How to Shop Smartly When You’re On a Budget
- Rebekah Gamble
- Jan 10, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2021
Wondering how to be a smart grocery shopper and how to avoid overspending at the mall?
I understand why this would be on your mind. Unfortunately a trip with $50 no longer results in the same amount of goodies and necessities.
When I went food shopping with my grandma a few years ago, food stamps meant getting boxed cereal without guilt, picking up expensive fruit and buying big holiday meals.
It was heaven.
But recently, with price gauging on the rise, I had to take a second look at what I valued in my shopping.
After awhile I was able to come home less frustrated and angry at the world of food and shopping.
Keep reading to find out what tips I learned to maximize my saving and reduce my monthly spending.
Related Post: 5 ways you can invest in yourself for free
We all want to the know the secret of saving money and what are the top 3 saving money tips. How can we save money on a tight budget and how can we do what every other successful budgeter has done.
There isn't a secret. Or a foolproof plan but what you can do is follow the guide below and see how it can apply to your every day life.
Once that happens you've began a life changing moment.
#1- Have faith in your budget
Make a budget
The number one tip for shopping online or in person is to believe in and stick to your budget. Shopping smartly at the grocery store will be a mixture of walking with purpose and not aimlessly browsing.
Take your time when it comes to shopping and do not fall victim to the money tricks of businesses. Just because something is on sale does not mean you have to buy it. And if it is on sale then take a look at the original price. Sometimes you'll notice a discount isn't even worth purchasing.
If you're interested in learning how to use a simple budget with less expense tracking you can read about the No-budget- budget here
Usually the items you see at eye level are marked up on the shelf. Look around the upper and lower sections and see if you find any deals.
#2- Have a plan and stick to it
Write a shopping list.
Avoid entering the the supermarket without meals in mind. Grocery shopping can spark inspiration for meals and even holding a package of sweet treats can set your tummy to rumbling. Eating before going grocery shopping can save you a ton of cash and automatically make you an expert grocery shopper.
Buy the items you normally eat for dinner ( things you eat regularly are cheap dinner ideas). Any money left over in your budget after buying breakfast, lunch, and dinner can be used for snacks.
Snacks are something that can be planned but usually when grocery shopping you pick up either what's on sale or what looks good at the time. Instead of trying to plan ahead, buy the snacks after you have priced your main ingredients and items.
Go to the mall with a plan
Window shopping isn't the best activity when you're avoiding retail therapy. Huge stores like Macys entice you with scents and set up the store in such a way that you can easily get distracted.
Before you go into a mall, an expensive tourist attraction, or anywhere else that will cost you money, figure out what you have to buy. Waiting until the last possible minute when grocery shopping or going out to determine what you will buy could end up costing you more in the long term. Decide what you will eat before you guys get in the car in case your stomachs decide an expensive pasta meal instead of affordable sandwiches is the way to go.
Christmas shopping, back to school shopping, or any other occasion, can turn into a pile of debt if you don't practice mindful spending.
Don't be spontaneous
If you are barely making ends meet, looking for ways to cut back on spending, or simply trying out a new budget, you shouldn't add another expense.
If you see random ingredients that you have never bought before, don’t buy them this trip.
You’ve managed to live and shop peacefully without this new item in your pantry for a long time. You can survive without it for a few more months until you have wiggle room in your budget. Grocery shopping or walking through a mall is a great time to be assertive with yourself. Become aware of what you want and don't want so that you are not influenced by sales and bright colors.
Remember these stores are built for you to spend money. Every dollar you DONT spend is a win for you and your wallet.
#3 Make more meals from scratch
Instead of buying something that is precooked and only makes one meal buy what gives you several. A simple example could be eggs. Eggs can become breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on what you do with them.
Another example is potatoes.
A bag of potatoes, which you might be able to find for cheap in some supermarkets, can be several meals.
Homefries
Mashpotatoes
French fries
Potato wedges
Baked potatoes
Stuffed potatoes
Potato salad
Even having more eggs or bread in the house can make cooking more convenient, especially for busy adults.
#4 -Buy fruit from outside venders/ vegetable stands
You can definitely get a pineapple at a flat $3 rate instead of hoping that the market is selling them for cheap. Same for fruits and other tasty healthy treats. Unfortunately, as inflation rates and even shortages of supplies continue to influence the economy we are destined to spend a few extra bucks. However, tis doesn't mean you can't get creative when grocery shopping and still buy the things you want.
Learning how to freeze your fruits and produce can also save you money. Nothing is more frustrating than buying something and having it spoil before you can turn bananas into banana pudding or throw them in a smoothie.
#5- Shop around
Shop with patience
This is a bit tedious but entirely worth it. If you know that Store A sells cheap beans but Store B allows you to buy toilet paper in bulk, go to both stores.
The same goes for when you know you want you want to buy but have to wait for semi-annual sales or for your favorite website to offer a coupon.
The money you save can go toward something you've been wanting to buy. You can boost your sinking fund.
The money can also go toward your long term emergency fund!
In conclusion
You can master shopping even when it is frustrating. Getting better at grocery shopping doesn't have to mean never buying things you like again.
Start with patience, make your budget, and tell yourself you can do this.
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Let me know in the comments how if you've noticed anything that stores do to get you to spend money!
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