Shop smart- save time, effort, and most importantly, money.

Let’s be honest, we are all looking to save money. And what better way than saving some with one thing we all love doing ( or are forced to do)-shopping.

A few tips and tricks on how to shop smart could leave you and your wallet a lot happier.

Does this happen to you?

You walk in to buy one thing, but end up buying a lot more. And boom, you’ve crossed your grocery budget. Next time you know the 1:1 thingy that you just thought would come useful is sitting in your fridge untouched for month.

Sounds familiar, right? Yep, we’ve all been there. So don’t you worry, we have you covered.

5 tips to shop smart, not harder

• Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach: When you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you often end up buying more and most often, unnecessary stuff, including that overpriced dip and so-called healthy cookies. So the next time you go grocery shopping, shop smart by making sure that you eat and go.

• Make a Grocery List: Whether you are going alone or with your kids, make sure you have a crisp list of what you want to buy. You don’t want to enter into a battle unprepared. A list helps you maintain focus and avoid unnecessary expenditures. Bonus tip: If there are kids involved, hand over the list to them and involve them in completing the list whilst teaching them how to check for freshness, read food labels, etc.

• Ask yourself 3 questions: “Do I need this? If yes, how much/how often? Will it fit in my budget?”: Every time you visit a market, you will end up seeing interesting products, and you will be tempted to buy. It is natural. What you do about it is important. Take the product and ask yourself the above 3 questions. If you get convincing answers and think it is worth it. Go ahead. (Ideally, I make a grocery list and leave a small amount for buying new products/ ingredients.)

• Shop at a familiar place: If you have to buy just one ingredient, or you know you tend to buy more than what is required, go to a familiar shop where you know where the things are kept exactly. That way, you can just go pick up that and move out. Don’t forget to pay. But also, don’t forget to leave.

• Understand how big supermarkets work: Supermarkets are designed to make you spend more.

Outsmart them by noticing some of the following things:

• When you enter a supermarket you will realize how things are arranged in a certain order. The layout and order in which products are placed have a certain research and science behind them. You have to walk through different zones to reach your target products.
• The daily-use products are placed right at the end.
• The packed products tend to move faster so they are placed at eye distance.
• The chocolates, candies, etc are kept at a distance (keeping in mind the kids) and are often placed near the billing counter where you end up waiting, the most.

Summary

Shopping smart isn’t always about spending less. It’s about making intentional choices that help reduce wastage, money and efforts. With a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you could stop falling into the marketing trap and shop with purpose. So the next time you decide to go shopping-

• Think ahead
• Stick to what you need
• Leave only with what matters

Happy shopping but don’t forget these tips to shop smart. 

Also, make sure you read the smart tips to prevent food wastage.