The financial consultant talked about the impact of stock purchases on the budget

The habit of buying groceries in stock often leads to irrational spending and cost overruns. Many of us are convinced that large stocks are synonymous with reliability and benefits, but in practice, an excess of food in the refrigerator and pantry easily leads to direct losses. Olga Matveeva, financial consultant of the X5 Package service, told Izvestia about this on October 2.

"The contents of a packed freezer and a shelf with canned food are forgotten: we buy fresh milk while the old one is turning sour in the depths of the refrigerator, or we buy more cereals when a kilogram is already in the pantry. Such unaccounted—for stocks can imperceptibly eat up to 15% of the monthly grocery budget," the expert said.

In addition, when we buy groceries for months ahead or before the holidays, we spend a large amount at one time, which could be gradually spent on current needs or postponed. Some of these purchases end up going into the expired trash can. It is important to remember: now stores are responding promptly to demand, goods in them are regularly replenished, so it makes no sense to buy food at once for all upcoming events in the next six months.

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The financial consultant noted that the key to saving is an informed approach, not the volume of purchases. Plan the menu for the week and make a list, checking with the supplies at home. Use loyalty programs and cashback services to accumulate points and refund part of the amount. This allows you to avoid unnecessary inventory and spontaneous spending.

"Remember, mindfulness and planning are what really helps you save your budget. Start small: before your next trip to the store, look in the refrigerator and make an accurate list. This simple action alone will help you avoid unnecessary purchases and save your money," concluded Matveeva.

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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