, but still not forever. For example, various spices and herbs that lose their aroma over time.

7. Stretch out the time between shopping

Most fresh food will last for about a week. Use perishable food first and keep the rest fresh for longer in the fruit and vegetable compartment of the refrigerator.

The longer the gap between shopping, the less time you will have to spend in the shops, the more agile you will be when you go on your grocery trip. And the less time you spend in the store, the less likely you are to buy something unnecessary.

8. Take photos of receipts on your phone

If you put all your checks in your pocket or wallet, it's easy to lose them. It is much more convenient to photograph them. Then you can add photos to your notes in Evernote so that you don't forget what you spent your money on, or add them to an app that tracks expenses (for example, You Need a Budget). This way you will know exactly how much and on what you are spending.

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