There're some important things you can do to minimize costs of supermarket shopping:
1) first of all, have clear in mind what do you really need and write a list only of run out things or nearly, avoiding not necessary products.
2) then, go to the cheapest supermarket you know, although it can be farther from your home.
3) compare the prizes considering not only the absolute price for the different brands of the same type of product (paper rolls, canned food, sauces, detergents, etc.,) but also the minimum ratio cost/net weight.

4) avoid the most advertized and visible brands; they can be the most expensive and not always the best in quality.
5) don't rely on advertisement seen on TV, newspapers, etc., but trust only on your experience.
6) profit of special offers buying also more than you need.
7) go to the supermarket less frequently, only when your fridge is beginning to "cry".
8) about fruits, buy only those not packed, they're cheaper in the average and avoid out of season fruits and vegetables.
9) become vegetarian; meat, fish and derivated products are more expensive and moreover, you will do a good thing for your health and the world.
10) buy single raw ingredients for sauces and dressings. Ready-to-use sauces in cans or bottles are more expensive because of the manifacturing process and then, you can't always be sure of their quality
11) pay attention to the expiry date of a product, expecially if it's easy to deteriorate itself; being obliged to throw into the trash gone bad food is surely a waste of money.
12) don't be in a hurry going to supermarket, because you risk more to make the worst choices for not searching carefully.
13) absolutely, don't take with you your child(ren); taking care of them prevent you from concentrating on products prices and, above all, they continuously stress you to buy EVERYTHING they wish, whatever is its price (prices don't exist for children, given that they don't earn the money to pay and, anyway, they still can't count).

Good shopping!

Learn more about this author, Aldo Bonincontro.
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