For many people, we dont realize how important it is to be a good shopper. The difference in spending wisely and not paying attention to the cost of things can literally cost you thousands of dollars per year. While you may think that sounds ridiculous, picture this scenario.
You need groceries once per week. You spend 100$ on food one week then 150$ the following week when you need bigger items such as meat. There are 52 weeks in a year and it is very easy to save 10$ per trip to the grocery store(s) by selecting the store or stores where the pricing is best that week. The immediate effect is 52 weeks x 10$ is 520 dollars a year without working at it. And thats a conservative estimate for savings on your groceries
Now factor in your personal care items. Your big purchases. Your entertainment. Your clothing. The savings can be staggering.
There are many many web sites that describe how to become a better shopper. Below are some of the options but if you dont find something you like or is useful you should google more possibilities.
https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Savvy-Shopper
https://www.mashed.com/82161/tips-smart-grocery-shoppers-know/
https://acentsiblegal.com/2017/08/01/how-to-be-a-smart-shopper
As a long time buyer I have developed some techniques to try and maximize my money when buying groceries. Have a read and see what you think. I am sure others out there have some other suggestions. Please feel free to send them in and I will get them posted.
- Have an app on your phone or device for finding the best price on items that week. Simply search the app for what you really want and the bets price will be available to you. Apps such as flipp.com .. save.ca or redflagdeals.com can be invaluable
- Learn the pricing. Likely the best way to save money when shopping is to know what the regular price of items usually is. Any company can list something is on sale but how do you know it actually is? Or by how much? If you have a good memory this is a simple task as you will quickly become very familiar with the cost of your normal purchases. If you have to, record them on your phone or take pictures of prices. Whatever works for you
- Watch the sales tags. Companies will regularly put bright colored tags on items to indicate they are on sale. Make sure to read the tag closely. The fine print may not be what you expect it to be. The wording is key when looking at the tags.
- Check your receipt. Always make sure to check your receipt after cashing out. Especially when there are sales items purchased. Sales prices are all supposed to be incorporated into a stores cash register and pricing system. The reality is there are many many times when items have been missed so you wont actually get the sale price listed on the store shelf. When you present this to the customer service desk you generally get it for free or you definitely get the sale price you were supposed to receive in the first place.
- Look for the Slashed prices. In a lot of cases products that are nearing the end of their shelf life are put on sale.You will see the 50% tags attached to items like cheese and meats. You can save a fortune by taking advantage of this. Just remember to either use it quickly or package it properly and freeze it
- Walk the aisles. This goes against normal thinking because experts will tell you the longer you are in the store the more you will spend. My belief is that by walking the aisles you will find deals you were not expecting. Sometimes it is an in store special. Or an end of the product line deal. or it could be a 2 day special separate form the normal weekly sales. If you have the time, take a look. But be disciplined!!
I didnt list using coupons as a great way to save money. The reality is thats a mistake on my part because any legal way that allows you to pay less at the counter should be taken advantage of.
I also didnt list shopping on line. I know its popular and can save money but I prefer to be there in person. Check out the veggies myself. Or find those special deals not listed in the usual way. Just my personal preference.
A couple of other things to think about … Eating healthy is expensive. You may have to decide how important it is for everything you buy. Buying name brand items can be overrated. Have a plan going into the store. And have patience 🙂
Excellent for the young shopper but missing some items that could be on the list. Most can be found by going to the websites shown in the post
If you are an early riser like I am the best deals can be found first thing. These shoppers are affectionately known as the Breakfast Club at my local store. But are probably the most cost aware shoppers.
Most produce is put on half price when it still has a shelf life of a few more days. The products I buy I can usually get another 4-5 days out of them. (Even pre cut veggie and fruit trays if you take them out of that container).
There is an abundance of meat on 50% as well so if you have a freezer you can use portion it and freeze it and it is still good. Just remember you cannot refreeze it once thawed and you need to use it that day.
Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and in depth information you provide.
It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Excellent read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Hello .. I appreciate your comments. Both good and bad. All will be considered in improving the final product. I apologize for the gap in posts but have had some technical difficulties. I am expecting that is now fixed and the posts will now resume. Post any time you wish. Hopefully my responses will be a little quicker now