The financial consultant revealed the rules of economical shopping without compromising on quality

The daily choice of products is an opportunity to form a complete diet of useful elements without going beyond the family budget. Olga Matveeva, financial consultant of the X5 Package service, told Izvestia about this on October 15.

According to the expert, there are proven principles that help make purchases more meaningful and effective.

"A key element of rational shopping is proper planning, in which the list of products must strictly correspond to the menu for the week. To make an optimal diet, it is necessary to keep records of food costs — this allows you to identify inconspicuous items of expenditure, such as spontaneous purchases of sweets or snacks," Matveeva said.

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This technique attracts abundance and helps improve your financial situation.

The next important step is an objective cost analysis. Instead of comparing the prices of packages of different volumes, the specialist recommends calculating the cost of a unit of weight — a kilogram or a liter. It is also effective to estimate the cost of one serving of a prepared dish. For example, when choosing between a ready-made salad and the ingredients for it, it is worth determining how much one serving will cost, which helps to make an informed decision.

"An equally important factor is the nutritional value of the products. Food rich in protein and fiber provides a long-lasting feeling of fullness, which allows you to reduce the number of snacks and significantly reduce spending. Additional savings are made by taking into account seasonality — vegetables and berries frozen in season become a profitable investment and help save money in winter," the specialist suggested.

With proper use, loyalty programs and cashback services turn into an effective savings tool. Savings systems provide discounts on regular purchases, and cashback returns part of the money spent. It is most rational to use these tools for planned purchases as a complement to the overall strategy of reasonable consumption.

Such a system turns an ordinary trip to the store into a conscious process. Over time, analyzing purchases and optimizing them becomes a useful habit that helps you use your budget efficiently without skimping on product quality.

On September 23, Matveeva told Izvestia how to build a budget without boring restrictions and a constant sense of oppression. According to her, the most effective thing you can do for your financial well—being is to switch to monthly purchase planning. You also need to buy basic products: cereals, pasta, canned food, vegetable oil, sugar, flour.

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