Groceries are a big item on any household budget, especially families with children. Although this is an item that doesn’t seem to have a lot of room for reduction, it is in fact a big one for savings if you plan your grocery shopping correctly, spend some time surveying prices and studying your spending habits.
To make sure that you’re not spending more than you need on grocery shopping, you also need to look back at some of your receipts and see what you’ve actually paid for the various items you bought compared to what you thought they cost. In many cases, people get in the habit of assuming that they know the prices of regular purchases, while they actually don’t.
If you’re planning to make the best out of every grocery-shopping trip, consider these four steps:
Check out less known brands
Many store brands and lesser known brands can be just fine and at a fraction of what you’d pay for name brands. In some cases, even a slightly lower quality may not be as crucial to you as the savings that you may achieve by selecting these options. In their attempt to build a consumer base, less known brand manufacturers and retailers may provide more offers, discounts and even free samples. So give them a chance and get yourself a deal in the process.
Remember, not all store brands are the same. Some stores provide better quality products that are often comparable with the best in the market. So, you won’t really be compromising on the product itself, even as you sacrifice the name.
Shop local
Although you neighbourhood store may not have everything you need, try to get to the closest department store. If you have to drive a long distance, make the best out of your shopping trip to reduce the frequency.
In addition, try to buy local products, which often would be less expensive and probably better for your health. But that is not all, local products that have not been transported across the world often have a longer shelf or refrigerator life, something that will reduce your waste and help you get a bigger quantity at once.
Limit experimentation
Although it is nice to try new products, foods, etc. Every time you pick something like an exotic cheese or a frozen dessert, you run a risk. So try to limit experimentation as much as possible. One good way to do so is to use a shopping list and try not to shop while you’re hungry or bored. This should help you stay on track and reduce your random, impulse shopping.
Similarly, although you will need to try new, cheaper brands, try to get one at a time. Are you looking for a new laundry detergent that is less expensive? Pick one and see if it hit the mark. Remember, you’re not doing a thorough market survey, so you really don’t have to try every product on the shelf to get one.
Buy the right quantity
Waste is your enemy. If you save on a big bag of vegetables and end up using just a couple of pieces before it all goes bad, your money is down the drain. Even with unperishable items, always consider your pattern of usage before you rush to buy more to save a couple of dirhams here and there. In addition, buying the right quantity can help you monitor your spending on shorter terms, which can be a useful exercise.
But remember, this doesn’t always mean buying a small quantity. In fact, in many cases buying the whole size can be cost effective when it comes to items that will certainly be used in full. Only you should make sure that you know the quality of what you’re buying to avoid being stuck with a product that doesn’t meet your need. Trying a sample of a new product can give an opportunity to make the right decision about your future big-size purchases.
Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.
