All of us, except a very few, use money to buy what we need in this world. We do our shopping in several places. Sometimes we are satisfied with what we buy. Sometimes though we don’t get our money’s worth and feel ripped off. To avoid being deceived we have to know how to buy wisely.
Shopping wisely simply means not wasting our money on useless goods. We have to be careful what we buy. While we can’t be absolutely sure that what we buy is really worth our money, we can minimize our risks of buying defective products. Here are some suggestions on how to do it.
It is a good practice to check the price of the products first. Stores are required by law to display price tags on all items. Products without price tags are suspect and should be avoided. It is also better if we compare the prices of the products in various places. We will probably be surprised by the price differences. The money saved in finding the best deal is usually worth the time spent.
Next, you should check the expiration date of perishable products. Items with no expiration date or items that have expired should not be purchased. It is foolish to buy a cheap tuna can at a very low price and discover that the contents are inedible when we open it.
The state of the goods that we intend to buy must be checked. For example, cans should be examined for teeth and rust. If the cans show any of these signs, they should not be purchased. Often the contents of such cans will also not be satisfactory. Vegetables and meat must be examined for freshness. Don’t be fooled by the attractive packaging. See the article itself and make sure it’s worth it.
When buying something that needs to be weighed, it’s a good idea to witness the weighing yourself. Also make sure the pointer reads zero when there is nothing on the scale. It is very easy to fall short.
When paying for things at the counter, it’s good practice to ensure that the prices are entered or scanned correctly. Keep the receipt in case you want to return or exchange something. Count the change after paying for what you buy. There are many unscrupulous merchants who scam customers.
Finally we only have to buy what we need. Too often we are fooled by alluring sales gimmicks and buy things we never use. This is pure waste of money. Also perishable products will perish if kept too long. It is better to buy fresh things than throw away the old useless ones. This way, we spend our hard-earned money wisely and don’t waste it.