How many times have you regretfully stated that, after leaving home just for bread, you dragged a whole bag of groceries from the supermarket, spending a fair amount of money at the same time? 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 the store, we enter an invisible warpath. Clever sellers chase us through a maze of shelves with goods, creatives stun us with bright advertising, cooks try to confuse us with appetizing smells, and our goal is to overcome all these traps and return home with the completed task and the least losses. Not everyone succeeds in this. Therefore, in this article we want to introduce you to a few tips that will help you always overcome your spontaneous desires and buy only what you really need.
We can spend hours planning our actions at work in order to eventually earn more money. So why, when we start spending them, do we completely forget about planning? Do you remember how often you have to 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 mode of "free flight". Is it worth being surprised by the results later?
Make a list of products before going to the store without fail. Maybe it will be just a piece of paper, maybe — a cool smartphone app «Buy a loaf!», but in one form or another, the shopping list should always be in your hands at the supermarket. This is your main weapon against rash purchases.
Several independent studies have already proved that the more time you spend in the store, the more money you will spend in it. Therefore, try never to enter the retail premises just to kill time. Try to limit the time you spend on purchases, and you will see how the amount in your receipt will immediately decrease accordingly. Come up with a high-speed purchase competition for yourself and become its permanent winner!
You may not be aware, but the layout of the goods on the shelves is a whole art. Sellers have known for a long time that in fact, not the best product is being sold, but the one that lies 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, and not for you. Therefore, show a little flexibility and do not hesitate to bend down and look, and what is there on the lower shelves? You will surely make a number of discoveries for yourself and discover completely new products for yourself.
It is quite obvious that you will not fit too many purchases in the basket, besides the heaviness in your hands will make you finish your walk through the supermarket faster. Therefore, develop the habit of never taking a cart, but limiting yourself to just a basket. Well, except for some exceptional cases when you are stingy before a banquet, a trip to nature and so on.
One of the most valuable habits that will not only save you a lot of money, but also make you healthier is planning your meals in advance. Of course, it is not necessary to accurately calculate each meal, but it is quite possible to make general sketches. Just set aside a little 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.
Very often there is a situation when the refrigerator is full of leftovers from previous purchases, and we are already rushing 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 at least occasionally to cook food « from what you have ». This will allow you to throw away less, save some money and discover new recipes of dishes from long-familiar ingredients.
Many retail chains use loyalty systems, periodic discounts and promotions for product groups to increase demand. If you use these tools thoughtfully and without fanaticism, it is quite possible to save a certain amount of money. The main thing is to keep a cool head and not buy something that you don't need at all, just because there is a discount on it. So the next time you pay at the checkout, take an interest in these bright magazines with a description of current promotions.
If you seriously decide to limit your shopping expenses, you may soon feel unhappy and disappointed. Therefore, it is not necessary to 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 kind of chocolate or the best coffee, so as not to suffer later from an unsatisfied desire. All the same, if you make extra purchases once a week, and not every day, as before, then it will eventually turn out to be much better for your budget.
And how do you deal with unnecessary purchases in supermarkets? Do you manage to cope with this problem or have you already given up?
