Pages

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Tips to Save Money on Groceries

Know how to use the sale circular
You can find supermarkets’ weekly ads, or circulars, on their Web sites or as you enter the stores. These will help you pinpoint some of the best deals. Be aware that not everything listed in the circular is actually on sale. Some are simply items the store is promoting in hopes of getting customers to buy them at full price. You’ll know because there won’t be a sale price listed on the shelf sticker.

Always compare prices
If you’re making a big purchase, it’s important to always compare prices. Check the prices in a few different shops and online to see where you can get the best possible deal.

Choose the Right Store

One of the best ways to lower grocery costs is to shop at stores that have the lowest prices on the things you buy.


Look Up … or Down
Name-brand items, which tend to be more expensive, usually are placed at eye level. So when you're shopping, look up (or down) for cheaper items. Scan the top and bottom shelves to find items that are several cents to several ringgit cheaper than their strategically placed name-brand equivalents.

Watch out for ‘special offers’

Special offers can be a great way to save money, but they can sometimes catch you out. Just because an item is on sale doesn’t mean it’s the best deal. Make sure you work out whether a deal is really as good as it looks. It’s also smart to check the sell-by-date to ensure you really are getting a good deal. 

Buy Certain Items in Bulk
You can pay a lot less for laundry detergent, rice, eggs and etc. in bulk at the warehouse. You’ll also save money by buying meat, fish and poultry in bulk at the ‘pasar borong’ rather than in smaller quantities at the grocery store -- as long as you have enough freezer space to store what you don’t eat within a few days of purchasing.

Stock-Up When Items You Regularly Buy Go On Sale

Some items are at their lowest prices of the year around certain holidays. Use these opportunities to stock up. You can cut your grocery bill in half by stocking up on discounted items because buying only what you need for a week’s worth of meals is the worst thing for your budget. Instead, investing – stocking up on non-perishable items or foods that can be frozen when they’re deeply discounted – and planning meals around what’s on sale and what you already have. This strategy alone can help cut your grocery bill in half.

Skip Prepared and Convenience Foods

Buy vegetables in their natural form -- rather than washed, cut and packaged in sealed bags - because they're cheaper that way. And stay away from the prepared food section because it is cheaper to do it on your own.

Be diligent at the checkout.
It might be hard to pay attention as the clerk is ringing up the items from your cart – especially if you have young children begging you to buy all that candy by the register. But you need to watch the prices as they appear on the checkout screen to make sure you’re getting all the discounts you deserve. For example, sometimes scanners haven’t been programmed for sales, so you get charged full price for an item that’s supposed to be 50% off. And also check your receipt for any errors.


By following these tips, you can take advantage of sales and special discounts– so you can save money and have more money in your budget for other things.

Enjoy your shopping with no worries towards GST! :) Thank you.

No comments:

Post a Comment