Becoming a Better Shopper: A Quick Guide to Becoming a Better Shopper
Have you ever thought about how much money you spend at the grocery store? You probably have. But have you ever been very proactive about reducing the total amount?
The smart shoppers are the careful shoppers. They’re the shoppers that are careful about their purchases, cautious about the money they spend, and patient with the deals. They never overspend. They always seem to find the best deals, get the lowest prices, and use the best coupons. But why can’t you do that? Well, you can, and here are a couple of ways that you can start.
Set a Budget — I know you’ve heard this before, but it’s very important. Stores are very good at figuring out how to ease you out of your wallet and get you to spend that extra $20. By setting a budget and sticking to it, you can actually resist the temptation of spending more money.
Follow Local Stores on Facebook — Businesses in general have started using Facebook to announce their new deals and lower prices. By following your local stores on Facebook, you can remain in the loop about the great deals they’re having.
Don’t be Embarrassed About Coupons — A coupon is a good thing, and nobody judges you for using them.
Study the Newspapers — Newspapers are useful for two reasons. First, since stores often announce their biggest deals through the paper, they help you stay in the loop. Second, newspapers usually have coupons that you can cut out and use at the store to save even more money.
Don’t Jump on Every Sale — A sale is great if its on an item you need. However, it can be deceptive if it’s on an item you don’t. Before buying an item on sale, ask yourself if you would buy the item at full price. If not, then don’t buy it now. It will tack on an extra few bucks to your overall purchase.
Use Your Phone to Compare Prices — If you have a phone that gets to the Internet, you can use it to study the prices at other stores. You can quickly look at the item you’re buying and see if you’re getting a great deal.
Look at Higher and Lower Shelves — Marketers will usually put the most profitable items at eye level. Many times, you can look at higher and lower shelves and get a better deal.
Know How Much Expensive Items Should Cost — If you’re going to buy an expensive item, then make sure that you’re not paying too much. Check the prices of a bunch of different places to see about how much you should expect to spend.