Groceries on Budget - How To Plan And Manage Your Grocery Shopping

 

Online grocery shopping comes with loads of benefits. Apart from saving your time and effort it ensures some of the best deals and discounts. However, buying groceries can be time consuming and hectic at times. A great shopping experience is the sum total of various factors right from making the shopping list to choosing the right online stores and getting it delivered at your home  on time.

Here are some smart tips for you to plan and manage your grocery shopping easily.

Make a shopping list

First things first! Get started by making a shopping list to make sure that all the grocery items are listed and nothing is missed out. Having a list on hand is a must when you are planning for grocery shopping online as it will prevent the risks of impulse buys and make sure that you have shopped for all the essential items that you may need. Thus you will save much of your time and money by not shopping haphazardly.

Compare prices in various online grocery stores

As online shopping will give you the liberty to explore multiple stores with just a few mouse clicks, make use of this privilege to compare prices and find the best deals. You can choose the sites that operate in your city to ensure a hassle free experience; shop smartly by comparing prices so that you can find the same product at a lower price and save money.

Never miss the shopping coupons

What makes online grocery shopping a bargain hunter’s delight? It is undeniably the countless discount deals that may pop up from time to time. Check for discount codes cash back offers and coupons that can be availed during shopping. You will be surprised at the money that you save this way. So, always keep an eye on the offers available online to get the best-bargained deals on your shopping.

Save money on shipping and delivery charges

Keep a check on the shipping and delivery charges while shopping online for the groceries. Find out shopping sites that may be offering free shipping and delivery. You can also verify whether there is a minimum purchase value to avail free shipping.  By analyzing all these factors you can easily cut off extra expenses while shopping online and save a pretty penny.

Pay using the digital wallets

You can use the digital wallets while making payment to get additional discount benefits on your purchases. Easy to use and access anywhere and anytime, you can order groceries even for your parents as a surprise as you can pay it from wherever you are.

Some online grocery sites have discount and cash back offers for customers who have a debit or credit card from specified banks. Make sure to avail these discounts and save more from your budget.

Only buy what you need

To save money you have to ensure to buy only what you need. Avoid hoarding of stuff  and spending on items that you may not need immediately. It is recommended to shop for a month. It will ensure fresh stock of supplies in your pantry and prevent wastage. While buying perishable items like meat, fruits or fish, make sure to shop for a week to make sure that it is used up within the shelf date.

Plan out a weekly menu

Plan out a weekly menu- It will help you to easily make a list of groceries that you may need in a week or two to serve your family for that period. You can duplicate the menu to arrive at a shopping list for a fortnight. That is a simple equation to arrive at the groceries that you may need.

Switch between online supermarkets

Explore different stores to find the best deals. There is no need for you to shop at the same supermarket once you make a choice; you can switch stores as that is the best way to find the best deals and offers elsewhere.

Avoid busy shopping times

Some grocery delivery services add a surcharge if you want your order delivered during a busy time.  So, it is better to choose another time to receive your groceries. Make sure to shop before your provisions get exhausted fully. It will allow you ample time to shop at leisure and find the best deals.

Use comparison sites

If you think browsing the web for the best deals takes too much time, you can use one of the many available comparison sites to do the hard work for you. These will present the comparison results in an easy to read format. You can glance through the various deals to pick the best one for you.

Try these tips to fine tune the rope trick of buying groceries online on a budget. By having a proper online shopping plan in place, you can ensure a budget friendly shopping experience. 

Why is it a Good Time to Invest in Property Now in UAE?

 

As the UAE is showing strong signs of recovery from the pandemic slump in realtor niche and the lending rates continue to remain at an all-time low, it could indeed be a great time to invest in property in UAE.

Investors with liquidity can explore the realtor opportunities by considering long term objectives.  For anyone who plans to stay in Dubai for a longer period of around 7 years or more  it will  definitely be cheaper to buy than rent and buyers can get onto the property ladder now while prices are still good value.

Another factor that has brightened the property market is Dubai’s new retirement visa that is all set to boost local economy. The property listings in online portals registered only a drop of just 4 per cent in the first half of this year, despite the postponement of Expo 2020 Dubai to next year. Industry experts opine that for those thinking of purchasing property in Dubai, there can’t be a better time as it is a buyer’s market with prices lower than what it was a few months back.

The government has been doing many things to attract business in various sectors to keep the employment rates buoyant, which in turn will support prices. It may not be the right time for speculative deals to make some quick profit. But for serious private investors with a long term plan and a secure job, it is indeed a golden opportunity to invest in property in the UAE.

For those staying in rental properties, the time is ripe to move into their own homes thanks to the low realtor prices. Even if the prices fall further, they could still be saving on the rent plus the advantage of having their own home in the UAE. The low price trend may change as any governmental policies like limiting new property supply until demand recovers can have an impact on the prices.

Another compelling reason to consider investing in real estate during a crisis is for generating income especially when the stock market is doing poorly. Most investors will find real estate a safe option to park their money under these circumstances. The UAE enjoys a reputation of being one of the world’s most lucrative locations for investment, offering over seven per cent gross rental returns on an average.

Investors are always optimistic about investing their money in a highly dynamic realtor market in the country as it cruises along on a stable note. Even during the financial downturn of 2008, the realtor market picked up its tempo powered by the massive fiscal stimulus of the global banker’s interest rates reduced to near zero.

Many property consultants rank Dubai above any other city in the UAE when it comes to the f government support to the real estate sector.  In addition, lower entry price points, attractive interest rates and the favorable loan-to-value ratio are some of the other incentives that will easily attract buyers in today’s slow market conditions. In addition distress sales where some residential properties are listed at 15-25 percent discount on the current market price is another tempting factor for the buyers to invest in property.

Dubai is all set to emerge from the crisis stronger than ever before, retaining its fabled title as one of the most lucrative investment destinations in the real estate domain. Most industry experts recommend a mix of cash and mortgage to fund the property purchase with 50 percent up front and the remaining as fixed interest or floating rate mortgage plan. With UAE prices and mortgage rates at their lowest in a decade, investing in property will be a lucrative option to get the most desirable property like villas and townhouses against apartments.

As the prices have dropped well, there is no point for investors to wait further to see whether the prices may tumble further in the event of a second pandemic wave across the world. The news of a possible vaccine likely to hit market early next year and the relaxation of travel restrictions for overseas buyers will see a boom in property investments from overseas buyers who earn in other currencies. Buyers will surely be taking advantage of today's favorable purchase conditions. The low interest rates coupled with the security of owning property will surely drive a lot of deals in the coming days in the UAE. So, if you have spotted your dream property and can afford the mortgage, the best time to buy is today!

Opportunities for New Jobs in UAE Post Pandemic

The Coronavirus pandemic has badly affected jobs globally where an estimated 2.7 billion workers are out of a job, according to the International Labour Organisation. However, every challenge is also an opportunity. This axiom has been true with at least some industries that are performing extremely well in pandemic times.

Though most businesses have been operating on minimum resources and have kept the hiring on the back burner, many critical jobs like logistics and medical niche have been operating in full capacity or even above it.

Growing business niches

There has been a rise in companies that are hiring aggressively to meet workforce requirements. Some of the niches that have seen an increase in new job vacancies in UAE include Internet & E-commerce, IT Services, Medical, Distribution & Logistics, and software development.

The rise in demand for these core job sectors was quite expected because with most organizations switching to the remote workforce and adapting to a fully virtual world for running their business, the technology sector is likely to make a robust growth in the days ahead.

Internet & E-commerce has recorded a growth rate of 54 percent while for IT services the growth rate increased by a staggering 164%. Medical services grew by 73% while Distribution & Logistics recorded 275% and the Software Development growth rate was up by 150 percent compared to April 2020.

Digital future

The pandemic has triggered a digital transformation of workplaces and organizations at an unimaginable pace across every sector. As employees participate in Zoom meetings, virtual tradeshows, and business events, business activities have become smarter and faster. The use of the internet during the pandemic has risen by 50 percent in some parts of the world as most areas of our daily lives have moved online.

In the near future, job opportunities in automation, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will make the cornerstone of the economy of most countries including UAE. These state of the art technologies are likely to account for about 60 percent of potential productivity growth globally by 2030. 

How conventions about jobs may change

While 70% of UAE employees are forced to take a fresh look at their career goals post Covid-19, companies may have to come up with flexible working policies to retain and attract the best talent.

With the plum job postings likely to be centered around IT and technology in the days ahead,  employees in other niches like hospitality,  tourism, and other allied segments will be motivated to evaluate their career prospects as global job markets make fine adjustments in the wake of to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many employees might be looking for new roles or enhancing their skill sets and job-worthy attributes to fit into the new normal world job market. 53 percent of UAE respondents said they feared coronavirus-induced job losses to be short term with no repercussions on their long-term career prospects.

Remote working may become the new norm

Reports show that 8 in 10 people in the UAE will continue to work remotely after Covid-19. So, virtual world technology will be the calling card for the best possible career options for prospective employees. Remote working will no longer be a stop-gap arrangement for organizations to manage schedules and ensure better employee rotation. It is likely to be a permanent arrangement even after the pandemic wave is flattened completely.

80 percent of employees in UAE opined that they wish to continue working from home after the pandemic ends to save time and money. About half of the respondents said remote working made them feel more productive.

How work culture can change

As more businesses plan to reopen their businesses and switch back to near normal operations companies may have to come up with flexible working policies and practices. Employee's core skills and competency will be reassessed and to meet the evolving business priorities a supportive workplace culture may set in.

For employers, retaining and attracting the best talent has become as important as never before. The workforce with adequate technical skills that will be valued in the virtual new normal world will be in huge demand for sure.

Digital by design

To sustain itself and grow in the post-pandemic world, any organization has to be digital by default. The companies that survived the aftermath of the pandemic are those that were better prepared in terms of IT infrastructure. The adaptation of digital and AI technologies will see a huge demand for employees in this core sector. The employees may have to upskill or reskill to remain ahead in the evolving job market and climb up their career ladder.

Company leaders will need to consider appropriate tools, training, and incentives to enable employees to be productive and adapt to the tech business world. Employees will get an opportunity to learn from a lot of innovations and experiments, which will ensure a substantial increase in economic and social welfare.

Accelerating Industries

Some sectors that have registered enormous growth during this difficult time include technology, internet services, digital entertainment, e-commerce, and e-groceries.  In general, we are likely to see an emerging economy where businesses become more focused on implementing new technologies and identifying efficiencies.

Employees indeed have a lot of new jobs in UAE coming up often in the most unexpected areas of the job market beyond the conventional sectors in UAE like construction, real estate, tourism, etc.  Having the right skill sets will indeed make the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary job positions in the post-pandemic new normal world.

Online Selling is bliss these days. Why?

Online selling is bliss for businesses these days. It will not just empower them to reach out to a mass audience at a time but will enable them to take their marketing to the next level. As they don’t have to invest in a bigger retail space for a bigger inventory or a bigger warehouse to store products, they can reduce the overheads and operational costs without cutting down on their business.

In this digital era, buyers expect fast turnaround, round the clock customer service, and instant access to products and services. Reports show that approximately 35 percent of customers aged 18 to 29 and 35 percent of those aged 30 to 39 do online shopping at least once a week. It is indeed the internet where people go shopping in this tech age!

Experts predict that global retail e-commerce sales will generate over $4.4 billion by 2021. Considering these facts, it's no surprise that more businesses are moving their operations online.

With state of the art technology at easy access, retailers can easily enhance the shopping experience of their customers. From drone delivery to QR codes and consumer behavioral tools etc retailers can easily adapt to the technology to stand ahead in the competition. Online store owners can reach a global audience and increase brand awareness at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

 

Benefits of selling online

Save on operational costs: Retailers need not spend a fortune on a swanky store in the high street areas and on the salaries of shop assistants. Online sellers only incur the initial expense of setting up the website. Once the store is live, it involves no maintenance charges literally Thus, in the long run, your website can be your most cost-effective sales outlet that offers a  great customer experience and a booming sale.

Reach a global audience: You can increase the sales opportunities as nothing including time and distance barriers can come in the way of online selling. You can sell 24 x 7 round the year irrespective of the season holidays or closing hours. It will help you to sell more and maximize profits. 

Enhance the selling experience: You can offer a diverse and massive product line for the shoppers using the data gathered by tracking customer purchases. You can stock up materials that are favored by the shoppers and avoid dead investment in products that hardly sell.

Versatility

The best part of online selling is the ease of scalability depending on the needs of the hour and holiday demands. You can enhance your inventory as and when you need without having to invest in additional space or manpower.

Easy to promote

Online stores don’t need to invest on glaring billboards and flyers to get their message across and hence can cut the corners of their publicity costs. Just be sure that you have a perfect Search Engine Optimization strategy in place to increase the visibility of your website in search engines.

It offers competitive prices. Online stores can sell products direct with attractive discounts and deals. It thus reduces distribution costs through intermediaries and generates higher revenue.

Track visitors behavior on your website: Using analytical tools, online shops can track various parameters like geographic origin, time spent, visited pages, purchases etc of the customers to create a detailed profile of your regular customers. It will help you to stock up on products that are in heavy demand to make sure that your shoppers are never disappointed.

Quicker store management. Mundane tasks like billing, shipments and orders become easier to handle as these are processed directly through the e-commerce platform with the least manual supervision.

Convenience: Online selling will help you to tap into the burgeoning market of online shoppers and expand your customer base in no time. E-commerce is all set to become the buzz word of the future and by taking your selling to online platforms you can retain your customer pie in the changing times.

Increase brand awareness

Most modern shoppers search for products online, read reviews, and compare prices before making up their minds on what and where to buy. Having an online presence will make sure that the prospects can find your shop and explore the product line. It goes without saying that consumers who find your shop in their search results are more likely to buy from your store.

Online selling is a lucrative business model that is worth trying out considering the lower risk factors and higher exposure to a global audience. 

Why it is Important that your CV is all about story telling?

Adopting a storytelling approach in CV has been the latest method adopted by candidates in the recruiting process. As interviews often include clichéd questions and customary answers, a storytelling approach will make any resume stand out easily. Instead of just listing out the skills and qualifications, candidates can tell a story of their accomplishments and personality to engage the interviewers. 

First impression is the best! 

By crafting a resume that grabs the reader, candidates stand a better chance to get noticed. Remember, your resume will get the reader's attention for only 2.5 to 20 seconds. So, when candidates of the same experience levels and skillsets to apply for jobs in UAE, adding a personality to the CV is the only way to get all eyes on it. 

Employers hardly read even close to the entire resume on the first pass, yet they make an assessment based on a tiny slice of your resume that might have caught their attention. A compelling narrative and a storyline of interesting experiences spice up your resume and keep the reader intrigued.  

Good Things Come in Small Packs 

A resume that is too long may not be a good idea. Taglines and power quotes with a dash of humor will grab easy attention and make your message memorable. Make sure that your resume is your marketing brochure that etches out your story and the value you can bring to their organization.  

Engaging the reader through effective characterization is the key. You are the central character around which the story has to be spun! It will be your experiences that will earn the recruiter's trust and interest.  

Here are Some Tips to create a Story-Based Resume 

• Begin your resume to tell who you are! Instead of devoting more space for the positions held and qualification. 
• You can highlight your practical accomplishments and challenges in your role. This will make you different from another candidate.  
• Instead of duties and responsibilities, tell a story about your accomplishments that will enable the reader to assess your potential easily. Like all good stories, your resume should have a structure that highlights each stage of your career.  
• Make sure to keep resume stories concise, power-packed, and in bullet points. You can always deploy supplemental documents to include more details and create a career biography if needed.  
• Resumes that sums up the personality of the candidate as much as their skills will create a lasting impression.  

A storytelling resume indeed will leave more of an impression!