The Benefits of Frugal Shopping

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The benefits of frugal shopping for One’s budget: 600 words The average American feels the pressure of the rising cost of goods and services, and makes concessions to limit purchases to those of importance. But what does one do when the most needed commodities, fuel and food, are leading the trend in rising prices? Most people don’t have enough funds put away in case of emergencies, leading to reliance on credit and creating more debt. Budgeting is the only way to ensure “needs” are accounted for, and “wants” are reserved for when the budget allows them. It is imperative that Americans learn frugal shopping techniques such as Price comparing, Couponing, and joining rewards programs. First, one should consider buying store brands as opposed to name brand products. Consumers tend to purchase products based on the name alone, which can be detrimental to his or her budget. In fact, generic brands, on average, are cheaper than name brand products. One of the main reasons for the differences in price is the amount of money spent by private labels on packaging. Private labels rely on decorative packaging to appeal to the buyer’s senses. Store brands spend less on packaging, and more on the quality of the product. Therefore, the consumer saves money on a quality product because generic brands often have the same, or comparable, ingredients as the name brands. Furthermore, generic products and private labels are often manufactured by the same factory. It is absurd for the consumer to spend more solely because a product is licensed. Next, Couponing is arguably the most effective method of slashing the cost of goods. Coupons are widely available in stores, online, and in newspapers. One benefit coupons provide is allowing the consumer to try items one may never consider due to the price. This is an important asset to the frugal shopper. By testing products at a

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