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Shopping tips

AnonymouslyIndebted

By AnonymouslyIndebted
in Money Management

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The last post in this topic was posted 5916 days ago. 

 

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GEORGE

GEORGE

Posted
Posted
Use the bathroom before you leave if the store is across town and you just drank 3 cups of coffee.

 

Any way you could be more specific? :)

On the topic of going POTTY

 

Don't wait till you can't hold it one second more...

 

Don't wait till they are cleaning the front bathrooms when you were near the back bathroom and they were empty ten or twenty minutes before

ta1jr

ta1jr

Posted
Posted

tips?

 

My children's two favorite tips....."don't stand up in a canoe" and "never play leapfrog with a unicorn" but there absolute favorite is "don't play leapfrog with a unicorn while standing up in a canoe".....

 

For grocery shopping, and I do all the grocery shopping in our family, never go grocery shopping when you are hungry, memorize your store and where the products are (eventually you will be able to recall the prices of items), clip coupons (but only use coupons for items that you generally buy), keep a list of what you buy often, make another list for the dinners for the week, if it isn't on the list-don't buy it. If you find a little discipline doing this then you will be able to spot a good deal when you see it.

 

Just my 2 cents.....that's the only shopping I do.....unless it is at a bike store.

MB82x

MB82x

Posted
Posted
never go grocery shopping when you are hungry

 

So true!

 

When I was a teenager, I'd help my mom with food shopping (she'd give me half the list to get it done twice as fast - good strategy, eh?)... she'd often ask me "what do you want for dinner tomorrow?" and I'd often reply "I dunno, I just ate..."

 

Some tips from my experiences as a single guy shopping for himself:

 

- pre-cooked frozen food (fish sticks, chicken tenders, etc)... STAY AWAY - very taste but the cost is RIDICULOUS!

 

- fresh veggies/fruits... most are reasonably priced and always healthy...

 

- buying bigger packages can save money, but beware of expiration dates (why buy a gallon of milk when you'll only use half of it, then it needs to go down the drain?)

 

- buy ice cream on sale, NEVER pay full price... full price on a 1/2G of ice cream is very steep... beware of "big brand, small containers.... $5-6 for a pint = NO!!! - Novelty ice cream (Klondike, ice cream sandwiches, etc) can bankrupt you fast too...

 

- If you really want to go cheap... Tina's Burritos (classic recipe only, the discontinued new one is gross) are less than 2/$1... Ramen Noodles, beans... they can make quick meals for under a buck...

 

- Make instant pudding instead of snack packs...

 

- Replace Jello Snacks with grapes or some other fruit (better for you too!)

 

- I know we all have brand loyalties (some even weird), but get store brands whenever it's acceptable... (for the record, I REFUSE to use any Mustard other than French's Yellow)

 

- Don't buy it because you "might" use it...

 

- If you want to make something, make sure you have all the ingredients (I saw a roommate waste tons of salad fixings because he "forgot to buy dressing" - the vegetables wound up going bad...

 

- Remember to properly store your food... (Same roommate left $90 worth of chicken in the vegetable crisper for 2 weeks, until I asked "what's that smell?") - wrap cold cuts tightly...

 

- Use coupons for stuff you need, but do NOT buy it "just because I have a coupon" - still only buy what you need, or plan on using...

 

- Portion your food so you don't wind up wasting it.

 

- Know prices - I saw an 11.9 ounce box of Cheerios today... for $6.19... that's absurd...! Know when to say "no" to prices.

 

- Drinks are extremely expensive, especially the smaller bottles. Drink more water, maybe with that mix-in stuff.

 

- If it's frozen, in a bowl, looks very tasty and very healthy - you don't want to know what it costs...

  • 3 weeks later...
MB82x

MB82x

Posted
Posted
As a GENERAL RULE...I usually don't buy it unless it is on sale

 

...and when it is on sale I never buy only one (unless it is limit one)

 

Are the 89 cent tacos really worth the money you need to spend on "upgrading" the waist size on your jeans every two weeks? :lol:

  • 2 weeks later...
Cane Sugar

Cane Sugar

Posted
Posted

A tip for clothes shopping: Prepare and shop for events in advance. It never failed I would wait till the last minute (weekend before planned event) and end up spending a little more than I wanted because the selection was limited.

 

When I actually started thinking about what I wanted for an event and searching for it in advance, I saved money. I could compare prices or take some time to think about if I really wanted or even 'needed' the item. Preparing in advance took the emotion out of clothes shopping for me. Love to clothes shop but am way smarter about it now.

Uncle Leo

Uncle Leo

Posted
Posted (edited)

As has been mentioned... never go grocery shopping hungry. Eat first!

 

Also, know that the big display at the end of the aisle doesn't necessarily mean that product is on sale. Read the signs. Sometimes it's on sale, sometimes it's full price and just presented to try and trick you into thinking it's on sale.

 

ETA: This helps me alot, but it takes more time... I set a pre-determined money limit before I go in, I take a pad and pen with me, and I add the prices as I put things in the cart. If I go over my limit, I decide which things to put back.

 

I round to the nearest 10c on each item, and it works pretty well. If I'm within $2-3 I consider it a success.

Edited by Uncle Leo
AnonymouslyIndebted

AnonymouslyIndebted

Posted
  • Author
Posted
A tip for clothes shopping: Prepare and shop for events in advance. It never failed I would wait till the last minute (weekend before planned event) and end up spending a little more than I wanted because the selection was limited.

 

When I actually started thinking about what I wanted for an event and searching for it in advance, I saved money. I could compare prices or take some time to think about if I really wanted or even 'needed' the item. Preparing in advance took the emotion out of clothes shopping for me. Love to clothes shop but am way smarter about it now.

I agree with you, I actually have those events in my calendar (well some of it). Some garage sales are actually good. You just have to be patient in looking for the best item available.

butterflywings

butterflywings

Posted
Posted
Don't finance a Happy Meal.

IF I BUY ONE...IT WON'T BE FOR CASH

 

CREDIT CARD or I don't buy it

 

Hi George! It's different for you because you aren't looking for tips in money management. It's common advice to people who are learning to manage money to not put anything, anything at all on a credit card that won't even be around by the time the bill comes along.

hinklesc

hinklesc

Posted
Posted
Don't finance a Happy Meal.

IF I BUY ONE...IT WON'T BE FOR CASH

 

CREDIT CARD or I don't buy it

 

+1

 

I'm with George on this.. if I were to buy a happy meal.

 

It is not financing it, just letting the credit card cover it until the bill is due. Much easier to pay for everything with a credit card (you were going to buy it anyway right?). Easier that digging for cash, balancing debit card purchase, or worse yet pulling out a check.

GEORGE

GEORGE

Posted
Posted
Don't finance a Happy Meal.

IF I BUY ONE...IT WON'T BE FOR CASH

 

CREDIT CARD or I don't buy it

 

+1

 

I'm with George on this.. if I were to buy a happy meal.

 

It is not financing it, just letting the credit card cover it until the bill is due. Much easier to pay for everything with a credit card (you were going to buy it anyway right?). Easier that digging for cash, balancing debit card purchase, or worse yet pulling out a check.

Just about every single restaurant here is CHECK FREE

 

Feel free to leave home with-out your checkbook

GEORGE

GEORGE

Posted
Posted (edited)

Spending on a credit card and then paying in full on or before the due date

MAKES THE ACTUAL COST OF THE ITEM LOWER THAN HAD YOU SPENT EXPENSIVE CASH

Edited by GEORGE

The last post in this topic was posted 5916 days ago. 

 

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