Saving Money On Your Shopping
Is it cheaper to buy in bulk?
It can be cheaper to buy in bulk, but remember, in supermarkets, large sizes of washing powder, for example, are not necessarily cheaper than the small or the medium sizes. Check on the labels as you're looking at the prices it will give you a price comparison per kilo. If you have the cash and you're not paying by credit, it is sometimes better to buy shopping in bulk. If you want the item - and if you can store it without buying an expensive new American freezer or even whole kitchen! - then it is cheaper to buy in bulk. Sometimes, however, buying in bulk, especially at warehouse clubs, just gives you an excuse to use and eat more wastefully rather than save money. I know that on my last trip to a warehouse club, unfortunately we bought expensive French bread in bulk and we simply ate better than we would normally eat when it came to toast.
How can I avoid impulse buying?
With impulse buying, the best thing to do is to avoid it by not actually going shopping at all. If you have any form of credit card or store card in particular, wrap it in klingfilm and then freeze it in a tin in the freezer. Yes, I'm serious. That way, if it's in a tin you can't defrost it by microwave quickly. If you're suddenly seized by the impulse to buy something immediately, you have to actually wait and think about it. And when you think about it, you probably don't need it. I'll tell you the other thing about impulse buying, especially with clothes. Before you actually buy anything, go home and look at your wardrobe. I'll bet you a dime to a dozen that you've actually got that item in your wardrobe somewhere already.
Is it cheaper to buy fresh or frozen meals?
Frozen meals are cheaper than fresh meals, on the whole. I find frozen food in Iceland incredibly cheap. Frozen meat is good value for families on a budget. Balance that out by buying cheap fresh vegetables and fruit.
Are ready meals good value?
Ready meals, what a waste of money! Frozen or chilled ready meals cost, from my research, eight times more than if you bought the raw ingredients and cooked them. You're buying time - to do what with? Sit in front of the TV? You are rarely so important that you don't have time to make scrambled egg with salad, or something equally quick and wholesome. If you want to save money, don't buy frozen or chilled ready meals.
