how to deal with rising costs by using smart shopping techniques
Out doing my festive shopping, I can bear witness to the escalating cost of living. Slowly prices have been sneaking up on us, often without us realizing it.
And that’s where the danger lies. We’re spending more than we used to on the same old things we’ve been buying year in, year out.
For those of us with families, it’s especially hard to keep spending down when we’re trying to meet everyone’s needs. There’s school and birthdays and the occasional travel, etc. It all adds up. Got an article I want to share with you today on how to shop smarter.
How To Deal With Rising Costs by Using Smart Shopping Techniques
by Barry Ferguson
Nothing kills a budget like overpaying for an item yet many consumers still continue to shop the wrong way. They allow rising costs to eat up more of their weekly paycheck without finding new ways to save money. They get into deep financial trouble and don’t curb their spending which makes it more difficult to afford their basic necessities.
Mortgages are the biggest monthly expense we have but as loan rates rise, those consumers who stuck with low fixed-rate loans are enjoying the stability of a predictable monthly loan payment while those who thought they could use an adjustable rate to trade up to a more expensive home are now scrambling to pay mortgages that have nearly wiped them out. They wanted to save right away and didn’t plan for the future.
Food is the second biggest monthly expense most consumers have and there are many ways to save money without giving up the foods you love. By targeting loss leaders, making full use of store discount cards coupled with strategic coupons, you can build up your own in-house mini grocery store while cutting up to 75% off your food bill.
But it’s not just the large purchases that need to be examined. Everything from cutting utility bills to saving money on gas can be lowered by shopping wisely. For every degree you cut your fuel consumption at home, you shave 2%-3% off your monthly bill while using the internet to find the cheapest gas stations in your area can cut your fuel bills by another 10%.
When it comes to saving money, it’s the cumulative effect of shopping smart and taking advantage of store discounts that increases savings. A few dollars here and there can skyrocket your savings after just a few months.
But in order to achieve this, consumers need to avoid impulsive buying habits and focus on items they came to buy. Stores on the other hand, do their best to put a wrench in this plan.
They try to add a bit of pizzazz to a boring shopping trip by using technology to avert our attention from the task at hand with things such as big screen TV’s, IPods, and computers. Consumers need to avoid shopping with emotion but with a list and a desire to get the best deal for their family.
Smart shopping is not just restricted to what we buy but how we buy. Certain psychological factors influence the way we shop. The “Shoppers High” comes from finding big discounts, catching that unexpected sale, or even grabbing an item before it’s gone from the store shelves. Consumers need to avoid shopping with emotion but with a list and a desire to get the best deal for their family.
In order to avoid rising costs, consumers need to be aware of prices from a variety of stores so they can find the best deal. This can be done by setting up a price book. A price book is the smartest way to shop and makes it easy to arrange your shopping trips. Saving time can save you stress and help you focus on shopping smart. As long as you are prepared and have the information to save money, you can fight rising costs.
About the author:
Barry Ferguson is known as “America’s Saving Money Man”. He is the author of four consumer oriented books and has 15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge amounts of cash every time he shops! How much do you want to save?
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
http://www.feaston35.com
- great weather to be out
- buying in bulk
- just the honeymoon please
- what the fish!
- finding that perfect HDTV
