Think running into the supermarket to get a loaf of bread is easy? Think again. Grocery stores are laden with traps that try to convince you to buy more than you set out to get. Here are some ways you can avoid them and save some money and shelf space.
- Make a shopping list and stick to it. This is the easiest and most effective way to avoid overspending at the grocery store as long as you make sure to adhere strictly to the list. If you do this, you don’t even need to worry about following all the other tips.
- Bring a calculator with you. All cell phones have a calculator function, so whip those out every time you are trying to decide which item is a better deal. If you are caught between spending $5 for a regular-sized can of coffee grounds or $6 for a slightly bigger one, look at the volume difference between the two and do the math. Although most of the time, the bigger volume will be cheaper ounce-per-ounce, this may not always be the case. Use the calculator to figure out which is the best deal. Also, don’t forget to factor in your consumption. Just because the math works out doesn’t mean you are actually saving money if you aren’t going to finish it before the expiry date.
- Avoid the “2 for $5” deals. You need a can of green beans, and you notice that your grocery store is having a “2 for $5” sale. Should you get two cans instead of just one? That depends. Again, do the math and calculate how much each item is selling for with that promotional price. Sometimes, the promotion is not a bargain at all and the merchants do this because a combination of numbers and prices usually sound cheaper than just listing the price. Furthermore, these “bundled bargain” lure customers in buying two or more of the item to get the “special price” when they only needed one.
- If you did not originally want to buy anything from the baked goods section, avoid it. Grocery stores purposely let the smell of baking bread waft through their bakery aisles, triggering the cravings of unsuspecting customers. To avoid coming under a sudden hankering for carbs, stay away from the bakery.
- Think again before adding that candy bar or gum to your purchase. Grocery store cash registers are flanked with colorful displays or gums and candies. Because those items are usually cheap and eye-catching, customers don’t think twice about adding it to their cart while checking out. The next time you find yourself reaching for that Snickers bar, ask yourself if you would have wanted to buy it if it were not displayed there.
Rose Jensen, the contributor of this post, writes about online degree programs. She welcomes your feedback at Rose.Jensen28 @ yahoo.com
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome advice. Groceries are one of the easiest things to “justify” breaking your budget with. My only addition to this list: don’t shop hungry! lol You buy more because everything looks good.
Totally agree with the “make a list” suggestion.
The only other thing I’d add is make your budget really restrictive when it comes to food. My personal monthly budget for food including eating out (hence I don’t do it too often!) is £50 or about $80 USD. If you need a helping hand to achieve that then use the envelope system or something.
This forces you to dig out the best deals in store, or try something completely different, such as checking your local farmer market. I found vegetables to be much cheaper there than in the big chain stores.
Lee
I also agree that making a list is one of the most crucial things you can do to save money at the grocery store.
The problem is that many of us make our list right before we make the run for groceries. As a result we inevitably forget to put items on our list meaning we’ll have to make additional runs to the supermarket.
Another problem is that whoever writes the list may not include something that another family member eats often and has run out of.
One suggestion is to have a pad of paper (with an attached pen) or a wipe board hooked directly to the fridge door. That way you can easily write down items you run out of as you run out of them. It also gives any family member the opportunity to contribute to the list.
I always think about impulse purchases whenever I’m lining up at the cashier and I see all those bubble gums for sale.
They are there because it works. Don’t fall for the scheme!
Oh and I’m still on the cruise everyone
I will be back soon!
In the states, supermarkets usually do the math for you and offer the per unit price right below the price. It’s amazing to see that sometimes, even for sale items aren’t such a good deal.
The other thing it’s great at showing is the price difference between different brands. It really shows how much extra you have to pay for the high end brands that you might like.
These are all great tips. I’ve found there is a lot of money to be saved by stock piling items. I buy when items are on sale (at their lowest price) and also with coupons. Coupled together, I can find most things cheaper than food club stores and buy enough to last our family three months or until the next sales cycle. We were introduced to the Grocery Game and this technique a year ago and it continues to allow us to buy more with less every month. I recently wrote a post about it on my blog.
I only go grocery shopping on a full FULL full stomach. It’s the only way to go.
Hmmm, yumi water.
My mom always buy groceries when there are coupons but I sometimes think that she is overspending. Just because there are deals doesn’t mean that you should take advantage, especially if it means that you overstock yourself with useless stuff that you wouldn’t have bought otherwise.
Great article and very practical comments. I couldn’t agree with you guys more. I have been a victim of my grumbling stomach while I do the grocery, and everything I saw looked inviting. So I always make sure my stomach is full before doing the grocery! Another thing is that I buy in cash, but I only bring an amount just enough for my grocery list. This way, I don’t have any reason to purchase anything beyond what is inside my wallet!
My Well Of wealth
I think that the biggest way to avoid overspending at the grocery store is to go there and buy what you need and do not get enticed by any of the “sales” that they have with flashy signs.
Also something you may want to look into is buying a discount gift card and use that at the grocery store to save additional dollars.
Honestly, Ling. I’m always jot down the goods into my shopping list and bring my calculator with me. As I don’t want my shopping to be a good reason for me to overspending, as I can’t afford to pay off the debt afterward.
Before going to the grocery store, check whether you have any coupons that maybe useful on your trip. Coupons do help you save a lot of cash in the long run. And you are right about the baked goods-I almost always succumb to them during my monthly visits to the grocery store.
I think the best way to save at the grocery store is to go when you’re full–or at least when you’re not craving Oreos or cheesecake. Also, I go to the same grocery store as often as possible. Why? Because I know where most everything is located and can more easily avoid browsing. That way, I don’t get tempted to get anything that isn’t on my list. I also get store-brand items of things I’m not picky about, like popcorn, paper towels, cereal, etc. But things I AM fussy about, like soda, I get name-brand.
Yeah I pretty much always end up spending twice the amount I intended on spending. Might want to work on that…
I always have a mental shopping list and because my cooking skills are basic tend to make the same meals every week so I know how much my bill will come to. I do sometimes grab an item or two off impulse but I stick to the store brand items and go for the sales.
Nice tips! I’ve printed this out and put in on the fridge so I can refresh myself before I go to the store! Thanks for sharing!