Useful shopping tips

Those interesting videos will give you some ideas about saving money while shopping.
Enjoy them

Budget Grocery Shopping Tips to Save Money (By Julie Jaggernath)

1.    Shop on a full stomach. You’ll buy less snacks and/or things you don’t usually buy - and only buy groceries, not gifts and all the extra stuff, at the grocery store!

2.    Go armed with a list and stick to it, especially if your kids are “helping”.

3.    Plan your meals for the week before you shop and then buy what’s on the menu. Start with planning for 3 or 4 days if all week seems too much.

4.    Shop only once a week. You’ll tend to spend more if you stop at the store every day or several times a week.

5.    Shop when you have energy and aren’t worn out from a busy day. It’s easier to focus and make wise choices when you’ve got energy and aren’t preoccupied.

6.    Shop in familiar stores when you’re tired, stressed or in a hurry. You’ll find what you need and be able to get out with what you need quickly.

7.    Plan meals so that you have leftovers for lunch the next day, or freeze leftovers for a quick meal another day.

8.    Package your own treats, juices and snacks. Buy the large package or snacks and a box of baggies and make your own individually wrapped packages to grab on the run.

9.    Buy less canned and packaged convenience foods and shred your own lettuce and cheese (cheeses often freeze well too!).

10. Clean out your fridge and cupboards once a month. Use up what you bought before buying more.

11. Organize your food storage cupboards and drawers. If you don’t know what you have or can’t find what you bought, you’ll end up buying more of the same unnecessarily.

12. If you stock up, watch expiry dates and package the food to preserve it as long as needed.

13. If you buy large packages or meat, pre–cook or marinate it and then freeze it to speed up meal times. If you know that you’ve got food ready at home, it’s less tempting to eat out.

14. Spend some time once a week washing and/or cutting up fruit and vegetables. This will speed up dinner and lunch preparations and provide healthy snacks that are ready to go.

15. Don’t buy snacks on the run. They are often less healthy and more expensive.

16. Get creative and try new foods. You may find less expensive food that you enjoy just as much!

17. Shop with a calculator and add things up as you put them in your cart.

18. Buy non–food grocery items like detergent or garbage bags at a discount store.

19. Only buy what you need and can afford; 3-for-1 is only a good deal if you can use three.

20. Price check and shop around for discounts on items you buy regularly. Use store and manufacturer coupons when you can. Consider using one of these grocery apps on either a smartphone or tablet. Save money on groceries with coupons and discounts

21. Remember that smaller sizes can sometimes be a good deal. Do the math, either on your phone or with your calculator.

22. Don’t automatically overlook no-name or store brands. Many are made by the brand name companies, just with a different label.

23. Even if it’s “on sale,” it’s only a good buy if you will use it!

Smart Ideas to Save Money When You're Shopping

By Holly Ashworth

1.    Make a Shopping List. Before you run your errands, make a list of everything you plan on buying. The rule is that you're not allowed to buy anything unless it's already on your list. It'll help keep your impulse shopping to a minimum.

2.    Only Bring the Cash You Need. You can't spend money you don't have. Before you go out, put a small amount of cash in your wallet to cover all the purchasing you plan on doing. If the cash runs out, your shopping sprees done for the day.

3.    Comparison Shop. For instance, if you want a new PlayStation game, don't buy it right away. Call around to the video game shops and wholesale retailers in your area to see who has the cheapest price, and check online at sites like Amazon and Deep Discount. You can do comparison shopping on your phone with the Save Benjis app.

4.    When it Comes to Clothes, Just Buy the Basics. You'll get more mileage out of a plain black sweater (even if it costs more) than an '80's-style hot pink one. Before you buy a clothing item or shoes, ask yourself how often you'll actually wear it. Chances are, you're better off with a smaller number of basic pieces that you can layer and accessorize to make them unique.

5.    Try Not to Shop When You're Bored. The silliest purchases happen when you probably shouldn't have been shopping in the first place. If you and your friends are bored and looking for something to do, don't automatically run to the mall. Instead, find inspiration from this list of fun, free things to do with your friends.

6.    When in Doubt, Leave the Store. On the fence about whether or not to buy something? Put it down and leave the store. If you decide later that you really want it, you can go back and buy it tomorrow. Chances are, you'll be happy you saved your money.

7.    Pick Your Shopping Friends Wisely. Not all shopping buddies are created equal. Some of them are shopaholics themselves and love it when you spend money because it makes them feel better about their own purchases.

8.    Find Cheap Deals Online. You can usually find good shopping deals online if you look hard enough.

9.    Before You Buy It, Make It. You can save a lot of money by staying out of the stores and doing things yourself. Want some jean shorts? Turn a pair of old jeans into cutoffs. Want to decorate your room with some band posters? Draw, paint, or collage one. Mom's birthday's coming up? Make her something instead of buying it.

10. Don't Be Seduced by Sales. Novice shoppers will sometimes buy something they don't need just because it's super cheap. Cheap or not, there's no use spending any amount of money on something you'll never use. Leave the store and come back only if you're sure you want it the next day.

11. Shop Out of Season. Bathing suits are cheaper in the winter and coats are cheaper in the summer. Plan your big shopping trips a couple of months in advance to find some great deals. Just don't buy any super-trendy styles that will look dated next year.

12. See if Your Parents Will Split It. If there's a big-ticket item you've been saving up for - like a smartphone or a pair of boots - your parents might be willing to split the cost with you 50/50 if you make a good case for it. Here's some advice on how to talk to your parents.

13. Go Thrifting. Buying used is better for the environment and cheaper than buying new. Before you head anywhere else, check out your local thrift stores, vintage shops, used bookstores and CD exchanges. You can also thrift from home on sites like eBay and Etsy.