Saving Money on Groceries

Supermarket are one of the most deceptive businesses based on how this business is based on tricking you to buy items you didn’t even want.    

An example of this deception is how they place bakeries and fresh food items right near the entrance. Supermarkets want you to smell the scent of fresh food and of course get hungry, so you forget your reasoning that you only came in for milk and then leave with a shopping cart full of food. Another example of their deceptive actions is how they strategically place similar items in different aisles so you will have to travel the entire supermarket floor to get the item. For instance when you buy bread, peanut butter and jelly will always be aisles that are on the opposite side of the market.

To really save money while shopping for groceries one must know use these strategies against a supermarket.

1. Always go shopping after you have eaten. If you are full you will resist the temptation to pick food items that are based on cravings.
2. Make a list and give yourself a specific time frame. Sticking to a list is an easy and effective method in insuring you buy quick and leave faster.  With a list you would be able to resist their deceptive practices. This method is so effective that casinos are designed in the same fashion.
3. Only buy loss leaders and sale items. Supermarkets have a marketing theory that is based on the concept of loss leaders where a few items are priced near or below cost to attract customers who on average buy other higher items creating higher profit margin. Obtain coupons from www.couponmom.com, www.coupons.com, and www.kroger.com. To compare grocery prices go to www.groceryguide.com.
4. Do not buy name brands. Name brands pay a hefty premium to purchase adult eye level and child level shelf space. Avoid items at those locations and get the sale (generic) items that are usually 10-15% cheaper.
5. Look at weight and volume on packages. Manufactures are in the business to design packaging that appears to be larger yet still yield the same weight and volume. This makes consumer believe that they are actually getting a bigger. To combat this use your cell phone to do some quick math. Some stores display the price per ounce, which removes the painful math aspect out of it.
6. Go to local, ethnic markets, or large chain stores. These smaller chains usually do not have the budget for large marketing campaigns and thus are able to sell products for cheaper and also carry less variety – preventing you from impulse shopping. Large chain stores like Wal-mart also have lower prices on average because the food area is the loss leader of the store.
7. Don’t buy bulk. Food is a perishable item and it does not make any sense to pack your freezer with 10lbs of steaks when you do not eat 10lbs of meat a week. Wasting food due to freezer burn is essentially throwing your money down the trash.

Implement these tips as a routine in your food shopping plan, you will save hundreds a year.