10 frugal tips on shopping
To the average Housewife, these are probably a case of ‘teaching to suck eggs’ ! So for others, here’s a few….
Avoid Car Parks in the Centre, find either a lesser cost Car Park slightly further out or park in the nearest Road to the Centre without any restrictions.
Work out the approximate costs of the things you’re going out to buy and take cash. Leaving your Debit or Credit Car at home won’t allow you to succumb to temptation.
Where possible, go by Bus. This will take the strain off the drive and finding somewhere to Park, plus you are restricted to the things you could come home with.
Take a Thermos Flask with you. If you do get thirsty, find a Park or Shelter to sit down and have a Coffee. Look at how much a cup of coffee costs in a Shop and compare to how many cups you could get from your Coffe at home for the same amount !
Put a total ban upon yourself from buying snacks. If you’re a snack eater, buy in bulk at the Supermarket and take some with you.
Go to the Supermarkets late afternoons or in the late evening. There are many offers of things which are just reaching their sell by date, which you can freeze as soon as you get home.
Go to Markets and Boot Fairs when they’re starting to pack up. They’ll either be reducing prices, or you can barter with more confidence. They don’t like taking stuff back.
‘All under one roof’ only makes it easier for you to buy stuff and not necessarily save money. Shop around wherever possible.
When you go to Boot Fairs, have lots of loose change. If somethings say dead on £2, walk away, sort out £1.50 in one pocket, look at the item, search your pocket and offer £1.50 with the money in your hand. If they say ‘No’, show them a £20 note and they may change their mind !
[...] what you Save. See also Shopping Tips. Budget your spending in town, take exactly that amount of cash and leave your Cards at [...]
When looking for new clothes especially quality stuff go to a posher/well of areas and scour the charity shops in the week. You always get v good quality clothes and you can make a morning of it.Take a wrapped sandwich with you as a snack so your not tempted by expensive cakes or treats.
Go to jumble sales with a large bag and your measuremens on paper. This is really good fun and if it doesnt fit you you can always ask friends or family if they would like it for 50p and possibly make a small profit.
Stop shopping at the well known supermarkets ans get all you dry goods/tinned at Lidl,Aldi or netto and so on. Lidle has brilliant pastas, rices and v cheap italian toms for the stock cupboard.
Try not to take your children shopping with you.Maybe take it in turns with partner, family to look after them
Write a list and stick to it.If the kids complain about getting less sweets or so on give them little jobs to do around the house for small amounts of money or tokens that add up to a small treat and by doing that teach them the value of saving.
Theyll thank you one day