How to Save Money by changing your Shopping Habits

There is an awful lot of advice around on the subject of how to save money. Many tipsters recommend that you should cut back on things like your usage of electricity in the home. They also advise changing your social habits by staying in instead of going out, and if you do venture out, go to cheap venues like local museums. 

There’s a plethora of completely free resources to help you save money. Here’s 40 right off the bat to get you started. Some of these ideas are harder to adopt than others. But one of the easiest, and most impactful ways of saving money is to change your shopping habits, and that’s what we’re going to look at in today’s post.

Don’t be too easily swayed by advertising

Like everywhere in the modern, civilised world, consumers are bombarded with advertising. The annual spend on adverts here in South Africa last year was an enormous 36.6-million Rand. Most of this amount (21% in fact) goes on TV and video advertising. The second-largest spend is on internet adverts. People are driven by adverts like herds of sheep.

It tends to be the bigger, more expensive product brands that get noticed. Hardly surprising because it’s these guys who have the largest advertising budgets and they are incredibly successful at influencing their target audience. The more active they become, the larger their target audience becomes too.

Being trendy costs money

It comes as no surprise to see that the top three clothes brands in South Africa are Nike, Adidas and Levy. Everyone wants to be seen sporting their wares, from kids at school, to streetwise youngsters and everyday fashionistas. But, of course, they all come at a price, and it is not an easily affordable one.

What it all boils down to, however, is being seen to be trendy. Although the quality of these top branded products is excellent, they are many other far cheaper products on the market. If you forgo the kudos and buy these less expensive alternatives, it is a sure-fire answer of how to save money.

Better burger deals

The same can be said for food and drink. It’s another marketplace where the advertising agencies reign supreme, both in the supermarkets and the fast-food stores. Take MacDonald’s, for example. They opened their first restaurant in South Africa in 1995. Just 21 years later, they have 200 in total across the country, serving 8 million customers per month.

But as with Nike of Adidas, don’t just follow the herd and flock to MacDonald’s. There are plenty of other cheaper burger places around, and some great two-for-one deals. You can share these with friends, so it is a top tip on how to save money while still being sociable.

Great tips to save money on grocery shopping

Buying top food brands in supermarkets is a waste of money. Forget the advertising and try some of the supermarket own-brand alternatives. Many are just as good taste-wise and are significantly cheaper. Check out https://www.privateproperty.co.za/advice/property/articles/10-easy-ways-to-save-on-your-grocery-bill/6639 on how to save money on grocery shopping. It has some excellent tips.