Shopping
we all have to do it, some of love it some despise it but having tips, tricks and advice will benefit us all







  • When doing shopping of any kind write a list preferably with an estimated cost next to each item, and be determined not to go above the price, even if you get something half price doesn't mean you can spend more on something else. If you were to save 20cents on ten each week that's over $100 a year save!!
 
  • Write out a budget and stick to it, but allow yourself a bit of pleasure money otherwise things will become too much and it will too hard to continue on

  • When going on holidays and there are sights you want to see check them out on line I recently saved 30% on ticket entries by booking and paying on line this goes for some carbines places too we saved nearly AUD$100 by pre paying our car 
 

  • I've mentioned having brought tickets online, I use a debit visa card, best thing ever too. There I'd no interest because you can only use what money is in yr account no more. So if you don't have the $$ you don't get it. Throw away yr credit cards go debit visa instead.
 
  • For people who get paid odd amount each week for example I get paid weekly but my hubby is paid fortnightly do groceries like this if possible - one big shop one week and a top up the next. This will take the stress off the low week, just try and buy enough to last a fortnight.


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  • catalogs are great for checking out specials but they are only a saving if you were intending on buying that item in the first place.
 
  • Never be afraid to ring or email places to confirm their prices displayed on their website. You may just get someone who may offer you a deal going that suits you on a recent trip to Europe to major sights I wanted to see had listed combined tickets for both. So I emailed both and got two different responses, one place said tickets were slightly dearer and They had to be paid for and picked up from their office while the other response said we could pay for the tickets on line and just hand over the confirmation email at the door and they were much more pleasant in their response too. Oh and buying combined tickets and buying online saved us over AUD$60!!

  • Get your kid/s to write to Santa early say Octoberish. Then use that list for yr shopping list for them. Some people have a Christmas club account which is great, I personally use Chrisco this company sends you out 2-3 large catalogues with anything from food, alcohol, gift cards, electronics, sporting, furniture even travel now! I generally get a few food hampers and gift vouchers. I now also invest in some Christmas gifts from as low as 50cents a week! Yes this does work out slightly dearer then buying locally (depending on where you live) but some if the extra cost covers delivery and bank fees. But for me paying off Christmas over 52 weeks is so much easier. gifts arrive right to your door, same with food, and getting vouchers/ gift cards for local stores around town is great. You can either go on a massive shopping spree or even use the vouchers ad gifts themselves. I will recommend that when going through some food etc hampers choose ones that suit you and that you will use all of the product.
 
  • Use the in-store self serve bar code scanners to check/confirm prices. I have often found that something I want is actually cheaper than the stores advertised specials
 
  • Go to shops that sell things cheap like $2 shops etc they sell loads of brand name items fairly cheap. I found my deodorant I always buy for $2 when I usually pay $5. You may find some items with foreign writing but when it comes to things like toothpaste I'm sure we all don't need to read the instructions  

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  • sometimes buying generic/home brand items is hard kids get embarrassed when their friends see it etc, also some people refuse to use/eat these brands. So why not put them into containers and throw the wrapping away? Use a bikkie jar for example. So many things can go into airtight storage containers such as coffee, sugar, cereals, spaghetti, pastas, and detergents.
 
  • When grocery shopping makes sure you look up and down on the shelves the dearer items are generally eye level and in the middle. A lot of supermarket have on their price tickets how much items per 100grm or each. Take a moment to look closely at these as you may be surprised which way is actually cheaper, and remember your budget and stick to it
 
  • Plan yr shopping list. I brought a roll of reusable chalk board sticker off eBay recently. It was quite cheap $30 Inc postage compare to actually buying a chalk board. And I have cut 5 squares of the roll. I have one on the fridge which I use for writing groceries on (50pc chalk from cheap shop was only $1.50) I also use it for countdown like 15 days to holidays. The other three I put onto the kids doors, great way for leaving messages, reminders and countdowns too. This sticker is safe to remove and doesn't damage paint etc. I also had a photo frame that we removed the glass and covered the backing with chalk board sticker put it all back together and it made a great portable chalk board for my grand daughter. And I still have over half a roll left! This stuff works a treat and you get so many uses out of it. Chalk is so much cheaper to buy the pens and white board markers too

  • If possible do groceries after dinner we all know shopping on a full stomach Means your less Likely to buy luxuries you did'nt need but shopping later in the day is also quieter (less people) and some places actually mark things down a lot cheaper to male room for the next days stock 

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  • Did you know that op shopping you can find brand new items. Why pay out a fortune on babies and kids clothing only for them to grow out of them after the fourth wear. I have found school clothes to be so expensive and with 3 kids buying school bags books stationery shoes etc so I try to buy one set brand new then others. 2nd hand. There are some good quality items in op shops If you take you time to look.

  • If yr kids love dessert at night but tend to go through loads, get them to start using small cups. I used to go through 4 liter of ice cream a week now it last up to near 3 weeks and it's actually better for them 

  • When selling on eBay consider your fees, there are listing fees, final value fees and of course paypal fees listen something for $0.99 will cost you  0.30c. If it sells for that the final value fee will be estimate of $0.06 and receiving paypal money of let's say $6 including $5 postage will cost you another $0.45 roughly. So in total you have paid $0.81 in fees out of your sale of $0.99 you made $0.18 profit!
  • Sign up for loyalty cards, whether you get a free coffee every 10 brought, 12c a liter off fuel or maybe even points transferred into a gift card.. every little bit helps