MomsAllStop.com
Love, Laugh, Live
© May 2007 Gretchen Alawneh All rights reserved.
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This website was created using the BlueVoda Website Builder.
“When you educate a man you educate an individual; when you educate a woman you educate a whole family.” -Robert M. Maciver
"The future depends on what we do in the present."
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Grocery Shopping 101
There are several ways to save at the grocery store besides using coupons (which are a great item to use and do save you money). Grocery stores hire experts to study the habits of their shoppers so they can understand how they shop and figure out ways to "trick" them into purchasing more items then they intended to purchase when they entered the store and into buying the more expensive items they carry.
If you understand why the stores are set-up the way they are, you will be able to make more informed decisions about your grocery shopping, and therefore, save quite a bit of money.
If you understand why the stores are set-up the way they are, you will be able to make more informed decisions about your grocery shopping, and therefore, save quite a bit of money.
1. Always, ALWAYS, always shop with a list. Impulse shopping can literally double your grocery bill if you are not careful. Stores know this and bank on it. That is why they put those items on the end racks of the aisles. They are very rarely there because of a sale price - they are usually there for impulse buyers just like you and me. Another way they target impulse buyers is by placing like items together. For example, they will place nacho chips next to a jar of cheese dip or salsa.
2. NEVER shop hungry. Eat before shopping. Studies have shown that you are more likely to make bad choices when shopping if you are hungry and can "hear" that bag of Oreo's calling your name.
3. If at all possible, shop without the kids. They always add to the bottom line on a grocery bill. I know that it is hard to not take them. I always have my kids with me too. Maybe you can plan to shop on a day that your spouse is off, early in the morning so he can be there for the kids. Or maybe you can swap with another mom and go shopping on one day while she watches your kids and then you return the favor on her shopping day. Another alternative to this is to check the local stores in your area to see if they have online shopping. We have 2 in our area, a Reasors and a Food Pyramid. They both charge $5 for doing the shopping and bagging for you, so you can just pull up and have your car loaded. I think most moms spend more than $5 on the junk food that the kids grab during the shopping trip for this to be well worth the money for them.
4. When shopping, always use coupons. The time spent gathering them up is well worth the money saved. We have an article here on using coupons for everyone to browse. If you were to figure the time spent putting together coupons vs. the amount saved, you will most likely see that you are saving more money than you could make at work in the same time frame. Well worth the investment. It really is just a habit you need to condition yourself to develop. In addition, on my blog (homepage), I post daily sales deals including what coupons are out there for you and from what source. Check it out. It will save you time and money on your next shopping trip.
5. When shopping, always look for the best price. Don't be brand loyal. Most of the store brands are actually made by the namebrand companies, in the same factories. They are just used to target more customers. Give a few store brands a chance. You will probably be pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality. Stores also tend to put the most expensive brands on the shelves that are eye level. If you reach up or bend down, you will most likely find the best value. Nowadays, the price tags are easy to understand because they list price per ounce. You can easily tell if it is more cost effective to buy a larger or smaller can by just glancing at this price listing.
6. Keep a price book. Simply pick up a small (like 3"x5") notebook at the dollar store to keep in your purse. When you are in the store the next time, jot "eggs" across the top of a page. Along the side write the store's name where you are shopping and place their price next to their name. When you go shopping in a different store, just open that page and drop the new store's name next to their price. That way, when you see an advertised price, you will know the best price overall and whether or not it really is a good buy. Don't sweat about filling out the entire book with everything you buy at once. Just jot down some of your most bought items at first and simply fill it up over time.
7. Another little trick to do is jot down the date of sale items at your store. When beef goes on sale, make a little note of it. When chicken, pepsi, or veggies do, jot those dates down. After a few months, you will be able to see how your store cycles sales. When you understand that cycle, you will be able to save even more. You can plan to bulk shop during these cycles (for anything you can freeze or that will remain unspoiled for a time) and you can stock up coupons for those items so that you can combine sales with coupons. That is a great savings. After awhile you should be able to buy at least 1/2 (probably more) of your groceries only when they are on sale and with coupons.
8. If you like shopping at a club store like Sam's, Costco's or BJ's, but worry about using up all that you buy before it goes bad, find some friends to shop with. You can share the expense of a large box of canned veggies or a bag of rice and split it at home. That way you can reap the savings without wasting money on spoiled food.
9. If you are adding veggies to your casseroles and meals - that are cooked into the meal, check out the frozen foods department. Frozen is usually alot less expensive than fresh and is of great quality and taste because it is flash frozen when it is at it's peak. Quite often, fresh veggies and fruits are picked early so they can continue to "ripen" in the transport to the store.
10. Buy toiletries, such as shampoo and soap, as well as cleaning products like laundry soap and dish soap at discount stores. You will save around 20-40% of the grocery store prices.
2. NEVER shop hungry. Eat before shopping. Studies have shown that you are more likely to make bad choices when shopping if you are hungry and can "hear" that bag of Oreo's calling your name.
3. If at all possible, shop without the kids. They always add to the bottom line on a grocery bill. I know that it is hard to not take them. I always have my kids with me too. Maybe you can plan to shop on a day that your spouse is off, early in the morning so he can be there for the kids. Or maybe you can swap with another mom and go shopping on one day while she watches your kids and then you return the favor on her shopping day. Another alternative to this is to check the local stores in your area to see if they have online shopping. We have 2 in our area, a Reasors and a Food Pyramid. They both charge $5 for doing the shopping and bagging for you, so you can just pull up and have your car loaded. I think most moms spend more than $5 on the junk food that the kids grab during the shopping trip for this to be well worth the money for them.
4. When shopping, always use coupons. The time spent gathering them up is well worth the money saved. We have an article here on using coupons for everyone to browse. If you were to figure the time spent putting together coupons vs. the amount saved, you will most likely see that you are saving more money than you could make at work in the same time frame. Well worth the investment. It really is just a habit you need to condition yourself to develop. In addition, on my blog (homepage), I post daily sales deals including what coupons are out there for you and from what source. Check it out. It will save you time and money on your next shopping trip.
5. When shopping, always look for the best price. Don't be brand loyal. Most of the store brands are actually made by the namebrand companies, in the same factories. They are just used to target more customers. Give a few store brands a chance. You will probably be pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality. Stores also tend to put the most expensive brands on the shelves that are eye level. If you reach up or bend down, you will most likely find the best value. Nowadays, the price tags are easy to understand because they list price per ounce. You can easily tell if it is more cost effective to buy a larger or smaller can by just glancing at this price listing.
6. Keep a price book. Simply pick up a small (like 3"x5") notebook at the dollar store to keep in your purse. When you are in the store the next time, jot "eggs" across the top of a page. Along the side write the store's name where you are shopping and place their price next to their name. When you go shopping in a different store, just open that page and drop the new store's name next to their price. That way, when you see an advertised price, you will know the best price overall and whether or not it really is a good buy. Don't sweat about filling out the entire book with everything you buy at once. Just jot down some of your most bought items at first and simply fill it up over time.
7. Another little trick to do is jot down the date of sale items at your store. When beef goes on sale, make a little note of it. When chicken, pepsi, or veggies do, jot those dates down. After a few months, you will be able to see how your store cycles sales. When you understand that cycle, you will be able to save even more. You can plan to bulk shop during these cycles (for anything you can freeze or that will remain unspoiled for a time) and you can stock up coupons for those items so that you can combine sales with coupons. That is a great savings. After awhile you should be able to buy at least 1/2 (probably more) of your groceries only when they are on sale and with coupons.
8. If you like shopping at a club store like Sam's, Costco's or BJ's, but worry about using up all that you buy before it goes bad, find some friends to shop with. You can share the expense of a large box of canned veggies or a bag of rice and split it at home. That way you can reap the savings without wasting money on spoiled food.
9. If you are adding veggies to your casseroles and meals - that are cooked into the meal, check out the frozen foods department. Frozen is usually alot less expensive than fresh and is of great quality and taste because it is flash frozen when it is at it's peak. Quite often, fresh veggies and fruits are picked early so they can continue to "ripen" in the transport to the store.
10. Buy toiletries, such as shampoo and soap, as well as cleaning products like laundry soap and dish soap at discount stores. You will save around 20-40% of the grocery store prices.
