How to Beat Some Of The Sneaky Supermarket Tricks

“Stores like Wegmans and Whole Foods are both managed and designed for the upscale consumer,” if you look at the stores, there’s a reason why there’s theatrical lighting, which is to make stuff look good. There’s a reason why there’s fresh produce at the door or a bakery, which is to make you start salivating. Studies over the past 20 years that tell us that somewhere north of 60% of what is bought in a supermarket isn’t on our list. The primary way in which someone can save money in their shopping is by planning.”

But I do make a list, I think to myself. I can picture it, scrawled on the back of my current article is: Frozen orange juice, coffee, milk and corn flakes.

Now that I think of it, my list is a set of unrelated items that don’t solve the what’s-for-dinner dilemma. They don’t translate into meals. OK, I need a better list. What other ways can I save money?

“Well you have to recognize there is no such thing as saving by putting something in your pantry, or in your refrigerator that you don’t need.”

“And Why not?  If I see a brand of cereal on sale that I consume regularly, shouldn’t I stock up?”

“No.  Because it's not on your list.  The fact that you’re saving 17 cents, or even a dollar, means you’re still spending $5 to get the box in the first place. If you don’t need it, don’t spend the money on it. The more you stock, the more you consume, and the more you stock, the more you waste. Organize your list, THEN stick to what’s on it.”

Empty the pantry: Check. Stick to the list. What else?

“Recognize the highest margin area of the grocery store is the produce section, Americans tend to throw out somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% to 47% of the produce they buy, because they haven’t used it. Don’t buy a bag of onions; stick to what you actually need.”

“You owe it to yourself to shop when you’re not tired, when you’re not hungry, and when you know the store isn’t going to be crowded.  As your discipline is shot when you’re tired or hungry.”

“Buy for what you’re going to consume,  And Stick. To-The-List.”

You want good, simple advise to keep grocery bills down? Here's a few that you may have missed:

• Start thinking ahead and design those menus. No one does it anymore? Get with the 21st century. Grab a free cooking app on your smart phone and pick a meal for each night of the week. Get the app to mail you the recipes. Don't have an app? Don't have a smart phone? Start
  developing an interest in cooking and write the list yourself. Basic laziness is no excuse.
  
  
• Find a grocery store on the way home and visit it every day. Use the list of recipes to get what you need, when you need it.
  
  
• Get a smaller fridge and cook smaller amounts. Stale leftovers get thrown away just as often as stale produce, and smell far worse. Better to read the recipe and make just enough for yourself.
  
  
• If you're feeling industrious, go ahead and make lots, then FREEZE it. Stews, chili, lasagnas, shepherd's pie and a whole cavalcade of other meals keep well and near-indefinitely in the fridge. Cool the food down, portion it out and freeze it so that you can avoid grocery shopping later when you're tired and hungry and facing an empty larder. Hey, you'll even be able to entertain guests on the spin of a nickel since all it takes is whipping something out of the freezer and heating it up.
  
  
• GET A SMALLER FRIDGE. Seriously people. Quit looking for something with a 1000 cubic foot capacity unless you're planning on laying down plastic sheets and getting all Dexter on people out there. You don't need a fridge that can hold an entire family of cows.
  
  
• Coupons? Unless you're unemployed and have more time than money on your hands, grab the in-store coupon book and browse a little for anything that hits your "need it now" radar. Unless you're planning for the apocalypse you don't need to save yourself $52,000 a year in groceries since you'd have to spend about $520,000 to do that and THAT is a tricky supermarket trick to avoid.
  
  
  
  -Birdy