How to Shop Wisely

All of us, except for some very few, use money to buy what we need in this world. We do our shopping in various places. Sometimes we are satisfied with what we buy. Sometimes though we do not get our money’s worth and we feel cheated. To avoid being cheated we have to know how to shop wisely.

To shop wisely simply means not wasting our money on useless goods. We have to be careful with what we buy. While we cannot make absolutely sure that what we buy are really worth our money, we can reduce our risks of buying faulty goods to a minimum. Here are some suggestions on how to do it.

It is good practice to check the price of the goods first. Shops are required by law to display price tags for all items. Goods that have no price tags are suspect are ought to be avoided. Also it is better if we compare the prices of the goods at various places. We will probably be shocked by the price differences. The money saved on finding the best deal is usually worth the time spent on it.

Next the expiry date of perishable goods should be checked. Items without expiry dates or items that have expired should not be bought. It is silly to buy a cheap can of tuna at a much reduced price only to discover that the content are inedible when we open it.

The condition of the goods that we intend to buy should be checked. For example, cans should be examined for dents and rust. If the cans show any of these signs then they should not be bought. Often the contents of such cans will be unsatisfactory too. Vegetables and meat should be examined for freshness. Do not be fooled by the attractive packaging. See the item itself and make sure it is worth the money.

When buying something that has to be weighed, it is a good idea to witness the weighing ourselves. Also ensure that the needle reads zero when there is nothing on the balance. It is all too easy to be short weighed.

When paying for things at the counter, it is good practice to make sure that the prices are correctly entered or scanned. Keep the receipt in case you want to return or exchange anything. Count the change after paying for what you buy. There are many unscrupulous traders who short-change customers.

Finally we should only buy what we need. All too often we are taken in by attractive sales gimmick and buy things we never use. This is sheer waste of money. Also perishable goods will perish if kept too long. It is better to buy fresh things than to discard old useless ones. In this way we spend our hard-earned money wisely and not waste it.