Are you a savvy grocery shopper? Do you scour the grocery store ads in the newspaper, compare prices, and check unit pricing on a particular item? If you aren't, you may be throwing money away at the grocery store.
Grocery stores today have thousands of foods and hundreds of new products monthly on their shelves. How do we know which items are the best purchase for our money?
Let me introduce you to some strategies to help you through the shopping maze.
The first thing we need to understand is marketing strategies for grocery stores. The layout of the grocery store is the result of years of research so you will spend as much time and money possible while in their store. Here are some tactics to watch for:
Is that "special" really a special? All of us see ads showing us this week's special. Many of these products are called "loss leaders." This means that the store is willing to lose money on this product to get you into the store. The store managers are hoping that while you are there, you will purchase higher priced items. Next, learn the layout of the store. Staples such as bread, meat, milk, vegetables and fruit are usually arranged on the outer walls of the store. The higher priced, processed foods are arranged in the aisles. It's no accident that you must walk through an entire store to get milk and bread. These are the two most frequently purchased items.
Be wary of displays at the end of aisles. Although you may think they are on sale, many times they are not. These products attract your attention and increase sales.
Try to shop without children. High-priced sugary cereal is placed at eye level of your children, not you. Usually the best buy is on bagged cereal placed on the lowest shelf.
Never shop on an empty stomach. Studies show we buy more when we are hungry. Stores take advantage of this by providing free food samples and wonderful food smells from the bakery.
Shop once a week or less. The more trips you make to the grocery store, the more you will spend.
One way to save money at the grocery store is to watch for store brands vs. national brands. Most stores carry both national and store brands. Compare prices to see which is the best deal.
We can be the savviest shopper out there, but if we fail to make good decisions about nutrition, we really aren't doing that well. If we find two products that are the same price and the same quality, the information on the nutrition label should be the deciding factor in which product we buy. Always choose the product with the higher nutritional value.
One point that must be made is to always shop with a list. When we make a list, we, don't need to "remember" what to buy. If we don't have a list, we may forget and need to go back to the store, which can lead to buying other items not needed.
Also when we carry a list, we spend less time in a grocery store and are less tempted to buy impulse items. Often, impulse items, such as candy and cookies, are located near the checkout lines in stores.
When writing your shopping list, be sure to write down all the foods you will need to fix the meals and snacks you have planned. Go back over your list and cross out any foods you already have on hand and plan to use. Remember to list any staple foods (such as sugar, flour, etc). If you need a specific size package or can for a recipe, write the size next to the item on the can. Lastly, if an item is advertised at a special price, write that price next to the item on your list.
On your next trip to the grocery store, remember to look for store marketing strategies. The more aware you are of these strategies, the less likely you will be influenced by them. Compare products by reading the nutritional labels to get the best nutritional buy. And always shop with a list to save time and money. By following these guidelines, you can become a savvy shopper.
If you would like more information on becoming a savvy shopper, contact our office at 870-779-3609, visit the Miller County Courthouse, Room 215, or e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also follow me on Facebook.
Carla M. Haley is a county extension agent, family and consumer sciences, with the Miller County Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.