Top 14 Tips for Efficient, Economical, and Simple Tet Shopping

Depending on each family, Tet bonuses, spending habits, this expense item will vary. But in general, you should base it on your annual income, Tet bonuses to determine this specific expense.

Depending on the family situation and budget, people should budget a specific amount for Tet shopping. Always have a consistent mindset, this year's economy is tough, bonuses are low, so the amount allocated for Tet shopping this year must be lower than last year.

You should specifically budget for each item of expenditure, for example: repairing household items, buying decorative plants, Tet dining, buying gifts for relatives, superiors, lucky money for children/grandchildren, transportation costs (if traveling back to hometown)... After setting specific amounts for each item, try to stick to the plan and avoid overspending beyond the budgeted amount, unless in urgent situations that cannot be avoided.

One savvy Tet shopping tip is to start shopping early. Many people, with available funds, take advantage of this by buying many things before Tet for the entire month. Mr. Tran Quoc Dat (Tran Phu ward) said: “During Tet, many items will increase in price, especially home decor items, so we will buy necessary items early. Clothes for children, gifts for relatives, decorative lights are things we will buy before the approaching Tet period. This way, we avoid crowds, don't have to endure 'Tet prices', and have plenty of choices.”

The market law of supply and demand dictates that when purchasing power increases, prices will also rise, especially in the days leading up to Tet. If possible, you should take advantage of the 2-3 weeks before Tet to gradually buy items that are currently at good prices or have promotions. You will also avoid long queues and overcrowding when shopping early. Some products you can buy early include: alcohol, cigarettes, dried fruits, jams, sweets, soft drinks, beer... Pay attention to the expiration dates of these products.

Before rushing into supermarkets, stores with tempting discount offers, take some time to create a detailed list. Clearly identify what is truly necessary and what is optional (nice to have but not essential). Prioritize investing in what you need, then move on to what you want. Although it may take some time initially, once you have a detailed list, you will avoid 'impulse buying' and purchasing items that may not be used.

When stepping into stores, be cautious of discount offers, promotions, and freebies. You may not really need those items but might be tempted to buy due to the promotions or peer pressure. Upon returning home, you may realize that you don't really need those items and cannot return them.

Pulling resources together by shopping with friends, colleagues, and relatives is an intelligent way to utilize discounts, benefiting both buyers and sellers. During Tet, people often share similar product needs, so you can invite friends/colleagues/relatives to make purchases together to enjoy good discounts or special offers not available for individual buyers.

As for the stores and dealers, they are likely to negotiate to sell more products. Some items you can consider purchasing together include: sausages, pickled vegetables, cooking oil, paper goods, traditional Tet cakes, and sour fermented pork.

At the end of the year, companies often launch enticing promotional programs or gift offers to stimulate consumer demand. From high-value items like cars, motorcycles, phones, and computers to smaller items like red envelopes, food, and clothing... Keep a close eye on information about products you're interested in to catch these programs in a timely manner.

However, as advised earlier, you should not be tempted to buy unnecessary items just because they are cheap. Also, not all discounted items are of good quality; many stores take advantage of the Tet season to push almost expired stock. Take advantage of discount promotions to buy only what you really need and of good quality!

Except for items in the same place like groceries at the supermarket, you should divide your shopping list into stages. You don't have to buy all the items on the list in just 1-2 days.

This shopping method not only prevents you from getting a shock when looking at the bill but also saves you from the exhaustion of multiple trips and the fatigue of cleaning up and storing items at home. Furthermore, shopping in stages allows you more time to find places that sell quality items at reasonable prices.

This method is for those who have early Tet holidays or plenty of free time at home. Instead of spending a large amount of money on food such as sausage, square sticky rice cake, fermented pork roll... You can find and buy easy-to-find ingredients and make them at home. It saves money while creating a warm and meaningful atmosphere when preparing Tet food for the family.

In addition to saving money, food safety and hygiene are also of great concern. When making food at home, you can be completely assured of the cleanliness, hygiene, and safety of the food, and it will be about 30 - 40% cheaper than buying ready-made items.

It's a well-known fact that prices at wholesale markets are usually 20-30% cheaper than local markets and supermarkets. Not only are they cheaper, but the produce is also fresher and newer as it hasn't gone through preservation and refrigeration processes. However, this method should only be applied if you have ample free time to visit wholesale markets or if you have acquaintances who can purchase items at wholesale prices.

Typically, wholesale markets do not sell in retail, so if you want to buy, you should gather a group of people to make bulk purchases for better quality products at wholesale prices.

If you have the time, or if you can delegate this task to your spouse or children if they have the time, take a stroll through the market before making a decision to buy. Referencing information, prices, origin sources, store reputability, promotional programs... are things you should do before deciding to spend money shopping.

Avoid shopping when rushed or too close to Tet, as you may end up buying many unnecessary items at higher prices than usual.

Except for essential disposable hygiene items, choose products that can be reused multiple times, easily cleaned and washed, as they will help you save a considerable amount of money for future purchases.

In addition, multi-functional products with multiple features will make your room tidy, convenient for use, and storage.

This is a common mistake many urban dwellers often make: carrying more cash than planned in order to avoid running out, but the result is overspending beyond the allocated amount. You should only carry enough for the day's shopping needs, or a little extra.

If you carry too much, it can lead to the temptation to buy unnecessary items and deviate from your original shopping plan. As a result, you may end up with some unnecessary purchases while missing out on important ones due to lack of funds! Stick to your carefully calculated shopping plan.

This seemingly small task yields significant results. It helps you accurately identify the remaining food items at home, enabling precise planning for new purchases and meal preparation.

Develop the habit of checking the contents of your fridge before shopping. This not only saves costs but also ensures the health of you and your family.

According to Vietnamese tradition, Tet Nguyen Dan is an opportunity for individuals and families to exchange gifts with each other, as well as with partners, customers, and elderly people, to enhance the closeness of relationships and express gratitude and care.

Gift-giving during Tet has become a traditional and significant aspect of our culture.

To choose meaningful and appropriate gifts within your financial means, take some time to thoroughly understand the preferences and habits of the recipients.

After applying all the handy tips mentioned above, you'll undoubtedly have some extra money left after purchasing essential items. The final and most crucial step is to put the saved money into a piggy bank from tightening your expenses.

It might be a small amount, but it serves as a significant morale booster, motivating you to continue spending sensibly for future shopping trips.