Save Money with Sensible Shopping Preparations
Tips on How to Avoid Supermarket Temptations
Oct 4, 2008 Inka Piegsa-Quischotte
Who doesn't know the feeling? You just nipped out to the nearest supermarket because you ran out of milk and return with your wallet empty and your trolley loaded to the hilt. Back home, you notice that you bought items you already have, or don't need or don't even know what to do with just because they looked tempting or were on offer. This kind of mindless action can seriously damage your budget and is, in the present times of economical troubles, not a smart thing to do. If you follow a few tips however, this situation can easily be avoided.
Before setting out for the supermarket
1. Try to do one weekly shopping only. During the week, just add a few products you need fresh, like bread or fruit.
2. Never ever go food shopping with an empty stomach. When you are hungry, you are bound to yield to the many temptations a supermarket offers, a course of action which damages your wallet as well as your waistline.
3. Before you set out for your weekly shop, prepare a detailed shopping list and stick to it. Wear figurative blinkers whilst pushing your trolley down the aisles. Beware of offers of the "Buy One Get One Free" kind. Ask yourself, if you really need this particular item, leave alone two of them. More to the point, will the second item keep until needed? Bear in mind that these offers are often on items the supermarket needs to get rid of.
At the supermarket
4. Strictly leave your credit cards at home. Draw up your monthly budget, allocate the sum for food, divide by four and take that amount and no more with you in cash.
5. If you love fruit and vegetables avoid the pre-packed, pre-washed and pre-cut variety. It isn't that much work to wash and cut your fruit and veggies yourself, apart from the fact that they stay crunchy and juicy for longer if bought in one piece. You pay through your nose for your "convenience"; the pre-cut fruit sometimes costs twice as much as the un cut.
6. If at all possible, leave your kids at home when food shopping. It's hard to deal with toddler tantrums in a crowded supermarket if the litle darlings are refused yet another bag of sweets. Never forget that these tempting items are purposefully displayed at the check out and in eye line of children. If you can't leave the kids at home, try to find a mall with play pens.
Admittedly, following these simple tips and precautions needs getting used to and a certain degree of self restraint, but as soon as you notice how much money you can really save, you are allowed a little extra treat and you still won't be over budget.
Fill your trolley reasonably
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