The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
Proverbs 14:15-16
Yesterday, the last
bullet point warned that the special offers in supermarkets might not always be
special in the way we are led to believe!
- The most tempting offers are often put at the end of aisles, where people walk past them two or three times – but, remember, that may not really be special at all!
- It is not true that buying in bulk is cheaper, although many supermarkets know we assume this to be true and so will not bother to compare the prices of different size packets! You may find, therefore, that two or three smaller packets cost less than one larger packet that weighs the same.
- Some so-called ‘special offers’ are amazingly deceptive! ‘2 for £1’ may look a good deal but it is always a good idea to check that they are not being sold for, say, 45p each!
- Avoid watching demonstrations for things you do not want and resist the temptation to taste free samples of products, like cheese or wine, that you did not want to buy previously. These are designed to draw you in, to buy what is not important to you.
If you follow these
simple tips, you could save a lot of money.
- Make a shopping list.
- Do not shop when you are hungry or tired: your resistance to temptation is lower and your judgment is not as good.
- Do not take children: they will distract you and may nag you for things.
- Look around for cheaper alternatives. (If you buy a cheaper version that turns out to be horrid, you do not have to repeat the mistake!)
- Check that special offers really are cheaper and think about whether you need them.
Like
the proverb I quoted yesterday, the one at the start of today’s Reflection is
obviously much more general but, I think, just as pertinent.
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Copyright © All Souls Clubhouse Community Centre & Church and Philip Evans
2013.
Scripture
quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright
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