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Navigate the Grocery Store Like a Pro

By The Savings Experiment Posted 6:35PM 02/21/13 Savings Experiment |
Savings Experiment: Navigate the Grocery Store Like a Pro

How much do you spend at the supermarket on average?

Did you find our grocery shopping video helpful?

The average household spends $2,300 on groceries per year. However, you may be spending more money than you realize, thanks to supermarket schemes. Once you're inside, grocery stores use various tricks to get you to buy more, but if you know what to look for, you won't get duped.

First, supermarkets place basic essentials, like milk, in the far corner of the store so you'll be tempted by other things on your way there. If you're just going to the supermarket to pick up some quick necessities, keep your eye on the prize and don't be lured by items you don't need.

Another thing to be wary of is well-placed flashy packaging. Stores often place these products at kids' eye level, hoping they'll convince you to buy it for them. So, if you see cheap toys or brightly colored candy, keep the cart moving and stay strong in the checkout aisle.

shopping cartWater packing is another shady supermarket practice that could be raising your grocery bill. Stores overprice their cuts of meat by adding a diluted solution to the package. Then they include that weight when pricing out the cost. Stores may call it a "flavor enhancer," but it's really just water, so think twice about packages that have a noticeable amount of liquid inside.

Follow these grocery shopping tips and you'll avoid getting bagged by supermarket schemes. You may even notice more money in the bank because of them.
Tagged: groceries, grocery shopping tips, grocery store scams, how to buy groceries, lifestyle, meat pricing scams, savings experiment, SavingsExperiment, shopping, supermarket product placement, supermarket

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Jerome Madson

We are always trying to find ways to save extra money... the cost of food is just crazy! We are using GroceryIQ and coupons (all kinds). We just started a little victory garden and hope to dry, can, or freeze anything we don't consume while in season.
Another great way we found to save was by changing our cell phone coverage, we ended up selecting Ting (https://ting.com/r/zb15d91tp13), partially because they offered a discount for signing up, offered to help with the migration from our previous cell provider, and that we didn't have to buy any special equipment or sign a contract.

May 05 2013 at 8:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mikerat42

Really a no-brainer and waste of my time..

March 07 2013 at 4:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MR NUSSBAUM

I shop only for what I really need. But after walking around I wind up with more than I thought and when I get ready to check out I put that stuff back. Food is really expensive the key to savings is to know your prices for each item so you will know when it is a bargin and when it is just a marketing ploy to make it seem good.
If you can shop multiple stores for their best sales items you can do ok. I am very careful and for 2 people spend around 300 or so a month. I dont think you can go much lower unless you eat a lot of cheap unhealthy foods.

March 06 2013 at 4:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stingrays71ray

I had bad dandriff,heavy ear wax in my ears i needed jel to comb my hair back and dry skin behind and on my ear. NO MORE !! Now i use johnsons head to toe baby wash 28 fl oz to wash my hair and body.I also use a moisturizer jergens 21 fl oz in my hair,ears on my face,arms ears and a cented deoderent that is all for about 15.00 and it has lasted me a long time. no need for all the other exspensive product that cost way to much and dont work as well.

March 02 2013 at 3:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fritzlinda

I use CRESBI crates when I grocery shop to avoid using any plastic bags. The crates hold the equivalent of up to 6 plastic bags worth of product. If I have a short shopping list I just take in one crate (you can set up the strap so it works like the store's convenience nested baskets) and won't buy any more than can fill the crate. Then when I'm done I collapse the crate back down and put it back in my car for the next trip. I never buy more than what the crate (or crates if it's a big shopping trip) can hold. If I want a faster checkout I place all the barcodes up in the crate and the checker just scans the items and doesn't even take them out of the crate. This also disciplines me as to what I buy so I avoid impulse buying.

March 01 2013 at 11:11 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
alcameron78

General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios box just shrunk 5 ounces and the reason? Now they can say that the contents have less sugar. Oh Yes ! Less product and you get to pay the same price.
Just one example, not just General Mills.

March 01 2013 at 6:05 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
eyeforeye42

My nearby supermarket rebuilt itself and scrambled up and it is so frustrating that I actually shop there less and the farmers market more. They don't have their meat in liquid filled packages. As far as the milk, which is actually in the far corner that store as the article mentioned, the whole foods market have the organic - antibiotic free milk conveniently placed in the store.

March 01 2013 at 6:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fairhairednative

Umm... My household consists of two people. We spend, on average, $300 a week on groceries (nothing fancy, just the basics). Multiply that by 52 weeks in a year, and that's $15,600. Either the person who wrote this article meant to say $2,300 per month, or I am shopping at the wrong place!!!

March 01 2013 at 5:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to fairhairednative's comment
cic

a quick search on water packing came up with a very informative starting point - the USDA's Food Safety Water in Meats factsheet -
wish I could keep MY grocery-spending down to a "frugal" $2,300 per year, that's less than 6.50 per day and I'm guessing they're talking per person.... huh? wish they'd do a little more journalistic homework and/or tack on their sources, quickly losing their integrity

March 01 2013 at 4:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cic's comment
jabberjawjb

300 a week? You are shopping at the wrong place for sure. I average 150-250 a MONTH for 2 people. And we do splurge on lots of fresh veggies, meat and fruit.

March 01 2013 at 2:48 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jabberjawjb's comment
sinmobile

I was just thinking the same thing! My household also consists of two people, and we don't spend more than $200 a MONTH! We are fortunate enough to have a fantastic produce market down the street from us, and buy all of our produce there. I can buy over 10 lbs of fruit and veggies for less than $10! But, we also spread our shopping between 3-4 locations so we get the best prices. Meats from Sam's club that we freeze and lasts us at least a month, fruits and veggies from the produce market, and everything else between Publix (buy 1, get 1) and WalMart. I don't understand how on earth you have a need to spend $300/week on groceries! And on 'basics'?!

March 05 2013 at 9:22 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down
cic

a quick search on water packing came up with a very informative starting point - the USDA's Food Safety Water in Meats factsheet -http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Water_in_Meats/index.asp
wish I could keep MY grocery-spending down to a "frugal" $2,300 per year, that's less than 6.50 per day and I'm guessing they're talking per person.... huh?

March 01 2013 at 4:34 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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