Many people start the new year with a big resolution; to save a lot of money. But, as we all know, new year’s resolutions are hard to keep, and once those February winter deals come out, all hope gets lost.
But there is still something you can do to keep your resolution. And that’s with small changes during your regular shopping outings.
You can make a lot of cuts, which in the long run will be quite considerable and save a lot of money. Here are 10 valuable tips.
Table of Contents
9 Things To Stop Buying
Bags
If you regularly pick up a bag at the checkout after shopping, you end up straining your wallet. Even if it may not seem much at first glance, a year’s worth of bag purchases adds up. To combat this problem, it is advisable to always carry one or more re-usable shopping bags with you. And as a cherry on top, the environment will also benefit!
Tempting bargains
Grocery stores usually announce special offers at certain locations. These can be sweets, cosmetics or other items which in theory nobody needs. But unfortunately our virtual perceptions are very strong and often make us weak in this respect. If we think about it, we should realize that we don’t really need these things.
And it’s easy to look at a candy bar and say “Look, it’s on sale! I’m saving $1 on this candy bar as opposed to regular price. That means I should buy 5!”. The sad reality is that by doing this, you didn’t just save $5, you spent $5 extra because you were the victim of good marketing.
Make a shopping list
If you think about what you need when you are home, you will be much less tempted to buy unnecessary at the store. Because that is the real problem. That’s why a well thought out and organized grocery list goes a long way in keeping your budget in check.
So proceed exactly as planned and consciously avoid unnecessary things. No matter how much is advertised as on sale!
Buy fruit and vegetables in the evening
Those who go shopping in the evening will notice that some fruits and vegetables are already offered at a reduced price due to the expiry date. This way you can save a lot of money!
Go shortly before closing time
This way, last-minute buyers avoid having to think about all the useless things they might take home. If time is short, we make sure that the shopping list is completed and don’t deviate away for things we don’t need.
So go ahead, give yourself some time pressure.
Buy food shortly before the expiry date
Meat, yogurt, cheese and other products have a shelf life of only a few days, which means that the closer you hit the date, the higher the chance that these items are reduced.
An expiration date does not guarantee exactly that the product cannot be consumed after this date. Some foods (e.g. yogurt) can still be consumed a few weeks later without hesitation.
And to be absolutely safe, you can freeze everything right away when you get home. That way you don’t have to worry about anything spoiling in the fridge.
Do 1 big grocery haul per week
Those who buy too often run the risk of buying more than is absolutely necessary. It makes much more sense to make ONE big purchase per week, which is enough for the whole week.
It is therefore important to think carefully about what is necessary. If you have a family to feed, it is even more difficult to do this. But in time you will learn about your favorite foods and the needs of your loved ones.
Branded products are not always better
If you always attach importance to the quality of special and even the most expensive brands, you are not doing your wallet any good in the long run. You can save a lot of money if you use cheaper products (e.g. private labels)!
Yes, these private label products are also a very good choice! Expensive does not have to be better. In fact, you only pay for the name of the manufacturer and not for the good quality!
Don’t go shopping on an empty stomac
If you go shopping on an empty stomach, you are strongly tempted to buy much more food than you actually need. This not only costs much more, but also means that not everything can be eaten at home.
So half of it is thrown away. Especially products that have a short shelf life, like bread or fresh meat.
In the case of canned food this is not so tragic, it usually takes a very long time for them to go bad. However, it is not recommended to fill the shopping cart on an empty stomach.
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