(PCM) Are your grocery bills getting out of hand, but you don’t have the time or energy to become an extreme couponer? You’re not alone. The average U.S. household spends 13% of its budget on food, with families of 4 spending up to $1,000 or more per month! Coupons are a great way to save on groceries, and 4 out of 5 shoppers do take advantage of coupons, but some people just don’t have the patience or time for it.
There are other ways to win at the grocery store. Grocery stores are strategically designed to work against you, encouraging you to buy certain products and walk out with more than you intended. But if you know the supermarket tricks, you can avoid them and save big! Here’s how:
1. Bring cash and leave the credit cards at home. For some reason, we tend to spend less when we pay with cash than with a credit card. The act of handing over your money and seeing that stack of cash in your wallet get thinner helps avoid overspending and impulse buying, especially if you know you only have a limited amount of cash on hand.
2. Use a basket instead of a cart. Unless you’re buying toilet paper, paper towels, heavy items, or haven’t been grocery shopping in months, you probably don’t need a giant cart. You’re more likely to keep throwing items in a cart just because it looks empty!
3. Shop with a purpose. Bring a list, and stick to it! There is no need to walk up and down each aisle if you’re prepared with a list. Shop alone so you’re not distracted or tempted to buy extra items.
4. Don’t buy the amount advertised! Just because something is advertised “10 for $6.00” doesn’t mean you have to buy 10! You’d be surprised at how many people think you actually have to buy 10 to get the sale price, causing them to either buy way more than they need, or skip out on the sale altogether. Whether you buy 2 or 10, each item is still $.60, unless it says “must by 10”.
5. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. If it’s on your list, great! If not, don’t buy it unless it’s too great a deal to pass up. Look closely at the original price. A lot of times, stores will knock just 10 cents off a product and put a big flashy sale sticker on it, making you think it’s a better deal than it actually is. The easiest way to find the best deals is to look at the unit price instead of sale price. For instance, when comparing a large container of salsa with a smaller jar, the price per ounce may be cheaper if you go with the larger size.
6. Eat before you shop. You’re more likely to purchase things you don’t need or wouldn’t normally buy when you’re hungry. Plus, grocery stores put a lot of impulse-type buys at eye level, making it all that much more tempting.
7. Review your cart or basket before getting in line at the register. It’s a second chance to make sure you have everything on your list, but also to take out any impulse buy you don’t actually need.
