Shopping

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Shoping tips save money

• If you don’t like to shop or if you don’t have time to go from store to store, here are seven ways to shop thrifty without spending all your time. photo by decorate , Shop with a list. Obvious?
• Making your list ahead of time helps prevent guesswork and trips back to the store for something you forgot.
• If you keep to the list, you can avoid making impulsive buys.,. Buy quality.
• If you know which brands are usually the best deal, then you have a better chance of getting a value even if you don’t stop to compare prices that day. ,Shop at discount stores.
• If you don’t have time to shop, you definitely don’t have time to deal with a difficult return policy.
• Ask if you need the receipt, how many days you have, and if you can receive a full refund instead of store credit in case you return the item..
• Don’t get distracted by other good deals — only come home with the item you planned to buy.
• I used to go from store to store to find the best prices, but with the expense of time and gas, I don’t do as much comparison shopping as I used to.
• Better yet, donate it to me — I probably need it more than you. :) Seriously, though, you need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu (next tip) and checking to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer.
• Make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Now stick to that list.  Plan out a weekly menu.
• This is a common tip, but it’s true: when you’re hungry, you want to buy all kinds of junk.
• Jot it down immediately, and you’ll never have to run back to the store because you don’t have eggs. 7. Make a pantry checklist.
• But be sure that you’re going to use all of it before it gets bad — it isn’t cheaper to buy in bulk if you don’t use it.
• It’s also a great way to comparison shop between stores — buy your baking goods in Store A but your fresh fruits in Store B.
• The spreadsheet can also serve as a checklist to use when you’re compiling your shopping list. 11. Buy frozen veggies.
• Don’t wait until you run out. when you see there’s only three toilet paper rolls left, put it on your list.
• We have vegetarian meals several times a week (think pasta or chili) and for other meals, you could just use a little meat as a kind of seasoning instead of the main ingredient — think Asian, Indian and other such cultural food.
• Buy little baggies and buy the snacks in bulk, then it will take just a few minutes to pack some snacks for lunch each day. .
• And other necessities that you always seem to run out of — buy a whole bunch when they’re on sale, or buy in bulk.
• Be sure to check to see if you have these items before you go to the store. . Try crock pot dinners.
• Don’t let them trick you into buying something that’s not on your list, just to “save” money. 21. Look for specials.
• Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store (they often have unadvertised specials — look on the higher and lower shelves for deals).
• Don’t buy them unless they’re things you always use.  Try the store brands.
• If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items.
• But if you still find yourself running out for a few items, analyze the reason — are you not making a good list, are you forgetting some items from your list?
• Keep an eye on the scanner — you’ll keep the cashier on his toes, and catch any mis-priced items.
• Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples — you need to divide the price by the amount (ounces, pounds, etc. ) in order to get the comparable unit price. . Go during slow times.
• You can get fresh items at another store on other weeks, but doing a big bulk trip will cut back on the expense and amount you have to carry for the other three weeks.
• Avoid buying on impulse at the bulk store too — just because they sell a lot of it doesn’t mean you’re saving, if you weren’t planning on buying it in the first place.
• Ask around — someone you know might have a relatively new model they don’t need anymore.
• You can use freezers to stock up on meat, frozen veggies, and similar staples, and to freeze big batches of pasta, casseroles, and other dinners you prepare ahead of time. . Use everything possible.
• Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies? ) … combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip.
• The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run. . Don’t waste leftovers.
• Don’t buy junk food (or buy as little as possible).
• If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check.
• Look for things in their least processed form — whole grain instead of white or wheat bread, fresh fruit instead of canned or juice, whole grain cereal or oatmeal instead of all other kinds of cereal. You get the idea. . Read labels.
• Tell yourself you will not buy anything that’s not on your list unless it’s an absolute necessity (why isn’t toilet paper on my darn list? ).  Use store savings cards.
• If you regularly shop at the same stores, organize your list so that you can easily find and check off items as you walk down the aisle.