How to beat the supermarket and save your money

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

Our little guide to coping with rash shopping is not for shopaholics, but for ordinary people. Such as you and me.

How many times have you stated with regret that when you left home for just bread, you brought a whole bag of groceries from the supermarket, spending a fair amount of money? How many times have you promised yourself not to buy anything extra and still drove up to the checkout with a whole cart of goods?

Every time we enter a store, we enter an invisible warpath. Cunning sellers drive us through the labyrinth of shelves with goods, creatives stun us with bright advertisements, culinary specialists try to embarrass us with appetizing smells, and our goal is to overcome all these traps and return home with a completed task and with minimal losses. Not everyone succeeds in this. Therefore, in this article, we want to introduce you to a few tips that will help you always conquer your spontaneous desires and buy only what you really need.

Make a shopping list and use it

We can spend hours planning our actions at work in order to make more money in the end. So why, when we start spending it, do we completely forget about planning? Remember how often you see people in the store with shopping lists in their hands? I’m sure not. Most of us prefer to spend money in supermarkets spontaneously, in the "free flight" mode. Should I be surprised then at the results?

Make a grocery list before going to the store without fail. Perhaps it will be just a piece of paper, perhaps a cool application for smartphones "Buy a loaf!", But in one form or another, the shopping list should always be in your hands in the supermarket. This is your main weapon against rash purchases.

Shopping on time

Several independent studies have proven that the more time you spend in a store, the more money you will spend in it. Therefore, try to never enter retail premises just to kill time. Try to limit the time you spend on purchases, and you will see how immediately the amount on your check decreases accordingly. Create a speed-buying competition for yourself and become a regular prize winner!

Bend over

You may not be aware of this, but shelf display is an art. Sellers have known for a long time that what is being sold is not the product that is better, but the one that is in the right place - at the level of your eyes. And only the most profitable product is located in these best places. Profitable for the store, of course, not for you. Therefore, show a little flexibility and do not hesitate to bend over and examine what lies there on the lower shelves? You will surely make a number of discoveries for yourself and discover completely new products for yourself.

Take a basket, not a cart

It is quite obvious that you will not fit too many purchases in the basket, and besides, the heaviness in your hands will make you finish your walk through the supermarket faster. Therefore, get into the habit of never picking up a cart, but just sticking to a basket. Well, except for some exceptional cases, when you buy up before a banquet, going out into the countryside, and so on.

Plan your meals in advance

One of the most valuable habits that will not only save you tons of money but also make you healthier is planning your meals ahead of time. Of course, it is not necessary to accurately calculate each meal, but it is quite possible to make general sketches. Just take some time once a week to plan your diet for the next seven days. This will allow you to make the necessary purchases once, and not constantly run to the store when you want to eat.

Use stocks

Very often there is a situation when the refrigerator is full of leftovers from previous purchases, and we are already in a hurry to the store for something fresh. Therefore, before going to the supermarket, it is enough to make an inspection of your refrigerator and pantry to understand that you do not need to go anywhere at all. Set a goal for yourself to cook food “from what is” at least occasionally. This will allow you to throw away less, save some money and discover new recipes from long-known ingredients.

Follow bonuses and promotions

To increase demand, many retail chains use loyalty systems, periodic discounts and promotions for product groups. If you use these tools thoughtfully and without fanaticism, then it is quite possible to save a certain amount of money. The main thing is to keep a cool head and not buy what you do not need at all, just because there is a discount for it. So the next time you pay at the checkout, take an interest in these colorful magazines describing current promotions.

Indulge in a day of luxury

If you are serious about limiting your purchasing costs, you may soon feel miserable and frustrated. Therefore, you should not completely clamp down on your desires. Set aside one day, for example, before the weekend, when you can let your soul unfold. Buy yourself this new type of chocolate or the best coffee, so as not to suffer sweat from unsatisfied desire. All the same, if you make extra purchases once a week, and not every day, as before, it will ultimately turn out to be significantly better for your budget.

How do you deal with unnecessary purchases in supermarkets? Do you manage to cope with this problem or have already given up your hand?