For most people, spending on food is the main expense in the family budget. Often there are situations when, after returning from the store, bewilderment arises: how did it happen that there was no money left, and there was practically no bought. How do you save on groceries when going to the store?
Accustoming yourself to saving is a completely solvable task. You can learn to spend a reasonable amount of money, while not denying yourself a lot. There are special ways to help you save a lot when going shopping.
The first method is not to go to the store on an empty stomach. Modern grocery stores are designed in such a way that the buyer leaves them with maximum savings. Before approaching the required bread counter, you will surely pass by various tasty and ready-made products. It would seem that here it is - the way out, buy and leave, and you don't need to cook anything. But such products are much more expensive than raw ones, so they do not help in any way to save money. And appetizing smells, spreading far beyond the department, in a hungry person cause an irresistible desire to buy everything at once, without worrying about saving.
Method two - take a shopping list with you. Try to go shopping with him for at least a month, and you will be surprised how significantly your budget will change in the direction of savings. At home, write in advance what and in what quantity you need to purchase and strictly adhere to the planned expenses. In order not to break this rule, take with you a certain amount of money, which will only be enough for purchases according to the list, so you can avoid impulsive purchases.
Method three - leave the children at home. It is much more difficult for a child to resist the delicious smells, bright packaging and tasty products that surround him in the store, which marketers carefully lay out in the sight of the kids. And it is very difficult to refuse a child asking for a small, but expensive and unplanned trinket, without fear of causing condemnation from others. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to leave the children with relatives or friends while you shop, it is better to do so.
The fourth way to save money is seasonal products and numerous promotions. Everyone knows that in summer cucumbers are cheaper and healthier than in winter, and sugar will rise sharply in the fall, when the time for canning comes. Buy seasonal vegetables, fruits and berries, and if you want to store them in stock, use the freezer. Various promotions held by chain stores also help to save money on products. Go to the nearest retail outlets, compare prices and choose for yourself what is more suitable for the price. You will be surprised, but the difference between the same products in different stores can be ten to forty percent.
The fifth method is to save on packaging and packing method. Milk in a bottle is much more expensive than the same product in a bag. The packaging will still go to the trash can, so why pay more for it? This is also the case with washed or sliced foods. Carrots and potatoes still have to be peeled and washed again, but sausages or vegetables can be cut by yourself.
In order to save on food, it is not at all necessary to “sit on bread and water”. By wisely approaching spending, you can significantly reduce your costs and spend the saved amount on something you need and enjoy.
