Nickeled and Dimed

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As I’ve said before here, Groceries are one of my largest monthly expenses.  I am always looking for ways to cut down on both the money and I spend on groceries and the time I spend grocery shopping.  Consumer Reports recently put up an article with several tips on saving money buying groceries.  Here are the highlights of those tips:

Plan a Route

Before going to the store, the article recommends making a list of exactly what you need and then researching which stores carry those items at the lowest prices.  They also say you should consider shopping at several stores in a close radius for different items.

A recent study suggests this tip can save $17.45 per trip.

Get Coupons and Store Loyalty Card

A fantastic way to save money grocery shopping is to clip coupons for items you need.  Opening a store loyalty card is essentially giving yourself a permanent coupon for all items.  The amount saved will very from item to item, but a ten percent or more total savings on your bill is very realistic.

Try Manufacturers Websites

A great tip I have never heard of, the article recommends checking the manufacturers website for coupons on items you need.  For example, they went to www.iams.com and found a coupon for $5 off a bad of dog food.

Evaluate Circular Savings

Just because items are featured on fliers or in special sections of the store it does not mean they are a bargain.  Compare the prices of  these items as you would any other item.

Avoid Common Spending Traps

Several good tips here.  First, they suggest to pass on free samples (I don’t have the discipline for that one!).  They are offered to cause impulse buying.  You may have no interest in buying a rack of ribs, but that delicious free sample could tempt you into buying them.

Their second tip is to search the tops and bottoms of aisles for better deals.  The most expensive items are placed at eye level.

Finally, watch out for items strategically placed at the beginning or end of aisles.  Once again their purpose is to cause impulse purchases on items you had no intention of buying.

Try New Brands

Store-brand items can be as much as 50 percent less than name-brand items!  And you will usually not be able to tell a difference in taste.

Give the store-brand items a try.  You can always return to your favorite name-brand if you aren’t satisfied.

Stock Up on Sale Items

Take advantage of large sales on non-perishable foods by stocking up on them.  If you can get a great deal on an item that doesn’t go bad, load up on it and save money on future purchases.

Check Prices in Other Departments

Certain products may be offered in more than one section, with the more expensive options strategically placed where you are more likely to find them.  The article uses cheese as an example, saying the more expensive cheese is placed in the deli, while you can usually save money by buying from the dairy section.

Grocery stores may also attempt to trick you with large packages, which are normally considered a better deal.  Always compare unit prices to make sure this is accurate.  The article says one recent study found that peanut butter, ketchup, coffee, canned tuna, and frozen orange juice all frequently cost more money in large packages than in smaller ones.

Watch the Scanner

Consumer Reports claimed that one in five shoppers who claim to watch scanners frequently notice an error.  Watch what they are ringing up and check the receipt for double ring ups. 

Groceries are expensive enough, no need to pay for more than you actually bought.

Next time I go grocery shopping I will try all these tips and report back on their effectiveness.

Do you use any of the above tips?  Have any other tips for saving money on groceries?

Please continue sending any personal finance related questions, suggestions and story tips to centsabilitytowealth@gmail.com.