Going to the supermarket will soon become the thing of the past. Gone are the days when preparing a meal meant asking for your mother’s recipe. All you need to do now is ask Google how to cook something and hundreds of websites prop up in shorter than a second. Some websites give you detailed steps on how to make the curry while others allow you to instantly order all needed supplies at a click of button from your nearest super store. But all this is convenience comes at a price. Every website wants you to spend money through their site so that they can make some. So, how do you save money while shopping online? Here, are a few tips.
Make a list and stick to it
All these smartphone apps and fancy websites with all their adverts are aiming for one thing, making you spend. Refrain from it. At the beginning of the month, make a list of the things that you need and stick to it. It might be shoes, groceries, books, and a new phone but make a list and stick to it. Don’t get impulsive just because your app prompts you to buy. Stay calm and buy only if your list says so.
Don’t shop when hungry
Research has shown that we tend to spend much more when we are hungry. So, don’t make your buying decisions when you are hungry. Reserve your online shopping to those time slots after your meals, when you are waiting for your fish and chips to settle down. When you shop with a full stomach, you will not get swayed by mouth-watering offers.
Is it really an offer?
A simple tactic that supermarkets and online stores adopt these days is to make everything look like an offer. So, first they exaggerate the price and then offer 50-75% discounts to make you buy them. Compare the price of the product with another store to quickly know if it is really an offer and because you are already online, it is much easier to do so. Take the ‘buy one get one free’ offers that stores offer by simply doubling the price of the original box. Does your cereal really have to be priced at £4 to get one free? This is what also gets us to our next tip, the alternates.
What are your alternates?
We mentioned comparing products from other stores earlier but even if you are loyal to Sainsbury or Tesco, there are many alternates available within the store that can help you save. Almost all supermarkets have their own brand products for every item that they sell. These products are cheaper and not very different in terms of quality of production or taste or feel. So, you do not really have to spend a pound to buy Schweppes when you can get an own brand lemonade for 20p.
Low price stores
If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to do so is to buy your supplies from a low price store like Aldi or Lidl. These stores may not offer the convenient online shopping experience but offer a great deal of savings if you step into their store.
Coupons!
Bigger stores such as Tesco and Sainsbury send you coupons every month either in a newsletter to encourage you to visit their store. Collect coupons with longer validity in one place and combine them with the millions of online coupons available to extend your savings when you shop online. Claiming loyalty points from these stores can reduce the burden on your pocket.
Online websites and apps have made our lives simpler but at the cost of tempting us to buy more. In these trying economic conditions, the only way to save big is to buy what you really need.
