Shopping trips should be accounted for in a budget like anything else. That way, you have a lower risk of spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need ¾ although a healthy dose of will power never hurts. Not only should you have an idea of how much money you will be spending during the trip, you should also write out a shopping list, in order to dampen the allure of impulse items.
Perhaps the loudest siren song of the supermarket is that of the sale tag. These are usually large, colorful tags advertising a sale price; they draw the shopper’s eye, proclaiming that the item is on sale ¾ often for a limited time. Do not be deceived. While they serve to denote some price reduction or special offer, these tags are not always on the lowest-priced item. Look around at similar items from other companies or manufacturers. Compare the item’s original price with its sale price. How much of a difference is the price. Or, how good is the special offer? Importantly, ask yourself if the product will be completely consumed soon enough that taking advantage of the sale or special offer makes sense in the long-term. For example, if you need a head of lettuce, and you see that one brand is buy-one-get-one-free, that can sound like a good deal. However, if the cost of a single head of lettuce is more than a different brand, will both heads be eaten before either of both of them wilts? If not, consider getting the less expensive, single head of lettuce. It may not seem like a better deal, but in the long-term it is a better value for your shopping dollar.
Also keep in mind that no single store has the best prices on every item. Compare prices for items you buy frequently, to get a sense of which store will most often have the best deals. If you can go to two stores and get the best of both worlds, by all means do so. Just do not let the desire for deals distract you from other relevant concerns, such as how much gas it takes to get to both stores. Learning about one or two stores in your area gives you an advantage, because you end up getting a sense of how they operate their big specials or sales.
And finally, the adage really is true: don’t shop on an empty stomach.