December 10th, 2009 by admin

Tips to become a savvy shopper !

Shopping list is a must - before you step out of the house, make sure that you have your shopping list with you. Do a quick inventory check around the house and list down the items to be purchased. Rule is to stick to the list while shopping. Cross off the items when you put them in the trolley as you go along. This will really help a great deal to curb you from wandering around aimlessly and picking up goods that you do not need. Making a shopping list and religiously following it, is very practical and helps in saving time and money immensely.

Coupons and Discounts  - keep your eyes open for all types of coupons and discounts. Cut coupons from newspapers, magazines, and direct mail flyers. Remember to take them along when you go for shopping. Search the Internet for discounts and coupons while checking your emails. You can also join the mailing list for your favorite brands, coupons and discounts will automatically come to your email inbox or by post. When you watch television, remember to notice the sale advertisements.

Buying in bulk - Especially when there are offers make a habit of buying in bulk. This will help in reducing price per unit and would save time and petrol which is expensive. The secret is to stock up your kitchen to minimize shopping lists in the future. So make the best deal out of buy one get one free offers.

Shop in non peak times - Shop when there are less people so that you do not end up wasting your precious time standing in cashier’s line for long. Shopping during peak hours can be stressful, so always try to choose non peak hours. The disadvantage of waiting in long queue is that you may be tempted to pick up the chocolate bars and candy stashed by the check out corner. So go for non peak times shopping as far as possible to save yourself from the crowds. The best advantage of shopping in non peak times is that you can move around the store quickly thus saving your time in maneuvering your trolley.

Shopping without the kids - One of the best way to save time and money is to leave the kids at home. Shopping with kids makes you go slow as you have to divide your attention and keep an eye on them continuously while filling your trolley. Stop them from touching things in the store and face their tantrums when they express their wants. All in all shopping with kids actually turns out to be frustrating and very expensive in the end. You end up buying plenty of treats that were not their in your list. If you cannot leave your kids at home then the only thing you can do is to make them understand that shopping will not be a treat trip or is a budgeted treat trip. Most important always stick to your list and your plan at the shop. Do not give in to your kid demands.

Do not shop with an empty stomach - When you go for your grocery shopping do not go with an empty stomach. Go for shopping only after your meal. This way you will not be tempted to buy packed food and other tidbits. Shopping with an empty stomach actually makes you buy a lot of fast food unknowingly. So from now on shop always when your stomach is full to avoid temptations around the store or a visit to the restaurant just after the shopping.

Prefer cash or debit card - Do not use your credit card for day to day shopping. Use a debit card or best is cash so that you know how much you spend clearly. Credit cards are very dangerous as you may keep swiping it now and then, making your monthly payments higher and higher. And in the end you will just end up incurring interest, which in turn will cause your budget to run haywire.

Take shopping seriously - Last but not the least take your shopping spree seriously. I agree shopping is fun, but it is also a serious issue when it comes to spending your precious money and time. Avoid window shopping as it also tempts you spend your money on things which you actually don’t need.

By now I am sure you are familiar with the shopping tips which will help you to get rid of your overspending habit and also save your energy and time. The key to success is that you should know where to shop and when to shop for the best prices. Practice these tips and cut down on your expenditure massively.