Parents, mothers in particular, are known for their mind-blowing strategies to stretch their budget without sacrificing needs. You’d be surprised how they can buy huggie earrings in Australia and still ensure their family has all the essentials. Interested to find out what hacks they have up their sleeve?
Take Advantage of Sales Cycles
Most retailers follow a pattern when rolling out sales.
- Find out and list down your favourite shop’s sales cycles and plan your purchases around them. Your budget can go further if you buy marked-down items or during promotions.
- Create a list of items to buy based on what’s on sale. Take the opportunity to stock up or build a stockpile.
- Hold off on making major purchases until a sale rolls out.
Create a Smart Shopping List
Lists will save you from impulse or unnecessary purchases. They can do more for you, however.
- Organise your list according to aisle or store (if you’re buying from multiple shops) to save time and effort.
- If you know or are familiar with a shop’s layout, create a list based on the layout and group similar items.
- Consider using clever shopping rules like the 5-4-3-2-1 or 6-to-1 grocery method. Both recommend buying specific items in a specific quantity.
Shop by Season
Similar to the sales cycle, you can save time and money when you buy seasonal items.
- Plan your meals around what’s available seasonally. Using seasonal ingredients tends to be affordable and allows you to vary your menu.
- Avoid buying out-of-season items as much as possible. Prices tend to increase as supply decreases.
- Substitute with canned or frozen items for the time being.
- If possible, buy seasonal items in bulk. Don’t forget to consider storage needs and shelf life.
Make Bulk Buying Work for You
Buying in bulk can save you money, but you have to be clever about it.
- Bulk buy non-perishable items only, but stick with items you need and frequently use. No point in storing stuff that will sit on the shelf until it reaches expiry.
- Make sure to organise your pantry so that older items are used first. The goal is to stock up without wasting anything.
- When bulk shopping seasonal items, make sure to swap them out before the season ends and the next one starts. This means buying only what you need.
With plenty of things to juggle and worry about, ticking shopping off your list will make the mum’s life so much easier. Nothing beats shopping effortlessly and saving money at the same time. Ready to shop for yourself as a reward? FAIRLEY offers gorgeous accessories worth gifting yourself.