7 tips to follow when shopping!

Shopping can be a lot of fun but it can also be a stressful experience. I find that sometimes the high prices of items that I want to buy usually make me feel depressed, as the shopping cart seems less full but the bill is never less. How can consumers reduce stress?

Well there are several ways that you can add to the stress of shopping and this includes not making a list. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen consumers aimlessly wandering the aisles seemingly randomly picking items.  That is one of the worst things to do as when you get home then you might discover that the items might not even be what you need and you would have exhausted your budget.

Then you have those persons who are so impatient because of the long wait at the cashier as they scurry to find enough bags to contain all the groceries.

So what should you do to ensure that you get the best out of your shopping list? Here are a few things that I have compiled that you need to follow when shopping.

Tip # 1

Make a list.

The importance of  a list is to avoid shopper’s remorse and another wasted trip to the supermarket. The list should have the number of items that you require as well as the approximate price. The list can help in deciding how much money you will need to spend on the shopping trip.

Tip #2

Make a budget

Often persons can’t be bothered to calculate how much they are going to spend and simply have an approximate in their mind of the limit. However it can be very embarrassing when it becomes time to cash and the total is an amount that requires you to ask that selected items be removed.  This also creates a delay for other customers waiting to cash.

Tip # 3

Be prepared for your shopping trip by taking along your own shopping bags. It is easy to underestimate the number of items that you will need, therefore you need to use your list to determine how many bags you will need to bring!

Tip #4

Don’t shop while hungry! This is something I learned the hard way. If you shop while hungry then you are sure to buy too much food. It’s better to shop when your mind is clear and not distracted by hunger pains.

Tip #5

Take along your rewards card. A number of supermarkets have rewards or loyalty cards which they issue to customers and encourage them to swipe after making purchases to accumulate points. Many persons think rewards cards don’t save much money, but every little bit helps. Those points can accumulate and become much more very soon.

Tip #6

Avoid shopping during peak hours. I like shopping in the early morning or late at night. If you go too near to the middle to late evening you might get caught up with the after work crowd. I like it when the aisles are not packed and parking is a breeze!

Tip # 7

Shop with a friend. Sometimes shopping on your own be very boring and if you are flooded with images to buy everything, then taking along a friend is just what you need to focus on the task at hand.

So what’s your take? How do you ensure that your shopping trips are successful? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: budget, lists, money, save, shopping, supermarkets