https://www.facebook.com/126773127194751/

Universe of Goods, 2326 Smithfield Avenue, Lubbock, TX (2026)

04/10/2026

As much as possible, avoid shopping on Sunday nights.
Another important factor to consider when planning a stress-free and productive shopping trip. Shopping during peak hours can make the process more chaotic and may necessitate a return trip if items are unavailable.
Pointers:
Begin by going shopping at various times of the day (evening, morning, lunch break- or whenever you can fit it in). Plan to shop at times that are less busy than others and that work with your schedule. Shopping when the store is less crowded will help you save time and stress.

03/31/2026

Maintain within perimeters.
At the store, plan your route. Keep to the aisles and areas of the store that have the food you’re looking for (Tip: The freshest and healthiest food is along the outer walls of the supermarket). Taking unnecessary trips down aisles with the food you’re not buying can lead to impulsive purchases of junk food.
Pointers:
Learn about your local grocery store and where you can find the produce and food you use the most. This will help you save time on your trip and avoid purchasing packaged food in aisles you don’t need to visit.

03/09/2026

Look for fresh foods quickly.
It’s critical to know where to look and what to look for when it comes to finding the healthiest foods during your grocery trip.
Pointers:
Fresh fruits and vegetables, cold storage for items like hummus and guacamole, eggs and dairy, the butcher, seafood, and other items are displayed on the supermarket’s exterior walls. The majority of your time should be spent outside the store’s four walls.
When looking for the freshest and cheapest produce, look for seasonal produce (see what’s in season here). Seasonal produce is less expensive because it is not imported, and it also contains far fewer pesticides than imported produce due to stricter regulations. It is also fresher because it is picked closer to the time of sale. Always look for produce that appears to be the freshest by avoiding wilted lettuce and inspecting your produce for mold this will save you time and money at the grocery store.

02/23/2026

PLAN THOUGHTFULLY & SHOP WITH PURPOSE
Meal planning = money saved. Planning meals before shopping will cut impulse buys and food waste big time. Families that meal plan save an average of $1,600 per year compared to those who don’t according to the USDA.
Free tools: If you’ve never meal planned before or feel like you really can’t do it on your own, check out BudgetBytes+. If there’s no room in the budget to join, we have plenty of free meal prep resources on the blog for you. We’re here for you no matter what!
Check your pantry first. Sometimes the cheapest meal is already sitting on your shelf. The USDA estimates American households waste 30–40% of food they buy, often because ingredients get forgotten.
Did you know: You can use the “recipe search by ingredient” function on Budget Bytes to type in an ingredient you have on hand if you need some easy inspiration?!
Stick to the list. I’ve learned the hard way: every “extra” $3 bag of snacks adds up fast.

02/07/2026

Why Vegetables Look Fresh in the Shop but Spoil Fast at Home 🛒

Supershop lighting is designed to make vegetables look brighter and fresher than they really are. That shine can easily fool your eyes.

Before buying, don’t just look at the color. Lightly press the vegetable with your fingers. Fresh vegetables feel firm and bounce back. If they feel soft, rubbery, or too light for their size, they’re already losing moisture and won’t last long.

Also, avoid vegetables that feel cold and wet on the surface. This usually means they’ve been sprayed with water repeatedly to look fresh. At home, these vegetables spoil faster.

The best picks are dry, firm, and slightly heavy. They may not look perfect, but they stay good longer and taste better.

Smart shopping isn’t about what looks good under lights — it’s about what survives in your kitchen.

01/21/2026

Compare the unit price of items
A unit price is the cost of an item per ounce, pound, quart or whatever other unit of measure the item goes by. This lets you compare the value of products to make sure you’re getting the best value. You can calculate the unit price by taking the total price of the item and dividing it by the quantity (how much of the item there is). So, if a bag of 10 oranges costs $4.00, the unit price is $0.40 per orange.
Generally, a lower unit price means you’re getting a better deal. However, under some circumstances you may also want to consider factors like brand quality and quantity vs. how much your household could reasonably consume before it spoils.

01/08/2026

Spend through key categories
So, you never did launch that marketing campaign you planned and budgeted for…You’re not alone. Rather than show the budget category deficit, consider spending through money that was allocated for a purpose. The foundation of most budgets is built upon a report from the current year. So, if your board sees you didn’t utilize funds in the current year they may assume you don’t need them in the next year. Now, before you get trigger-happy with the social media ads, consider what investments you could make quickly that will have the best ROI. You can also look at prepaying for the next year (keep reading for details).

12/26/2025

Digital Envelope Systems for savings
tech-enabled approach to the traditional cash budgeting method, where you allocate your income into virtual "envelopes" or categories to track and control spending in real-time. This method helps promote mindful spending, avoid overspending, and work toward specific savings goals without the need to carry physical cash.
How the Digital Envelope System Works
The core principle is to assign every dollar a "job" before you spend it. This makes you more intentional with your money.
Determine Your Income: Calculate your total monthly take-home pay.
Create Categories: List all your variable expenses and savings goals (e.g., groceries, entertainment, emergency fund, vacation).
Allocate Funds: Decide how much money from your income to assign to each category or "envelope".
Track Spending: As you make purchases, deduct the amount from the relevant digital envelope. The goal is to spend only what is available in that specific envelope.
Review and Adjust: Regularly review your spending patterns to see how well you are sticking to your limits and adjust your budget as needed for future pay periods.

12/13/2025

Buying Vegetables? Here’s the Simple Check That Saves Money Every Week 🛒

Most people don’t realize that vegetables can look fresh on the outside but spoil fast at home. Here’s a quick rule smart shoppers follow: always check the stem and bottom side of the vegetable, not just the front.

If the stem feels firm and doesn’t have soft spots, the vegetable is truly fresh. But if the bottom looks watery, wrinkled, or slightly brown, it means it’s been on the shelf for too long — no matter how good the front looks under bright store lights.

This applies to common items like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, bottle gourd, and even green chilies. If the bottom is weak, the vegetable won’t last more than a day.

So next time you shop, turn the item around and check the hidden side. It takes two seconds and instantly helps you avoid bad picks and save money.

11/27/2025

Pause before purchasing to avoid impulse buys
You’ve probably heard it a hundred times, but the best savings tip is often the simplest: Pause to think before you hit “checkout.”
This time of year, it’s easy to jump into purchases. To ensure you’re truly set on buying any product, ask yourself if you really need it, if it fits your budget or if you’d be just as happy waiting for a better deal. Some experts recommend using the 72-hour rule, which is where you wait 72 hours to decide if you really want an item and if you still want it after 72 hours then you can buy it without feeling like you purchased it impulsively. In the past, Black Friday and Cyber Monday used to be one-day events but now deals go on all month long. You may not miss out as much as you think you will if you just wait a few days.

10/27/2025

Track your spending and expenses
The first step to start saving money is tracking your spending and expenses. It's hard to know how you can save money if you don't know where your money is going. By tracking your spending and expenses, you can easily see what categories you're spending in and where you could cut back. Budgeting doesn't have to be hard or time-consuming if you use these tips.
Use budgeting apps or spreadsheets to track expenses
Your budgeting could be as easy as using a spreadsheet, with income in one column and spending in another. Each time you get paid, make a purchase, or pay a bill, log it in the appropriate place. Some budgeting apps can automatically pull information from your bank account and credit cards, giving you a clear view of all your spending activity in one place.
Categorize expenses to identify areas where you can cut back
After tracking your spending for a month, you can categorize your expenses to gain valuable insights into your spending habits. How much money do you spend dining out? How much do you spend on streaming services? This allows you to identify areas where you might be overspending so you can adjust your budget.
The view is looking down on top of a desk at items. There is a clipboard with a checklist in the center, a notebook and a cup of coffee to the left, and two pens, a red smartphone, and earbuds on the right. Four gold coins appear scattered across the desk, too.
Review your spending regularly to stay accountable and adjust
Budgeting is never a one-and-done task. It's an ongoing process that changes as your life circumstances change. Let's say you started your budgeting journey when your main goal was to get out of debt. Once you've achieved that goal, your budget should reflect it. You can then prioritize a new goal or allocate a higher dollar amount to saving and investing.

Universe of Goods

04/10/2026

03/31/2026

03/09/2026

02/23/2026

02/07/2026

01/21/2026

01/08/2026

12/26/2025

12/13/2025

11/27/2025

10/27/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category