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20 ways to slash your grocery bill
Would
you know a good price on peanut butter if you stumbled across it? Here's
how to spot bargains, cut waste and work the system.
By
Dana Dratch, Bankrate.com (as seen on MSN.Com)
When it comes to the grocery store, the rules are the same as those for
the stock market: Do your homework, don't fall for the hype and buy low.
Here are 20 ways to bring your food bill under control without sacrificing
time, your family's health or your own sanity:
Eat your fruits and vegetables. "When you think about it,
fruits and things like that are really fairly inexpensive compared to the
packaged things," says Gary Foreman, publisher of The
Dollar Stretcher, a Web site devoted to living better for less.
And almost any time of year, stores have "a good selection no matter
what you like," he says. "You're bound to find something
year-round that's in season and, therefore, affordable."
Want to find the freshest and the cheapest? Investigate a local farmers
market. With less middlemen involved, the produce tends to be
"fresher, treated with less chemicals and cheaper," Freman says.
Give those shelves the once-over. "The marketers aren't
foolish," says Foreman. "They know that we're generally
lazy." So they position the items they most want to sell on the
shelves between knee- and shoulder-height. "The highest markup items
are the ones at about chest level -- to make it really easy for you to
grab it and toss it in the cart," says Foreman.
And that's where
the most expensive name brands will be, says Jyl Steinback, author of
"The Supermarket Gourmet." "You can save up to 40% by
selecting house or generic brands."
Stick to the edges. For the most part, the healthy, less processed
foods are at the edges of the grocery store: dairy, fruits and vegetables,
meats, etc. Those are the most nutritious options, and they also go
further in the kitchen. In addition, "the main areas where you're
walking, the paths to milk and bread, are usually strewn with high-priced
land mines," says Ellie Kay, author of "Shop, Save, and
Share." "Avoiding those pricey areas will really help."
Shop early and alone. "Try to shop when you're alone,"
says Steinback. "Those little helpers can quickly boost your
bill." And if you shop early in the day, you get through the store
faster with your list and spend less, she says.
Set your shopping mood. Nearly everyone knows that if you shop for
food when you're hungry, you'll buy more. But did you know that you're
also more likely to reach for those expensive snack foods if you're tired
or angry?
"When you're tired, you try to get more energy through food,"
says Steinback, who has many of her personal training clients keep food
diaries. "And people will grab the wrong choices: more sweets, more
high-carbohydrates. When you're angry you go for crunch food, the junk
food. So if you just had a fight, that's not the time to go
shopping."
Operate by the book. You really want to beat the stores at the
pricing game? Start keeping a book, says Foreman, who has a background in
purchasing. His theory: most families prepare the same 10 to 20 recipes
again and again.
His advice: Start a notebook, with one page for each item your family buys
regularly. Note what you usually pay. If you see an especially good price,
make a note of where and what it is. Without a book, "I can't
remember what I paid (for something) six weeks ago," says Foreman.
But if you have a crib sheet, you know if a store sale or special is hype
or a good buy. When you find a real bargain, stock up.
The trick is "to buy on the markdowns," he says. "It's not
at all uncommon for people to save 15% to 20% on groceries. You don't have
to change your habits. Just buy when (items) are at low cost."
If you want to win the savings game, learn the rules. Read that
weekly food section and check the Sunday paper to see what's on sale.
And don't forget the fine print in those offers. For example, at some
stores "buy one, get one free" items ring up at half price,
which means you can use a coupon on each one and double your savings, says
Kay.
But other stores mark one item full-price and give you the other for free,
allowing you to use only one coupon.
In addition, some retailers guarantee that if the item doesn't ring up at
the correct price, you get it for free or at a discount. "Be sure you
pay attention to the details," Kay says.
Know when to use a list. For staples, stick to what you'd already
planned to buy before you walked into the store. "The only time to go
off list is if you can combine savings factors (store sales, double
coupons, etc.) and get a good buy," says Kay.
Know when not to use a list. When it comes to produce, take the
farmer's market approach: Buy what's fresh, inexpensive and in season.
Then adapt your menus accordingly. That way, you get good buys and your
family gets the freshest food.
Grocery stores are for groceries. "Avoid purchasing nongrocery
items at a grocery store," says Steinback, who advises consumers to
weigh convenience vs. cost when they pick up supplies like painkillers,
contact lens solution, mouthwash or toothpaste at the grocery store.
"I know it's convenient," she says. "But, you double your
cost."
Take a rain check. If you know that your store is offering a great
price on something you use, but it's all gone when you arrive, get a rain
check, says Kay.
Know the system. When does your store mark down goods that expire,
like meat or bread?
"You can get significant markdowns on meats if you buy things that
are about to expire that day," Foreman says. The deal: Use them that
night or freeze them, he says.
Your store might also have a small section where they discount products
that aren't as popular as the manufacturer had hoped. This area can be a
gold mine for bargain hunters, Foreman says.
Realize that more isn't always cheaper. "It's not uncommon for
readers to say they found things in lots of 24 where the unit price was
higher than if they bought one," says Foreman. "The days that
you could take one big package and know you were saving money are
over."
His credo: "Unless you're better at math than most people, shop with
a calculator."
Request price matching. Want to get the best prices on everything
without driving all over town? "Find a store in your area that will
honor all competitors' ads," says Kay. You'll save money, time and
gas.
This is also a good way to get bargains on things like meat or vegetables,
where coupons are rarely an option.
Look for double coupons. "In most places, what you will find
is that a coupon will let you buy the nationally advertised brand at the
same price as the generic or house brand," says Foreman. Instead, if
you favor coupons, look for stores that offer double coupons, which
"can be a real saver," he says.
Weigh before you pay. All 10-pound bags of potatoes "are not
created equal," says Kay. "There could be a pound's
difference." Weigh the pre-packed bags and get the most for your
money.
Beware of "discount store syndrome." Just because you're
in a bargain store doesn't mean you're getting the best price on every
item. "You have to consider whether it's a good bargain or not, and
not mindlessly buy because it's a thrifty store," says Kay.
Her example: a warehouse club sells paper towels for 89 cents a roll that
you normally see in your grocery store for 99 cents. Good buy? Not
necessarily. If you have a 40-cents-off coupon that the grocery store will
double, the grocery store cost is 19 cents. So do your homework before you
shop.
Realize that sometimes the best bargain isn't the lowest price.
There are times when you want to spend a little more on things that are
important to you. For instance, a good-quality ground chuck with a little
less fat or a loaf of really good whole-grain bread. Saving is great, but
beware of buys that could be "penny-wise and pound-foolish,"
says Foreman.
"Your health is worth that," he says. "Medical bills are
tough, even if you do have a good health plan."
Check your receipts. No matter how careful you or the store staff
might be, mistakes happen. "I can't say it's widespread, but I do get
reports of people saying they check grocery bills, and very often they
find mistakes," says Foreman. "And, 4 to 1, they are in favor of
the store."
Put your savings to work. Whether it's a trip, a car or a savings
account, have some specific goals for the money you're not spending on
food. Says Kay, "What good does it do to save all this money in the
grocery store if you don't have a plan (for) what to do with that
money?"
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