THESE are the most common mistakes people make when they go shopping and the problems they encounter as a result of their actions.
Photo by N. Skenderija
1. Trying out “free samples”
Many companies offer free samples to promote some products and improve the user experience. Occasionally there is an urge to buy a product that you do not really need and leads to impulsive shopping, especially if you do not plan to buy in advance.
2. Going shopping too often
You should consider weekly or monthly trips to the store, keeping in mind the products you usually use or eat every day. Going to the supermarket once a week can come in handy if you buy food that could spoil soon. On the other hand, going once a month will help you save on gasoline and travel expenses.
3. Purchase out of impulse, not out of necessity
We have to buy food, hygiene products and medicines for our daily lives. However, when we procure a product just to have it and that process is repeated several times, then we buy from impulse. This usually happens when, for example, we go shopping on an empty stomach. When we are hungry, we crave even more for all those tempting and delicious sweets at the checkout. A great way to avoid this is to go to the supermarket after eating. Another recommendation is to plan your purchase in advance so that you do not have to return to the store for that “forgotten item”, because you could end up leaving the store with more products than you intended to buy. It is advisable to make a menu and make a list of foods that will help you prioritize the basic things, ie food and cleaning products.
Photo by M. Anđela
4. Wholesale shopping
Whenever we buy packaged goods in large quantities, we feel like we are saving tons of money. However, these products can hide the real price and sometimes we can end up throwing away spoiled food. That is why we should take the necessary measures that will really help us save money and time, such as buying smaller packages.
Photo: DP
5. Let the look fool you
When it comes to fruits and vegetables, many of us are fascinated by their appearance. We believe that “beautiful” is equal to quality. However, in the case of these products, many more things need to be considered: color, odor, firmness and size are also important. Moreover, many shops polish the fruit to make it look tastier. So, before you choose a product that looks nice and shiny, you should smell and touch it to make sure it is ripe.
6. Purchase of packaged meat and vegetables
To keep meat or vegetables fresh, we can use certain types of packaging, such as vacuum packaging. But other types of packaging can be a problem. For example, they may contain microbes that affect the nutrients in these products. This occurs as a result of not storing the product in a cold storage or improper temperature control.
Photo by M. Anđela
7. Go shopping at the end of the day or week
Research has shown that impulsive decisions are a consequence of fatigue associated with various activities we do during the day. As for shopping, it can be a problem if we go to the supermarket at the end of the day or on a Sunday when there are more people and the queues are longer. Buying groceries in the morning can help us shorten the time spent in the store and avoid any temptations that can be found in the main aisles.
8. We do not use our bags or shopping bags
There are some rules that regulate the use of plastic bags in supermarkets in order to avoid the accumulation of waste that will pollute the environment. Moreover, many institutions charge their customers for the bags they use. By using our own bags made of fabric or other materials, we not only take care of our planet, but also save some money.
Photo: Depositphotos
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