9 Ways Even Good Grocery Stores Can Steal From Shoppers

With gas and the cost of everything going up, knowing how to save a few hundred dollars a month at the grocery store is a huge relief, especially for most cash-short teacher candidates studying to pass the CSET. Below are 9 tips to help you save at the grocery store.

1. Grocery Shopping Planning. Plan before you go to the grocery store by creating a list of the items you need. Next, make a mark next to each grocery item if you have a coupon for it. Read the newspaper and circulars for the best shopping deals and coupons.

2. No Impulse Buying. Set a grocery shopping date of once per week and stick to it. Avoid spontaneous grocery shopping trips as they always lead to impulse buying. Once you make a grocery list, stick to it. A well thought out shopping list that you stick to will help cut-down on grabbing for things that you do not need. Don’t rush yourself. Look at all the items on the shelf for any specials. Look for cheaper store brands. Look for cheaper generic brands. If you rush yourself, you’ll simply reach for the first item that comes to mind and spend more than you have to without even being aware of it. If you go grocery shopping with your husband who is always rushing you, leave him at home. Remember, the grocery store is going to try everything in their power to encourage impulse buying (announcing last chance specials over the audio system, setting up bright colored island displays to grab your attention, using offers to encourage impulse buying like “Buy 3 Get One Free” (you were only going to buy one, but the grocery store got you on impulse to buy 3 of that item so you could get one free), positioning certain products and specials on the “middle shelf”, etc.), don’t give in.

3. Eat First. Grocery stores know the power of the smell of freshly baked bread, or the taste of little snack items that are set up by a store employee who asks, “Would you like to try one of these great tasting samples?” They don’t want you to try it, they want you to buy it. If your stomach is hungry, you will walk down the aisle and grab just about anything that looks good, tastes good, or smells good. Always go grocery shopping after you eat.

4. Coupons, Rebates, and Frequent Shopper Programs. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking advantage of product incentives. Even a small handful of coupons can save you 10% off your grocery bill. It is good to sign up for a frequent shopper plan. In exchange for swiping a card and allowing a grocery store to track what you are buying, the grocery store will send you special offers for things you are most likely to buy. Keep in mind that when a grocery store offers you a coupon, they are reducing the profit they make off the sale of that item. The grocery store is doing this because they want to get you in their store. The grocery store knows that they have a huge advantage over their competitors by actually getting you to come to their store. They have you in their grocery store while their competitors do not. The