Aug 15, 2007 07:56 PM
3595 Views
(Updated Aug 15, 2007 08:08 PM)
Visiting a supermarket / mall / large retail store is more of an outing experience than for the purpose to fill your kitchen. Exploring a large supermaket is fun, and most visitors dont come out with much more than a pair of socks or a packet of wafers. Okay, we do serious shopping too, but that is limited to once or twice a month. Here are a few tips out of my own experience for deriving the maximum enjoyment from visiting a large supermarket without adversely affecting the pocket.
ORGANISE YOUR SHOPPING
*1. Keep your credit card firmly tucked away inside your pocket. Dont indulge in compulsive or binge shopping, no matter how high you get on such outings.
Before you actually pull along your cart along the corridors of the market, acquaint yourself first with the mall itself. Do a little survey as to where exactly the groceries are, where do they keep the toiletaries, where's the toys section and things like that. It helps.
Compare prices. Develop a habit of taking a peek at the price of the article you are purchasing. You really dont want to be shocked at the billing counter or be scolded by your spouse for being careless.
Always take two baskets even if you dont need one. Keep veggies separate from groceries and eggs. Failure to observe this precaution will lead to the cooking of an omlette prematurely!
Check for dates. Even if it is a reputed supermarket, thats no guarantee for not keeping outdated things.
Try to take maximum benefit of their discount schemes. Often these large retail stores reduce the prices of many commodities in the third and fourth weeks to attract customers. If you are smart enough you may end up saving a cool 15-20% of your monthly budget.
Try to pay cash at the counter and resist the temptation to flash your Gold credit card. You might laugh at me but that really helps in preventing unnecessary shopping binges which you might regret later.
Lastly, keep kids under control. At the china gallery, if they happen to break an expensive set, you will have to cough up the amount. I've seen this happening.
Enjoy your shopping
