Children will emulate your actions mind what you model
My son used to be in a kangaroo pouch until he was too big for it. As it was, he could be looking in different directions from me and once, he tried hailing a cab from the opposite direction, as he knew whenever his desperate mother sang God, give us a taxi’, she would flag at a car with a funny lighted sign attached to its roof.
Safety versus ridicule do what is best for you and your child
When he grew too big for the pouch and too heavy for my shoulders, I would put him on a wrist band leash. People would give me horrid stares and even call my son a little puppy. I was one of the revolutionary mothers in my part of the world then. Bystanders did not understand that our leash gave me a free hand while my son got some freedom in movement but not so much that he would get into trouble or danger. When he was about four and could speak and understand more instructions, I would unleash’ him for short periods.
Be on familiar soil a regular pleasant customer gets his perks
I always went to the same shopping center which had all the daily bread I needed. It was an advantageous move because shop owners got to know me and my son and we had special privileges from some shops. My son and I became a familiar figure even to shops I rarely ventured into myself because subsequently I allowed him to go to the toilet by himself and he would visit those shops on his way to the toilet and back!
Once, when he was four and on a trip to the toilet, he actually ran to a shop which we frequented for dinosaur figurines and returned with one figurine as well as a cashier close behind him! Fortunately, we had become trusted customers and she had fallen in love with my little handsome, so she allowed me to finish my meal and go to the shop later to pay for the figurine. She was more concerned that he was lost than that he was actually shoplifting!
Fear of the unknown a child’s safety net
On other occasions, it was Mummy who played punk. When my son was barely the height of trolley display carts which were used at malls, I would unleash him and tell him to stay by me. Knowing him, he would get distracted and lose’ me. Most of the time, I would do so when we were at the temporary sales sections which were made of such display carts neatly arranged in rows. I could see him but because of the crowd and his height, it was not easy for him to spot me. I used this ruse to train him to stay by my side. Subsequently, Let’s go or get lost again’ became his guide to stay by me at all costs.
Discipline and time management life skills that are a must at shopping
When my son was older and had a digital watch, I allowed him to go to his favorite shops while I stayed in mine and gave him a time to return to look for me. Of course, he would forget the time, especially when he had to queue for a free game at the display X-Box or needed the toilet. I would give him a fifteen-minute grace period before I moved off to his destination to look for him. Sometimes we would end up wandering the floors for each other until we found each other. Although it seemed time wasted, it was a good exercise for me and it taught my son discipline as well as the consequences of disobedience. Nonetheless, after each of these sessions, he would be the golden boy that disciplinarians crave!
The other thing that must be taught and nurtured is appropriate public behavior. This is best taught by getting our children to observe other ill-behaved children and getting their opinion on how and why they should behave better. Use praise frequently to motivate your children towards maintaining good behavior in public. End a shopping trip prematurely calmly if they are not exhibiting proper behavior show your displeasure in a pained rather than ill-tempered manner. Take time to reinforce this especially if you have active children like mine. Your children will feel the pinch especially when they have not purchased their items.
Teach through example budgeting for life
Decisions over budget and expenditure are difficult to effect even in adults. Hence, from young I trained my child to spend within his means by giving a group and individual budget to work on. When I gave up my job a few months back to mother him full time, it was an opportunity of growth in this area. We had to cut back in many areas so as to ensure that my savings will stretch to give me the time to devote myself full time to both our study needs.
On weekdays, we ate at cafeterias instead of restaurants and dine-ins. I would bring only ten dollars which in my country was sufficient for a meal for the both of us as well as dessert treats at a fast food center. My son learned to invest in healthier choices as well as spend on things that are of value to him. For example, he could choose to forgo his ice-cream dessert for toys such as Pokmon Kraks which gave him hours of pleasure instead. We learned to spend within our means and live by healthier choices.
My son also distinguished between his wants and needs and learned how to derive the best pleasure out of his meager allowance. Although it was a painful experience for the both of us, we ended up having more to share with the more unfortunate in life and learned to love life more than monetary pleasures. Our pre-determined shopping list and budgeting also meant delayed gratification which gives us time to consider if our intended purchases are worth our pennies.
Shopping advisor seeking a second opinion
My son is my fashion advisor. I involve him in my shopping and he delights in dressing up his mother. It also keeps my son busy and focused on getting my shopping done so that we can then go get his purchases done.
Shopping with children can be fun and enlightening with proper guidelines and predetermined goals. Think long term and you will likely be molding your children’s spending habits for the better!

Shopping in the groceries or super market could be tricky, the tip is only stay to the list you had write. For children food, you could told them to choose their own food, but always gave them selected healthy option. For example give them option between muesli, cereal or brown bread with butter and jam, their type of fruit and cocoa or milk. So, in the morning before school their breakfast was ready with what they themselves had chosen the night before. It worked beautifully, no complaints, no last minute rush, when they were dressed they came to the breakfast table and could eat their meal in peace.

Have some meat free meals once or twice a week. My family enjoyed freshly cooked thick milk rice with cinnamon and sugar and bowl of steamed or fresh fruit. Another favourite was pancakes made from grated raw potatoes serviced a bowl of apple sauce.

Fish is delicious just steamed for a few minutes and served with boiled rice or potatoes and a mixed salad. If you want to crumb it and shallow-fry buy a packet of Panko crumbs from your Asian food store, they are crunchy and give your fish a very hearty taste. Dry the filets, dip them in some beaten egg with some salt and pepper and then in the Panko crumbs, then immediately into the hot frypan with a little oil or ghee for about two or three minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the fish filets.

Try to avoid pre-prepared meals or packages, they all contain chemical ingredients that your bodies can do without because in the long-term they are harmful.

With a large family, explore the many ways you can use mince in various dishes other than just burgers: spaghetti bolognaise, meatloaf, stuffed cabbage rolls, shepherd’s pie, lasagna to mention just a few.

Buy fresh vegetables rather than tins, they are much healthier and tastier. If you have a juicer, make some fresh fruit/vegetable juice every morning. Drink the juice or a bowl of fresh fruit at least half an hour before you eat any other food. This way the fruit will cleanse your digestive tracts before it has to deal with other intake.

Switch from ‘dead’ white bread to wholegrain brown bread, it costs a little more but it is much more filling, more tasty and gives your body the needed fiber. Also you need to eat less of it.

Lets have a look below tips to make our world a better place and more green.

Buy less. This should be a “no brainer.” Consumerism – buying what we don’t need, over and over again – drives unnecessary manufacturing that fuels climate change, pollutes the air and water, and destroys the places in Nature we love. Remember “reduce, reuse, recycle”? It still makes sense.

Read the label. We read food labels to avoid trans fats, sugar, salt and carbohydrates. We can read product labels to avoid greenwashing words like “natural” and “planet friendly” that aren’t backed up by standards or third-party verification (see below). When it comes to cleansers and other household goods, avoid products labeled “caution,” “warning,” “danger,” and “poison,” all of which indicate the item is hazardous to you and the environment.
Support sustainable standards. An increasing number of companies are proving they’re green by manufacturing according to sustainable standards that govern the product’s “life cycle,” beginning with the raw materials and ending with its disposal or re-use. The SMART standard, for example, covers flooring, lighting, building materials, and other consumer products.

Look for third-party verification. In the absence of universal sustainable standards, if a company says its product is good for the earth, your first question should be, “Who else says so?” Reliable eco claims are backed up by an independent institution or nonprofit organization that has investigated the manufacturer’s claim so you don’t have to. Look for labels from groups like Forest Stewardship Council, Energy Star and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Organic.
Choose fewer ingredients. A long list of ingredients often indicates the presence of questionable chemicals that may be harmful to you or the environment. This is especially true for personal care products, food, and cleansers. Simplify what you buy.

Pick less packaging. Regardless of the marketing claims a product makes, you can have an immediate impact by buying goods that come wrapped as simply as possible. For starters, buy in bulk, choose concentrates, and pick products in containers you can easily recycle (hint: glass and cans are more easily recycled than plastic). Carting home your packages in your own bags helps reduce packaging, too.
Buy local. Avoid the higher energy costs involved in transporting goods long distances. Supporting local farmers and businesses also increases the likelihood that U.S. environmental and health laws and regulations will be followed.

Especially in a supermarket or groceries stores that offering lots of thing. Don’t get tempted might be a good reason to hold those fancy stuff, and always remember to buy something you had plan before (check again your shopping list before buying)

Below are great tips on saving your money in groceries stores.

Don’t shop on an empty stomach.
The cardinal sin of grocery shopping, hitting the store when you’re hungry, will put you over budget faster than you can say “junk food.” If you have no choice but to go to the store without a meal, buy an apple and some nuts (or another snack rich in protein and/or fiber) to munch on while you’re shopping.

Plan!
At the very least, make a list before you shop. At the very best, plan your weekly menu or list a few main dishes that you can eat throughout the week. This will save you not only money on your grocery bill by preventing you from buy (and possibly pitching) food you don’t need, but also time and fuel savings, from fewer trips to the store for essential ingredients.

Buy generic.
Held to the same standards as name-brand versions, store-brand products are usually just as good, and less expensive. Generic products are available for nearly every product you can think of, so be on the lookout for them (and watch your savings add up).

Shop alone.
Sometimes this just isn’t possible, but if you can shop solo, you’ll be able to focus on finding the best deals and taking as much time as you need to make it through the store. In addition, no one else will be begging for items that aren’t on your list.

Bring your calculator.
Sometimes the largest container of, say, tomato sauce, isn’t actually the best deal. Unless you like to do long division in your head, consider toting a pocket calculator when you head to the supermarket. It’ll make figuring out the real prices for items a lot easier. As long as you can afford it at the time, buy the brand and size of a product that has the lowest per-unit (per pound, ounce, etc) price to get more for your money.

Make smart substitutions.
This one may be hard for some of us, but it has the potential to save you a great deal. Think about what you eat, and then think about what may be a cheaper—at equally healthy—substitute. Like breakfast cereal? Oatmeal is usually cheaper. Love soda? Try sparkling water with a little fruit juice mixed in. Snack on chips? Pop some popcorn kernels on your stovetop instead. Be willing to make substitutions on brands and specific ingredients based on sales, too. You may find that a different brand or flavor of yogurt, for example, is a better deal one week. Snag it!

Buy whole foods.
Sometimes, the less processed a food is, the cheaper it is per serving. Apples may cost less than applesauce or apple juice. Canned black beans will be cheaper than refried beans. A block of cheese costs less than shredded cheese. Whole grains like brown rice and oats will be cheaper than processed cereals. Think about the original, whole food that a product is made from and decide if you can eat that whole food as-is or use it to make your own sauce, cereal or juice—instead of paying food manufacturers to do it for you.

Buy in bulk.
Long a staple of natural food stores, bulk or “bag and weigh” sections are now appearing in traditional supermarkets. Items like flour, beans, rice, nuts, and dried fruits are available for less than prepackaged versions of the same foods.

Don’t get stuck in the middle (of the grocery store).
Packaged foods have been condensed, salted, refined, sweetened, or otherwise processed. They may seem like a good deal, providing more calories for less money, but those calories usually aren’t very nutritious. Resist the lure of the middle aisles and stick to the perimeter of the grocery store; you’ll save money and wind up with bags full of whole foods. When you do find yourself in the middle aisles, aim your gaze toward the top or bottom of the shelves, where the prices are usually lower. Grocers strategically place higher-priced products at eye level.

Eat your protein without the meat.
Try substituting one meat meal per week with a vegetarian meal to save money and benefit your health. Beans, eggs, and tofu all provide high-quality protein for a fraction of the cost of meat. Find more meat-free protein ideas and inexpensive meatless meal ideas.

Read ads and clip coupons.
A “loss leader” is a sale item that a store is actually selling at a loss in order to get you in the door. Take advantage of these deals when you see them, but remember, a good deal is only good if it’s on something you’d normally buy, not just something you’re buying because it’s on sale. Many sales and coupons are on less-than-healthy processed foods, so look for special deals on healthy items like yogurt, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables , and similar staples that have a longer shelf life.

DIY
If you’re really craving a special treat, make it from scratch. You can make it from healthier ingredients and spend less. Tell those muffins in the bakery case that are calling your name to hush and whip up a batch of some with whole grains, blueberries and honey at home that would put the store-bought ones to shame.

Eat seasonally.
In-season produce costs less, thanks to the law of supply and demand. You might miss having tomatoes in the heart of winter, but the fresh, perfect tomatoes of summer taste better, cost less and are more nutritious anyway. Check out sales flyers and base your menu off fresh foods that are available right now (instead of foods that have to travel across the country or an ocean to make it to your store). Make a trip to your local farmers market to get some great prices on local produce.

Carry out—from your kitchen.
Packing your lunch, snacks, drinks, and other meals are usually less expensive and healthier than eating out. It will require more planning, but the dollars you save will be worth your time in the end. If necessary, invest in some reusable lunch bags and containers instead of buying disposable sacks and baggies for your food week after week.

Grow your own food.
Plants are cheap, and seeds are even cheaper. You can grow your own fruits and vegetables—tomatoes, peppers, squash, garlic, onions, broccoli, herbs, and many more delicious crops—right in your very own backyard (or in containers on your balcony) with a minimal amount of effort. They’ll save you money and taste far better than store-bought. If you’d like some instant gratification, consider sprouting, which you can do in a few days right on your kitchen countertop. Alfalfa, sunflower, broccoli or bean sprouts add a nutritious crunch to sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
When it comes to saving money on food, you often have to sacrifice more of your own time—planning, cooking, growing and clipping coupons—but most people agree that it’s worth the time they put into it. All of these tasks will become easier and more efficient after a while. You may find that shopping, cooking and eating will become that much more rewarding, and not just for your wallet!

Yup that’s just marketing strategy to attract customer buying some stuffs. But if you’re asking me how to get the best price, then the answer is Yard sale. In Yard sale or garage sale, you could purchase stuff way beyond the price in store, yes the goods is not brand new, but you could select and bargain the price after all.

Its exciting getting goods in lower price and deals, but there several things you should know before buying, check it out below:

Look Everywhere: People advertise yard sales and garage sales everywhere, from your local paper, church, the grocery store, the gym, Craigslist.com and of course with signs all over town. Have a special notebook for jotting down upcoming yard sales you hear about and make a schedule to hit the ones you think you can fit in.

Make a Route: If you designate a particular Saturday or Sunday for yard sales and garage sales, make a list of all of the ones you plan to hit and consult Mapquest.com or another map to chart a route that’s most efficient. You don’t want to waste money on gas while you’re saving money at the yard sale!

Bring Handy Tools: Carry a small screwdriver in case you need to check batteries; extra batteries, tape measure, rope to tie things to your car, extra bags to carry things with, newspapers to wrap breakables.

Don’t Be an Early Bird: Arrive on time, but not earlier than posted. You’ll only upset the people having the yard sale, and they probably won’t be ready for you so you could miss out on some of the good stuff.

Check for “Nicks”: When buying dishes or glassware, run your fingers over the edges. If there are any nicks or chips that you didn’t see at first glance, your fingers will catch any that are hard to spot. Some yard sale experts carry cotton balls to run along the edge. If there’s a nick, the cotton will get stuck in the groove.

You Want CDs and DVDs – Not Coasters: Always look inside CD and DVD cases to make sure that the disc matches the cover, for one. Also, examine each disc for large scratches or other damage. A cd is nothing more than a coffee table coaster if it’s all scratched up.

Get Them to Name Their Price: Don’t fall into the trap of answering the question “what would you like to pay for this?” If they didn’t label their possessions, ask them what they want for it, and then bargain down. Otherwise, you could end up offering far more than they expected to get.

Don’t bring the Mercedes: If you plan to do a lot of bargaining, you might want to leave the Lexus or Mercedes at home and drive up in your junkmobile instead. No one wants to haggle over 25 cents with Lady Astor.

Check for Parts: Always look inside boxes and check for any missing parts. On a hot day or at the end of a long day, this can seem tiresome, but it will be worth it when you get home and have something you can use instead of another piece of junk you’ll have to try and sell at your next yard sale.

Bring Small Bills and Coins: There’s nothing worst than haggling with someone over 50 cents and paying with a $20. Conversely, you could miss out on a great deal or be forced to over pay if they don’t have change and neither do you. Arm yourself with plenty of change and you’ll pay what you want to pay.
Plug n Play: Always plug in electrical items and test the batteries in battery-operated electronics.

Christmas in July: Don’t forget: off-season holiday items can be had for a steal at garage and yard sales, so pick up those Easter Bunnies and Valentine’s Day decorations now. You’ll be happy next year.
Combine Items for Better Pricing: For instance, if the seller won’t budge on an item you want, group it with another item and say something like “will you take $10 for both?” There are two kinds of garage sales – the ones where people want to make money and the ones where people want to get rid of stuff. The object is to find the ones where people want to get rid of stuff.

Leave the Kids at Home: You’ll have a much more successful day at the yard sales and garage sales without the kids, we promise. If it’s not possible to leave them at home, give them a small amount of pocket change and ask them to go shopping for not only themselves, but to find small items for certain family members they love.
Grab What You Like: Even if you’re not 100% sure you’re going to buy an item, if you like it, pick it up and carry it with you so that someone else doesn’t grab it while you’re browsing. If it’s heavy or awkward, ask the seller to hold onto it while you shop.

Bargain, Don’t Badger: People who throw yard sales and garage sales expect their customers to haggle over the price. So definitely ask if they’ll take less than what they’re asking. But try not to get belligerent if they don’t want to move on their price. Remember, at the end of the day, they’re still stuck with the item they wanted to get rid of, and you’ve moved onto another yard sale.

Haggle Now, Buy Later: If you haggle with a seller and he or she won’t come down to the price you’d like to pay, leave your card behind and tell him or her that if the item doesn’t sell, you’ll be willing to buy it later. This is an example of why it’s a good idea to be friendly throughout the haggling process. If they don’t like you, they won’t call you to buy it, no matter how much they want to get rid of the item.