Bargain-bagging

Sure fire ways to trim your household costs without feeling as if you're missing out.

There are a number of ways to save money on your household bills. There are also some tips for you to follow in order to reduce the amount you spend on weekly shopping.

Make a Shopping list

Supermarkets are adept at getting us to spend more than we had planned to on our weekly shop. They are the experts at getting that cash out of our pockets. Their marketing departments conduct extensive research into ways of tempting us to buy. They offer in store promotions and they even play with our favourite songs as we walk down the aisles, putting us in a better mood to make us more likely to spend.
So the best thing you can do is make a shopping list and try your best to stick to it.

Just Say No

Taking your youngsters shopping can be a bad idea. They'll invariably want! from comics, clothes, toys dvd's to books and sweets, these are all items that would not be on your shopping list and one treat each every shopping trip can soon add up. Quite simply it is cheaper not to take them with you. If it is unavoidable, you should learn to say no more often.

Cook Smart

We can save a small fortune by ditching ready made meals and making the most of leftovers. There are cookbooks dedicated to this dying art, which include smart ways of turning cold cuts into delicious meals. As you probably have realised, ready meals are considerably more expensive than home-cooked dinners.
You could save additional money by borrowing cook books from the library rather than buying them.

Visit Farmers' Markets

These are great places to get bargains. Look out for seasonal produce because the price comes down when there is a glut. Prices are much more likely to fluctuate at farmers' markets and car boot sales, where producers will be looking to shift produce before it goes out of date. You're likely to get bargains on soft fruits and vegetables in summer and autumn, for instance.

Buy Own-Brand Foods

There are many manufacturers who make own-brand goods for supermarket chains. You can avoid paying a premium for staples by avoiding big brand manufacturers. Why not try Own Brand tinned and frozen food, own brand bread and biscuits, own brand beans, they may taste just as good and you don't know until you try. Own brand foods are usually a lot cheaper if not half the price of branded foods.

Avoid Designer Labels

In these times of self discipline, you cannot go out to buy a very expensive hand bag when you could get one that looked just the job on the high street for a lot less. High street retailers follow couture fashion like hawks. Their version of catwalk designs often make it onto the shelves within weeks. If you can't resist buying something by Prada, look to buy from an online discount house rather than buying from an ultra expensive boutique.

Sell What You Don't Need on Ebay

Get rid of all that junk you have accumulated. Car-boots are another option. As well giving yourself more room you will actually be making money. So go on have a good rummage, clear out the loft, cellar and garage and set yourself up at the local car boot sale. At this time these sales are booming just as they did during times of an economic downturn during the 1980's. Why not sell some stuff on ebay, you can sell many things for the cost of a small commission.

Stub it out, Stop Smoking

The cost of smoking is excessive, there is a four figure sum spent each year by those with a moderate habit and a great exorbitant cost to the Exchequer in poor health. Try your local health-promotion service and find some way of quitting. Visit www.quit.org.uk to find out all the information you need to move forward.

Shop when the Sales are On

A few ways you can save money: Buy your christmas cards in the January sales, this is the time when you can get them at half price. Buy things in bulk when the sales are on, from clothes to makeup, why not get your summer beach outfit in January! Put off big purchases until the sales start, you can wait a month or so for that large purchase can't you. Often the largest saving can be made at the end of a sale so be patient.

Beware Extended Warranties

New technology means that electrical goods are now more reliable than ever. While the price of food and fuel is rising more quickly than ever, the cost of electrical goods is falling. So before purchasing an extended warranty that will increase the cost of your new white goods by up to 50 percent, ask yourself whether that extended warranty is really worth it.

Shop Online

More and more of our shopping is now done online. To get the best deals you should check out price comparison sites. From food to clothes this way you can make sure your getting what you want at the lowest price available.

Use Coupons

Don't think that people are going to look down on you just because your using coupons, there's no shame in cutting out coupons from newspapers, the back of cereal, washing powders and alike. During the course of a year you could have saved yourself hundreds of pounds on the family shop by doing this.

Buy What You Really Need

Supermarkets and marketing departments are versed in the dark arts of selling the consumer more than they really require. You have probably noticed that mouth watering smell when you step inside the supermarket, strawberry's and flowers are placed near the front of the supermarket where you walk in. Research also shows that if you shop when you are hungry you will inevitably spend more on food. So do your weekly shop after you have eaten. Try to avoid impulse buying. Supermarkets are designed to make you walk through the whole shop so keep your wits about you, don't be tempted by the things you don't need.
Packaging can be deceiving, it can create the illusion that you are getting a bargain. Take a close look at the price per unit or per weight.

So as you can see there are ways to save money and bag a bargain, it isn't difficult to make a difference to your wallet.