Even if you think you don’t need to control your shopping because you always put the same products in your shopping cart, price fluctuations are always active and the dreaded cost of the first month of the year has already arrived. That’s why today we bring you some tips to save on your shopping on January.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY
You might be thinking about the most common option: clipping coupons or downloading them. However, to maximise your savings opportunities, it’s time to explore less conventional tips.
Research the days when the supermarket turns over its inventory, as these are often ideal for finding discounted products. You can vary your shopping days to identify when this happens or make friends with employees, who may reveal savings opportunities that other customers may not notice.
Another option that can help you lower the price of your purchase is to take advantage of cash back apps, and no, we’re not talking about coupon apps, but apps that offer cash back for your purchases by scanning receipts or accumulating rewards such as ‘CashBack’.
COMPARE PRICES IN SUPERMARKETS
On many occasions, if not most of them, we are in a hurry to do the shopping and we go to our nearest supermarket and buy the product we need without paying much attention to its price or whether we can find the same product in another shop at a lower price. But, a fundamental strategy to save on our shopping is to be a master at comparing prices.
Supermarkets can sometimes be tricky to find deals and discounts. When visiting your usual supermarket, look at the prices of your usual products, pay attention to offers and promotions. When exploring a new supermarket, compare unit prices, as a bigger package does not guarantee a better deal. Also, consider trying private labels, which often offer similar quality at lower prices.
AVOID BUYING UNNECESSARY PRODUCTS
In the age of consumerism, it is common to buy unnecessary things. Adopting a conscious approach at the supermarket not only saves money, but also improves your quality of life and helps the environment.
On the financial side, before going to the supermarket, make a detailed shopping list at home of essential products. Set a realistic budget based on these products to have a clear control of your spending and resist the temptation of unplanned purchases.
Another help to avoid buying unnecessary products at the supermarket is to take a basket instead of a trolley when you go for a small shopping trip, so that you can see more realistically how many items you are buying and whether they are what you really need.
PLAN YOUR MEALS
Although cooking for the whole week may seem overwhelming, ‘batch cooking’ is a technique that allows you to cook all the week’s dishes at once or prepare foods that complement each other, saving you money on a weekly basis.
Therefore, this option will be easy to carry out if you know everything in your pantry and fridge so you can also avoid buying duplicate products and prevent them from expiring. Establishing a weekly menu will also help you because by having a structured menu, you can easily identify the ingredients you need and avoid impulse purchases.
By knowing your needs with these tips to save on your shopping and being aware of your choices, you will be able to optimise your budget and enjoy delicious and economical meals while saving on your groceries this January and the rest of the year.