We've all done it at times;
shuffled down to the nearest supermarket rather than making a detour to the
shop with the best deals.
But with many households still
struggling to balance their income and bills and food which have risen more
quickly than inflation, it's important to make the right decision when it comes
to shopping.
Many people shop at a supermarket
simply because it's the one they have always shopped at, never questioning
whether it really offers value for money. But taking a closer look at how much
things cost, can bring home some uncomfortable truths. Avoid the more expensive
items and cut back on costs.
Another means of cutting back on
the price of shopping without skimping on your favourite foods is to consider
purchasing frozen goods.
Frozen food is often viewed as
lesser in some way and more like convenience meals. However, a recent study by
nutritionists found that even high end items such as prawns contained the same
whether they were purchased frozen or chilled. With the price of meat being
particularly hit by inflation, frozen food is a good way to reduce the cost
without having to compromise.
How often have you gone shopping
and ended up with a trolley load of items that you weren't planning on buying
and don't really need? If this sounds like you, internet shopping might be another
way of saving some money.
Most supermarkets charge a small
fee for delivering your items but offsetting this against the price of the
petrol you would use and the extra money you would spend, it could still work
out cheaper.
In addition, for the first few
shops you could find that you get it for free as different supermarkets
frequently offer to waive the delivery charge for the first order.
The other advantage to home shopping
is that you have more time to check out the best bargains without any pressures
of time or children playing havoc in the aisles. This will give you more time
to compare prices between different brands and, potentially, even different
shops!
But no article on being a savvier
shopper would be complete without a mention of the latest craze: couponing.
Some people claim they can save literally hundreds of pounds!
Couponing can be a great way to
save some money, but it's important to keep an eye on what you need to spend in
order to get the discount. If, for example, you need to buy 10 tins of dog food
to qualify for a free packet of breakfast cereal - and you don't own a dog -
you could end up worse off.
Get more money
If these handy tips and tricks
don’t cover the shopping bill, why not try increasing the amount of cash you
have to put towards it. Why not look at taking out a loan?
You can get some fantastically
reasonable loans that boast great interest rates and steady repayment plans
that won’t stretch your budget too thin. However the market has so many options
out there, sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.
This is why you should seek out a
little helping hand. AK Management specialises in matching you to the loan that
best fits your circumstances. All you need to do is get in touch and a member
of the team will ask you a few questions to determine which loan is right for
you.
With a bit of careful planning,
it is possible to radically cut your shopping bill without having to go on a
starvation diet. There are lots of different ways to save money and leave a bit
more in your pocket, making household budgeting a little easier and less of a
juggling act.
