Groceries: How Can I Save More?

Answer 1

A trip to the grocery store doesn't always have to be a financially draining adventure. Even the keenest shoppers don't know the secret to saving hundreds of dollars a month at the grocery store. Impulse buys and fancy packaging appeal to consumers' interest and trust in name brand, but great deals and excellent food quality can be found in more generic brands also. Here are some things to consider to help stretch that dollar at the grocery store.

Resisting Impulse Buys

Have you ever noticed that all the candy, gum, and tabloids are placed in the checkout aisles? These are placed here for a reason. It's there as a last minute impulse to customers. After buying eighty dollars worth of groceries, that $1 candy bar seems like nothing. However, customers can easily go to a different location in the store and buy an entire 1lb bag for $3. Saving money at the grocery store requires the ability to resist these temptations.

Comparison Shopping

Comparison pricing is one activity that every keen shopper should take advantage of. Comparison pricing is comparing different brands or quantities' prices to determine which is a better value. Buying a half gallon of milk for $1.50 may seem like a good deal, but a gallon of milk for $2.50 will last longer and you get more for the buck. When comparing prices for quantity, simply use fractions. For example if a 1 lb bag costs $2.00 and a 1/2 lb cost $1.50, set up the proportion 1/2.00 = .5/1.50. Divide 2 into 1 and 1.50 into .5 and which ever quantity is larger is how much per dollar you're getting, and hence the better deal.

Name Brand vs. Non-name Brand

Name brands are certainly more recognizable to consumers due to television, radio, and internet advertising. While name brand items are nothing to scoff at, most of what consumers are paying for is the packaging. Often the only true difference between name brand and generic brand is the price. As with anything, the only way to discover this is for consumers to buy name and generic brands of each food and compare the taste.

In summary, consumers should use caution when venturing down those long, ominous aisles. Paying attention to impulse traps, comparing prices, and identifying differences in brands are all ways consumers can make that almighty dollar go a long way.