Avoid Impulse Buys when You Go Grocery Shopping

The weekly shop can be stressful, as you drive off to the shops with a list a mile long, gritting your teeth as you prepare to lose a chunk of your hard-earned money in one fell swoop. But when you intend to pop in the shops for just three items, it is still possible to leave with a lot more than you really wanted. What steps can you take to avoid impulse buys when you go grocery shopping?

Shop Alone

Unintended impulse buys usually occur when you shop with family members, in particular, your children. It can be distracting keeping to a strict shopping list when your children start placing items into the trolley when your back is turned. By the time you reach the checkout, you may not even be aware of the extra groceries piled in amongst your other items. Avoid a big shop by shopping alone, so that you can stay focused on what you really need to buy and avoid the begging pleas of your children.

Speed Shop

Have you ever noticed how you end up spending a lot more money in the supermarket when you dawdle? If you want to avoid a big shop when you just popped into the shops for a couple of items, set yourself a strict time limit and stick to it. Aim to be in and out in 5-10 minutes. That way, you will have less time to walk up and down the aisles for groceries you do not need. If you can spare the time, aim to shop during your lunch hour, or in between appointments, so that you will be forced to shop on the run.

Keep to the List

If you shopping list consists of bread, oranges and milk, stick to these items and do not buy anything else. Leave credit and debit cards at home and take just the amount of money you will need for what is on your list. Disciplining yourself in this way will help you to stay on track and save the big shop for after payday.

A larger shopping session should only be reserved for times when you are out of pantry essentials and you need to restock. If every trip to the shops turns into a big shop, you will be throwing a lot of money away on purchases that you could easily have done without. Start off by shopping alone as much as you can, speed shop and keep to your shopping list. These simple methods can help keep you on track when you just need to buy a few items.


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