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20 Ways to save at the supermarket
Save Cash by following these easy
budget-friendly tips ...
1. Never Pay by Card
Leave your credit card at home so you won't be
tempted to spend more. Then take a calculator around
the store, so you know how much you're sending. If
you've got kids, ask them to help - they'll love keying
in the numbers,
and you'll avoid nasty surprises at the
checkout.
2. Don't assume sales
are cheap
When you're at the supermarket, you'll often
find fruit and other attractive products being promoted
as specials, with bright signs around the display to
entice you. However, the price reduction may be
very small, and there are cheaper products hidden
elsewhere.
3. Don't Always buy in
Bulk
Never assume that the bigger the packet, the more
economical it is. Economy size packs are sometimes
more expensive per kilo. Check this with products
such as cereal, milk, biscuits. Sometimes buying
smaller packets can work out cheaper.
4. Develop a network
of budget-friendly friends
Ask your friends to notify you of great deals.
"Coles or Woolworths sometimes do big savings on boxes
of nappies, up to $10 a box," says Woman's Day
reader, Danielle Church. "As soon as I see it
advertised, I text every mum I know. They do the
same for me."
5. Shop at the corner
store
Yes it's true, - but only in certain circumstances.
Sometimes buying bread and milk from the corner shop can
save you money, even if the prices are higher.
You'll save on petrol, and you won't browse the
supermarket shelves for things you don't need.
6. Don't taste with
your eyes.
The packaging and look of a product has a big
psychological effect. We assume that the nicer the
packaging and the more expensive a product, the better
it is. Studies show that if you choose
home-brand products you'll save around 15 per cent on
your annual shopping bill, without noticing any
difference.
7. Keep Your Docket and Complain
If you've bought fresh produce that does not last
four days (deli meat included), ring the shop, tell them
and ask for your money back. They should give you
a full refund.
8. Don't worry if you buy too much.
If you're stuck for something to cook with all the
food you have at home, check out
www.cookingbynumbrs.com. Type in the
ingredients you have and it comes up with a list of
recipes.
9. Learn to haggle
Yes you can! "Over the years shopkeepers
have hypnotized us into believing that it's rude and impolite
to haggle and that prices are fixed," says Martin Lewis,
founder of
www.moneysavingexpert.com, but it's always worth a
try. Usually, to meet sales targets, staff can
discount around two per cent of stock per day, so it's
worth asking for damaged stock or just brazenly asking
for a discount. For more tips go to
www.howtohaggle.com
10. Compare prices
If you have the time, shop around to see who offers
the best deals. Look at supermarket websites or
consumer website
www.choice.com.au
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