For the last couple of years I have been more than suspicious about the rise in the ‘bargain’ notices on our supermarket shelves. This morning I read an article that rather highlighted my fears.

The piece, on the BBC news site, explained that often shoppers are duped into buying more than they need and spending more than they meant to. They see “bigger pack, better value” and put it in the trolley when in fact this means, “bigger pack, costs more.” Have a look at these examples:

At Asda this week, a 1kg tub of (Big saving) Clover spread was £3.20, 20p more than buying two 500g tubs of the same product.
At Morrisons, the “value” pack of the same spread was £1.70 MORE than the two smaller packs.
At Tesco, the Vanish stain remover was £12 for the “big value” size – a full £3 more than the if you just bought three smaller containers with the exact same amount of product.

The supermarkets said manufacturers often put the value labels on their products. (i.e it aint our fault guv!) They say they offer thousands of deals and display unit prices so shoppers can compare items.

I have four kids. Since when have I got time to stand with my calculator and work out if its cheaper for me to buy three packs of dishwasher tablets or the one unfeasibly big one? Utter rubbish.

I think we just see big red letters saying “big value” and believe it!
Years ago of course, we would not have had the choice of the 50 different kinds of margarine on offer today. It would have been one choice: butter, from a local farm. It would have been wrapped in greaseproof paper with the price written on it in pencil.

Sometimes choice is a bad thing. It can lead us to the wrong thing.
We are faced with big and little choices every day. What do we spend our time on? Who do we prioritise in the diary? What is important? What should I read?

As a parent we also make these kinds of choices for our children too don’t we? What they eat, how they spend their money, who they have to play etc.
False promises are everywhere. X factor contestants are told “You are a star! You just HAVE to be in the final!” and then are dumped if they don’t receive the votes. The government says one thing and does another. Even our friends make promises they can’t keep. It is painful but true.

But there is somewhere where there are no false hopes and no fake promises. The word of God is totally without blemish or fault. It is perfect and wonderful. Yes, it has parts that I struggle to explain and understand. But I am happy with that. I understand that God’s ways are higher than mine. I praise Him for it. My thoughts are so limited and little!! I LIKE it that He knows more!!

I can only see the outside of things from my view but God can see ALL things. He knows All my needs and will supply them according to His riches not mine.

So today, grab a bargain. Hold on to the promises of God. They do just what they say they will… and immeasurably more!! And every other promised supermarket bargain? Well, they can just BOGOF.