Saving Money Starts with Your Grocery Habits
Ever walked out of the supermarket with three full bags when you were only going to buy eggs? Sure, if the impulse hits once in a while, it might not be too big of a deal. But if you're making the same mistakes every time, you're inadvertently costing yourself a fortune. To shop better and smarter, here are 10 shopping mistakes you could be making—and 10 ways to fix them.
1. Shopping When Hungry
Guess what? When you shop on an empty stomach, you're far more likely to buy much more than you need—think of it as your brain trying to "fill the void." The result: you'll end up veering off your grocery list, impulsively buying snacks to stifle your momentary cravings, and be left with a higher-than-anticipated bill.
2. Not Checking Unit Prices
When comparing prices, you may be immediately tempted to grab the cheaper option, but stop right there—check the unit price first. For example, if brand A has a box of cookies costing $5 for 700 g while brand B's cookies are $9 for 56 oz, divide the total price by a base measurement (say, grams) to see which one is actually more bang for your buck. In this example, brand B is the winner.
3. Shopping at Just One Store
Doing all your shopping at just one designated spot is an amateur move. For one, your chosen store might not have all the items you need, and these items could cost much more than they do at other markets. So if you're not doing your research beforehand, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.
4. Not Looking at Weekly Flyers for Deals Beforehand
Grocery stores, from small local ones to big chains, often release weekly flyers that highlight price markdowns on certain items. If you don't regularly flip through these flyers beforehand, you risk having a high grocery bill when you could've saved yourself the hassle.
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5. Unnecessarily Buying in Bulk
We get it—sometimes it's tempting to buy in bulk, especially when it's an item you regularly use or it's currently on sale. But purchasing perishable food in bulk isn't a good idea for obvious reasons. You'll likely end up with a moldy mess in your fridge faster than you can even finish it.
6. Skipping Store-Brand Names
You might think that brand-name items are far better and superior than store-brand alternatives, but most of the time, the item inside is the same—you're just buying for the name. Unless you have very clear reasons to opt for the big brands over the no-name ones, you're probably not doing yourself the favor you think you are.
7. Shopping on a Time Crunch
Another rookie mistake that's on par with shopping hungry? Shopping when you're short on time. If you have to run down the aisles and finish your trip in 10 minutes before your work meeting starts, you should probably not be there in the first place. Sure, sometimes you might save money if you have to blaze through your errands, but most of the time, you won't have enough time to carefully examine prices and you'll likely have to make a second trip, anyway.
8. Grabbing Items Near Checkout Impulsively
Pack of gum? Chocolate bar on sale for five cents cheaper? Into the cart it goes. There's a reason why these small items are placed by the checkout, and you've just proved it. While it's okay once in a while to scope out these shelves, if you're doing it all the time, you need to rein your impulsivity in.
9. Choosing Pre-Cut Fruits & Veggies
Pre-cut fruits and veggies are popular picks because you don't need to peel and chop them up yourself, but trust us, you'd be saving a lot more money doing the latter. Plus, choosing pre-packaged produce means you don't know what you're really getting. Those fruits and veggies might just look fresh.
10. Leaving Without Double-Checking Receipt
Have you ever gotten home after a grocery run only to realize that they charged you the wrong item? Every time you don't check your receipt right after shopping, you risk getting into that same predicament. Meaning, you'll either have to waste gas to go back or you'll have to accept the loss.
But grocery shopping doesn't have to be difficult, and it doesn't have to cost you more than it already does. Looking for smarter ways to shop? Here are 10 tips to keep in mind.
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1. Compare Prices Between Stores Before the Trip
Before you go anywhere, pull up the weekly flyers of your favorite stores. Take note of any items that are discounted, circle ones you might consider buying, and then compare the prices of other things you'll need. Make a detailed list after you do all of this. It might sound tedious, but it could save you a few bills.
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2. Shop Alone—or Bring Someone Rational
It's often better to shop alone. Bring your kids with you and you'll probably end up with far more junk food and sweets in your cart than you originally planned or allowed for. Bring a hungry partner and you might see them make questionable choices. Of course, if you can, bring someone who can rationalize whether you're making the right grocery decisions. Otherwise, go alone.
3. Do Your Shopping After You've Eaten
As mentioned, grocery shopping when you're hungry is not the way to go. Eat your meal first, then do your errands. Plus, it's better for your digestion to go on a walk after you've eaten, so it's the smarter and healthier choice.
4. Bring Your Own Bags
If you're only ever bringing just one bag to grocery shop or forgetting to bring one at all, you've probably created quite a collection at home. Every time you have to shell out money for a tote, that's money you could've saved. If it helps, put it on your grocery list as a reminder in red—and bring more than one bag to be safe!
5. Don't Be Immediately Persuaded by Sales
It can be tempting to shove everything in your cart when you see discounted items, but don't let yourself be immediately persuaded. Ask yourself if you need it first. And if it's food, you might want to double-check if you already have the item in your pantry, if the sale price is worth it, and if you'll be able to finish the entirety of it before it goes bad.
6. Shop with a Flexible List
You already know you should be shopping with a grocery list, but don't just make any plain old list. Remember the research we suggested doing? After you've scoped out weekly deals and taken notes, make your list flexible to include cheaper alternative brands or items from other markets.
7. Check Expiry Dates
If you don't already do this, you could really be hurting your grocery bill—and yourself. Always pull items from the back of the shelf and compare expiry dates. Chances are, you'll find some best-before dates that are further out and will stay fresh for longer.
8. Sign Up for Loyalty Cards
If you have grocery stores and markets you frequent, sign up for their loyalty cards. This way, you can collect points and rewards every time you shop, which will save you money in the long run. Plus, sometimes you can redeem items you need—meaning you don't need to purchase them again!
9. Take a Photo of Your Fridge Before You Go
A helpful tip before you go on your grocery run is to take a picture of your fridge and pantry. This will give you a clear view of what items you already have so that you won't accidentally make repeat purchases. Plus, it'll allow you to come up with meal plans with the stuff you already have.
10. Pre-Plan Your Meals
It'll also help to think of what you're planning to make before you go grocery shopping. While coming up with meal ideas might seem like a chore (and a bore), knowing what you want to eat will allow you to shop more intuitively and efficiently.
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