With 40,000 items in the average grocery store and about 17,000 new food products introduced annually, it is no wonder that grocery shopping can be a stressful experience.
Many of us pore over grocery store ads, clip coupons and look for bargains while shopping. All of these things are done to help stretch the food dollar and save money on food purchases. Since food items take such a chunk out of our monthly budgets, it is important to shop wisely. Read on for a few grocery shopping tips.
Well-informed consumers are aware of advertising and marketing strategies used to get them to spend money. Just like any other retailer, supermarkets are designed to encourage shoppers to spend the maximum amount of time and money.
Think back to your last shopping experience . . . do you remember hearing soft music playing? Making the supermarket environment pleasant and comfortable helps relax customers so they stay in the store longer. The longer you shop, the more you’ll spend!
The layout of the store is also carefully planned, with impulse items, such as fresh produce, at the front of the store. Staple foods, like milk and bread, are often on opposite sides of the store, forcing shoppers to walk through the entire store to buy those few items. The more items you pass, the more likely you are to be tempted to make an impulse buy.
Children’s cereals and sweets are usually placed lower where the kids will see them and ask (maybe the correct word is bug) you to buy them. By being aware of the purpose behind these supermarket strategies, you can better resist impulse buying and make wise choices.
What is the best way to save money and make good choices while shopping? Of course it’s the old shopping list. Making a shopping list and sticking to it will help you resist buying items you don’t really need. It also helps to plan a week’s worth of menus before making your shopping list. You will then know exactly what items you need to buy to feed your family for the week. If possible, plan grocery shopping trips on days when you are not rushed, and try not to go the supermarket when hungry.
Unit pricing is a tool that is useful in making quick, easy price comparisons between different products and different brands and sizes of the same product. The label on the shelf or product package states the price per measure, weight or count, along with the retail price for the entire item. This may mean determining the cost per ounce, pound, quart or some other unit or measure. Look for unit price stickers on the grocery shelf beneath items.
When shopping for fruits and vegetables, look for the freshest produce you can find. Buying produce that is wilted or bruised can cost you more, since you may not be able to use it before it spoils. To check for freshness, look at the color, size and shape. In general, choose medium size fruits and vegetables that are regularly shaped. When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are usually less expensive.
To stretch the meat dollar: compare advertised prices and shop for best buys, stock up on good buys if home freezer space is available and compare the cost per serving rather than the cost per pound. Meats with less bone and fat may cost more per pound, but less money per serving, because there will be more servings to the pound. Whole chickens are usually less expensive than cut-up chickens. You can save about 10 cents per pound by buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself.
By being supermarket savvy, you can make the most of your food dollars. Coupons can be a great way to save on products you already buy and need, but remember that there is no point in buying something, even at a great price, that you’re not going to use. Make your list and check it twice before heading to the store, and contact the LSU AgCenter Office in your parish if you would like more information on smart shopping.