Inflation and the general rise in commodity and energy prices have also greatly increased the cost of Americans’ monthly groceries. In this situation, taking good measures to save money at the supermarket becomes crucial. Here are some tips for halving your receipt when shopping at the supermarket.
Halve your receipt following these tricks
Choose the cheapest supermarkets
As a matter of fact, buying the same products at the cheapest supermarket chains in your area can result of an annual savings.
Compare prices
Even if you choose the cheapest supermarket in your area, it doesn’t mean it always offers the best value for all its products. To do this, make a list of the essential foods you need in your pantry and use the Internet to compare the best prices at different discount stores. For this purpose, you can look online at the weekly offer flyers of discount stores in your area.
Once you have identified in which supermarket it is cheapest to buy each product, the best thing you can do is to shop at different establishments. It is true that you will lose more time, but you can reduce your expenses this way.
Take advantage of offers
Supermarkets usually have several active promotions such as the typical 3×2. If it is non-perishable food, buy more to take advantage of the offer and keep the product in your pantry to save money in the long run. In addition, most supermarkets offer free loyalty cards with special offers and discounts for their customers. It pays to activate it and use it every time you shop.
Make a shopping list
This is one of the oldest and most effective tricks for saving money at the checkout, although with the rush of modern life we often tend not to do this. Making a shopping list with only the products you really need will prevent you from buying on impulse or on a whim and you will only go directly to the food departments you need, which will lead to significant savings.
Even better, if you can plan your menus on a weekly basis, so you can spend less and reduce food waste.
Buy seasonally and in bulk
Buying fruits and vegetables in season is good for the environment, good for your health, and especially good for your pocket. When these foods are in season, they are usually cheaper. Also, it is cheaper to buy them in bulk than packaged or tub versions.
The same goes for meat or seafood products: those from the delicatessen or fishmonger’s will definitely be cheaper (even if you have to wait in line) than those already packaged.
Beware of “shrinkflation,” the strategy that makes you buy less but pay more
Less cereal in the package. Less pasta. Smaller and smaller ice creams-you’re not losing your mind. You are actually paying the same price or more today but at a lower quantity of the product in the package. This is a deceptive strategy called “shrinkflation” aimed at getting the consumer to spend more but for a smaller quantity of the product purchased.
The phenomenon has been going on for decades, but it tends to be more common when business costs rise, as in the case of the inflation we have been witnessing in the recent period. However, experts say there is a way to combat this phenomenon: compare the price per unit, price per pound or price per gallon, of similar products to see which is the better deal.
