I used to find shopping a real chore. It used to take much longer, and by the end of the trip I’d be pulling my hair out. Not anymore! One day I decided I’d had enough, did my research, and changed the way I do my shopping for the better. Take a look at my tips and see if they can help you!
I Make a List Before I Go
I always make a list before I go shopping. You can’t expect to remember every single thing you need. If you don’t make a list, you’ll usually go home having forgotten an important ingredient. Going without a list also used to encourage me to buy lots of things I didn’t even need; some of which would be wasted by the end of the week. I make sure I know what I’m running out of during the week and add it to the list as I go.
I Never Go Shopping Hungry
I always make sure I have a snack before I go shopping. I’ve gone hungry before, and science is right; I wanted to buy every tasty looking morsel that I saw! I overspent, and I ended up having to give some food to my friend because we just had too much of it. I always keep an apple in my bag in case a hunger pang comes on while I’m in the store.
I Give Myself a Budget and Stick to It
I now have a shopping budget that I stick to each week. I don’t even go out of my way to spend it all; I see how little of it I can spend, and then simply top up my budget when It’s time to go again next week. This works really well and I save a ton of money. I also make sure I used any coupons or vouchers to get even more money knocked off.
I Don’t Buy ‘Special Offers’
Special offers are there to tempt you to buy things you wouldn’t normally buy. This is the exact reason I don’t even look at them! If I don’t need it, I’m not looking at it, no matter how cheap it is. This usually means I’m in and out of the store in no time!
I Make the Kids Think of it as a Game
When I have to go with the kids, I no longer have to take a sedative beforehand. I know how to control them when we’re shopping now. They help me to get the items I need, and we think of it as a game. With my little helpers, shopping is always easier!
I Try to Give the Store Feedback
Giving a store feedback can encourage them to make changes you think would help your overall shopping experience. This site talks about the informtarget.com survey, for instance. If something bothers you, or even if you want to praise the store, find a way to let them know.
I Occasionally Shop Online
Shopping online is great if you’re short on time and you don’t care about browsing in person. I only do this occasionally though, as sometimes shopping is a nice excuse for me and the kids to get out of the house!
Where have you been going wrong? Let me know what tip you’ll use off this list in the comments!
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