NATURALLY when we shop, we rarely waste money on inferior, overpriced or unnecessary goods if we always apply these enumerated key pointers.
Resist impulse buying. The cost of each spur-of-the-moment purchase may seem negligible but added up can cost hundreds of pesos. Whenever you’re tempted by an impulse purchase, ask yourself: Do I really need it? Is it worth the money? If you can’t answer firmly to both questions, put off the purchase for a week. Chances are, by then your impulse to buy will have waned considerably, perhaps entirely. If so, you’ll have money ahead.
Compare price and value. Make it your business to find out which stores consistently offer the best buys in your locale. Check periodically to be certain that prices in these stores remain appreciably lower. Also, pay attention to quality, guarantee, warranty, availability of service, etc. Of course, comparison shopping takes more time and effort than one-store shopping. But remember the money you save is your own.
Plan ahead. Anticipate your family’s needs and plan your buying to take advantage of sales, specials and bargain days. Also, you must plan ahead when it comes to food, your family’s single largest expense.
Read the label. Find out what’s really inside the package. Never mind the luscious picture because it’s deliberately deceiving. When a product is changed, check to see that the difference benefits you not the manufacturer only. Today’s packaging is more attractive and appealing than ever. But you can’t wear packaging or eat it or put it in a bank.
Know what you’re buying. Unfortunately, there aren’t special schools that teach these things. However, you can learn a lot on your own. Specifically, you can ask questions and you can make a point of not buying until you’re satisfied with the answers.
Try private brands of your supermarkets. They are lower prices than nationally advertised brands because their price doesn’t include the cost of television time, ad agency fees, etc. The majority of private label brands are high in quality because they are produced by the same companies that produce the best known national brands.
Shop for credit when you can’t pay for cash. Very few families can pay cash for major purchases. Therefore, try to inquire how much credit is allowed, for how long a period and at what rate of interest. There is already 0 percent interest existing everywhere for credit card holders on major purchases.
The last but not the least, avoid shopping when you are hungry, angry, depressed, impatient or very tired. In particular, don’t shop for anything expensive when your emotion may affect your judgment.
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Congratulations to Mrs Rosalinda P. Caragos as the president of the Rotary Club of East Urban (all ladies club) also the chairman of Zone 1 Council of Presidents and their officers, Cagayan de Oro City for the Year 2019-20.