In 2008 we saw massive price hikes in fuel and food in addition with the loss of jobs caused by the collapse of the global economy. This article is a guide to how to save you money on every day shopping.
Find Your Basic Foods CostsThe first thing you have to do is to do your research. Go to your local store and mark down all the prices of the items you usually buy. These are you basic products and they give you an idea of how expensive your supermarket will fair compared to another one. Also, make a note of some of the luxuries that you really enjoy. I love my whisky and pork scratchings. Having made a note of these products visit the other nearest supermarket and compare prices.
Shop LocalShopping at the big stores can be expensive. These supermarkets tend to dominate the surrounding area and push out local competition. For example, Tesco allegedly has a policy of buying up all the old land in town centres to prevent other competitors squeezing its margins.
Fortunately some local shops still survive. The local butcher and grocers are a must if you intend to find bargains. Don't expect to find lovely straight carrots or perfectly shaped bananas. Instead you will find cheap, honest food, sourced from the local area. Not only is this produce fresh but it also puts money back into the community.
Take it onlineEveryone loves a bargain but unfortunately you are never guaranteed one in the shops. Unfortunately discounts and offers only seem to be offered on a seasonal basis in the shops, such as at Christmas. However, if you need a bargain here and now why not try online. The internet will not only save you money on the items you purchase but it also mean you can save on time and petrol.
One of the most obvious online stops is the money comparison sites. These sites compare products and services across the range. Be warned as not all of these sites offer any real discount. For example, there are many cases where you can get cheaper insurance by going direct to the seller.
Often you can get discounts online for off-line products in the store, such as voucher. Often a store will highlight any in-store promotions online. It is always worthwhile to check out the store online before you go shopping because the spotty teenage assistant is unlikely to know what promotions are available.
Keep An Eye On The NewsAlways keep an eye on the news for a bargain. It seems like every winter all the gas and electric companies are fighting for our money. . Go to an energy comparison site and see which energy company can beat your existing bill. Make sure your loft is correctly insulated so that you don't spend too much money on energy.
Economies In The FridgeThere are literally thousands of small tips and tricks that our grand mothers' could teach us in order to save money. I don't really want to go through a lot of these but simply want to draw focus to the obvious. Don't waste food! One tried and tested method of saving money is not throwing things away just because they reached their best before date. You only need to dispose of old food once the "Use by date" has expired as this is a health warning. Nevertheless, items such as pasta are edible far beyond the use by date so just use common sense.
Dig For Your DinnerSomething else that can save money is to grow your own vegetables. Not everyone has a garden but you can use pots to grow loads of things. At the time of writing it was August, so this is not the planting season. If you still have loads of time until February you can plan what you would like to grow and start thinking about preparing the land. Don't forget you can also grow herbs in doors throughout the year.
Other Options To Look IntoFor those in financial difficulty one possible temporary solution to ease your debt is to look into getting a short-term loan. A second option is to do some research into a 0 balance transfer credit cards as these can be used to restructure your finances.
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