Revamp your shopping strategy.
You know it’s smart to go to the grocery store with a shopping list. But really, you need two lists: your shopping list and your how-to- shop list. After all, it isn’t easy to buy everything you want for the prices you want, unless you buy the same food items week after week. Try these methods to shop even smarter.
Shop when you don’t have much time.
Grocery stores are known for playing soothing music, and some even pump out artificial smells of fresh-baked breads and rotisserie chickens. The mood music is to keep you relaxed — so you’ll stay longer — and the smells are designed to make you hungry — so you’ll buy more. Instead of shopping leisurely on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, wedge in your shopping on a busy weekday when you’ll have a more focused, get-this-done attitude.
Compare unit prices.
When comparing packaged food items, don’t just look at the sale price — look at the unit price. It should be on the price sticker on the grocery shelf, probably in fine print. This is the cost of the item per unit, such as per ounce. This is important because it may seem like a better deal to buy a bottle of orange juice for $2.99 when a similar brand costs $4.99. But if the latter has a smaller unit price, that’s the bargain.
Compare packages in general.
Similar to looking at unit prices, scrutinize (or at least give a quick glance at) what you’re buying. If you’re buying paper towels, don’t automatically grab the one with four rolls and reject the one with two rolls — if the two rolls have more square feet than the four thinner rolls. Looking at the unit price, as mentioned, is generally the most effective way to compare prices and save, but make sure you don’t fall into the trap of becoming complacent when you’re shopping.
Shop with cash.
There are downsides to this: You could find that you can’t afford to buy everything on your list. But if you keep your debit or credit card at home, you’ll be guaranteed not to spend more than you planned. Or take the cash and do everything you can to stay within the limit you’ve set — then if you want to pay the surplus with plastic, do that. You’ll at least force yourself to think carefully about what you’re buying.
Don’t accept free samples.
If the free sample is packaged and you can take it home, by all means, accept it happily. But if you’re offered free mini hot dogs or chips, don’t take the bait. Or at least recognize what’s about to happen. Everyone knows not to shop when hungry, so consider what those free samples are going to do to your stomach. They’re going to excite your taste buds — and you’ll buy more than ever.
Check the circular.
Many grocery stores feature bargains in their advertised weekly specials, and frequently, these are loss leaders — that is, products sold at a loss of profit for the store, but it’s assumed that shoppers will more than make up for the loss by buying other items. You can find some good deals in circulars, but just know that not everything you see there is on sale.
Buy store brands.
If you shop a lot, you know that store brands — which used to be called “generic” brands — are usually less expensive but often just as good as big-name brands. In fact, the National Bureau of Economic Research released a study this year showcasing the quality of store-brand products. It found that the more you knew about a certain type of product, the more likely you were to buy the generic brand.
Clean your refrigerator and pantry beforehand.
How often have you noticed flour, baking soda or some other item on a store shelf and suddenly wondered if you’re out of it, or almost out? Cleaning your refrigerator and pantry before you shop (or at least taking a quick inventory) won’t just help you refine your shopping list and keep you from buying something you already have — you’ll also enjoy a more organized kitchen.
Remember to tear the coupon off the product.
Every once in awhile, you’ll see a coupon sticker on a product with a “peel here” note, promising to save you 50 or 75 cents. If you’re like a lot of consumers, that coupon will convince you to put the item in your cart. Just remember to actually “peel here,” preferably before the item goes into your cart and becomes lost in a pile of bread, eggs and cereal.
It’s lonely at the top and bottom.
The more expensive products generally occupy the middle of the shelves, where your eyes go first. With the average grocery store carrying 38,718 items, according to StatisticBrain.com, keep in mind that everything has to go somewhere, and it makes financial sense for stores to put the priciest items where you’re most likely to see and reach for them. But with food prices rising significantly in recent years, you may find the prices a little friendlier in the least-friendly spots on the shelves.
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10 Ways to Shop Smarter at the Grocery Store originally appeared on usnews.com
