How to Save Money at the Supermarket
|Going to the supermarket can be an expensive business, can’t it?
In fact, for many households, this is one of their biggest regular expenses. Grocery prices seem to be on the rise every day with no end in sight.
If you usually find yourself spending a small fortune on your shopping trips then the following tips will help you cut costs in the future.
Buy Supermarket Own Brand Products
Just about all of the big supermarkets have a range of products that offer better value than the big brand names. Often the difference in price is massive. You might not like the idea of switching from your favorite brand at first, so why not try it one product at a time? Each time you visit the supermarket you could buy one own brand item you haven’t tried before. You might think that some of them aren’t good enough to keep on buying but you are sure to find plenty of products you happily keep on buying. The different supermarkets all offer varying quality levels on their own brand ranges, so you might find that you like certain products from one place and others from somewhere else.
Leave the Kids at Home
Shopping with kids can be stressful and it can also be expensive. It is almost impossible for a youngster to go around a supermarket and not be tempted by the chocolates, crisps, cereals, and other great stuff in it. Of course, they tend to plead for you to buy expensive, branded goods as well. Try leaving them at home or getting your partner to take them somewhere else while you do the shopping. Maybe you could even swap tasks now and then and take turns doing the shopping than looking after the kids.
Don’t Go When You Are Hungry or Thirsty
If you go to the supermarket when you are feeling hungry or thirsty you will probably end up buying more stuff than you planned to do. It makes a lot more sense to have something to eat and drink before you go. This also means that you will be more relaxed and take your time in the decision-making process for each product.
Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is one of the simplest ways of saving money at the supermarket. If you see offers for multipacks or for buying several items you should grab them. Of course, if the expiry date is quite close you will need to work out whether you will be able to use it all before it goes bad.
Be Open to Offers and New Products
If you always follow the same route around the aisles you might miss out on a few bargains. It is a good idea to look down different aisles and see if there are any bargains or new products which might be of use to you. Even if it isn’t on your shopping list you might decide that picking up a bargain instead of something you were planning to buy could be an easy way to save some cash.