Shopping is a pleasure for some and a chore for others- but regardless of how we feel, we cannot seem to escape the minefield of what I like to call Retail Traps. 

These are the subtle yet highly effective methods that all of the major retailers and shopping centres employ to ensure we part with more cash that we initially intended.  Every year retailers spend millions of pounds on researching effective ways to produce in-store advertising with the sole objective of increasing our spending in store.

Next time you are in a supermarket or shopping centre just stop for a moment and try to find the windows and the clocks- you will be there for a while, because they do not exist!  Retailers want time to slow down for you, no natural light means you lose all sense of time, and the lack of clocks makes it even more effective.  Whatever time of year you find yourself shopping, the temperature inside will always remains the same, so that you are comfortable.  Even the way in which the floors are covered will dictate how fast or slow you move through the store- and are they making your feet hurt?  Well that will make you more likely to stop for a coffee and part with even more cash!  It is the kind of psychology you expect to be used on gamblers in Vegas- but perhaps you did not realise you were subjected to it on a weekly basis. 

Today I want to give you a heads up on some of the avoidable retails traps and I will give you some pointers for keeping spending down while you are out shopping.

Beware of the old Two for One deal!

Two for one deal’s can offer great value for money, but only on products which you would normally buy one of anyway. If it is not something you need or would normally buy then it is just an extra cost on your shopping bill.

Make a list and stick to it

Now this one may sound simple, but very few people make a list, let alone stick to it.  If you make your shopping list at home before you leave and then stick to it, you can save as much as £500.00 a year in the supermarket alone- by avoiding those impulse buys.

Do a stock take

Before you hit the supermarket do a stock take around the home and see what you need, many items which we buy are bought more through habit than a real need; you will be surprised how much you already have tucked away in the cupboards and in the freezer. Replace don’t replicate!

Drop down a brand

This is a great money saving exercise, which could save you well over £1500.00 a year.  By dropping down one brand from your normal purchase, you can save a fortune, and in most cases, you are only paying for the name, so try it for a week and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.

Look Down!

One trick all retailers use to get us to buy the most profitable goods is to place them at eye level around the store; this is a neat little trick, which works very well indeed.  For the cheaper deals just look down and a completely new supermarket of cheaper goods will open before your eyes.

Other tricks of the trade

Many big household names prime you to buy their products before you even leave the house.  They replace TV adverts with cardboard cut outs in store so that when you see the cut out you tend to remember the advert and are much more likely to buy their products.  Next time you reach for the latest ‘must have’ product stop and think why.

Have you ever noticed when you are queuing at the till that you feel drawn to magazines, sweets, batteries or even pocket tissues?  Companies make millions by having their products placed as last chance buys at the till- and you would be surprised how many are tempted by it.  To reiterate an earlier point- if it is not on the list forget it!

Shop Online!

This is without doubt the best way to do your weekly shop as you can avoid all the clever little traps and you are not pushing around that oversized shopping trolley, which you feel compelled to fill.  Shopping on-line is as good as making a shopping list and you really do think about every item too.  Best of all if you are unsure you can look around your home there and then to check if you need the item.  Always check to see if you can use a voucher code, then sit back and let your shopping come to you, no hassle with parking, and no trolley rage.