Many of the money saving tips out there, including the ones on this site, tell people to shop sales. Which, as many people know, can be an efficient way to save money. However, this is not always the case. If you are buying something on sale just because it’s on sale, this becomes a little counter-intuitive. This is something that we are all guilty of at some point. It is important to think before you buy in order to determine if the sale item it’s worth it. We, myself included, fall into the trap of feeling the need to buy something because it’s on sale. Remember that its okay that we some times don’t shop sales.
Sales on groceries
When looking through the weekly sales flyer, you want to make sure that you are looking for items that you will use. There’s no point in buying food that you won’t eat just because there is a sale. If it’s something that you don’t normally buy due to the regular price, then I would say go ahead with buying them. Sales are there to save you money on things that you already buy. This is where keeping a grocery list o smart shopping comes in handy so that you are not spending money on a false sense of savings.
What about other things?
As much as sales can save money, it is not always the best idea to run out to get the latest deals. With shopping food sales, you may spend a little more than usual but with other goods, the cost can be far more. The most common sales that people run out to spend money on is cell phones or other tech items. The problem with this is that it is often at times where you may not need to upgrade your tech. Any money that is saved is negated due to the cost of the item. This is because you wouldn’t have spent it otherwise. So in all actuality, you’re spending more money for the sake of a sale. This can be a big hit to your budget. So remember that it is okay that you don’t shop sales. Sales can in actuality be a budget killer. Think about what you are going to buy beforehand. That’s where it helps for the 30 day rule