Ways to Outsmart Your Grocery Store and Save Money

Sadly there are only a few times when you walk out of the grocery store feeling like you’ve gotten everything you wanted.

Naturally you feel like you have picked up all the essential items such as milk, eggs, and bread; but I usually you end up having just wasted loads of time browsing through aisles and aisles of items I don’t need.

If you’re like me, and you’re racking your brain for ideas on how to shop more efficiently, then take note of a few tips for you below.

#1: Look Up And Down

Think about this: the items the supermarket really is trying to sell to you are all placed on shelves that are at eye-level.

These items are usually the most popularly marketed foods, with higher prices than, say, foods that have store brands.

Next time you go through an aisle, really scan all over — go from top to bottom.

Stores also target kids, and place items at their eye level, hoping that you’ll be more tempted to buy them.

#2: Walk past the Flowers

There’s a reason why stores place items like fresh, beautiful flowers, delicious, aromatic rotisserie chickens, and fresh, baked goods at the front.

They want to tempt you to buy these things, and to make you feel happier about buying more things once you actually step inside the store, according to Reader’s Digest.

#3: Plan Your Personal Shopping Route

Most grocery stores are designed in a very specific pattern.

Their map is laid out in a way that will encourage you to walk past aisles and aisles of products that you had no intention on buying. Essential items, like bread, dairy products, and meat, are often located at the opposite end from the entrance, in far-flung corners.

Next time you go shopping, try sticking to a list of items, and plan a route that is most efficient for you to reach all those essential things on your list.

#4: Let the Butcher Do the Work

Many smart shoppers know exactly how to buy and portion their meat.

“We’ve had people buy one big roast and have us remove the bone for soup, run half of it through the grinder for hamburgers, and cut the rest into a pot roast,” a supermarket butcher told the Kitchn.

“That can save you about 30 percent, compared with buying everything cut.”

So next time you’re buying meat, consider buying a large cut of what you want, and have the butcher trim it for you.

#5: Thaw Seafood At Home

You can save a little money on thawing seafood by yourself at home.

According to the Kitchn, the items displayed at the seafood counter are usually the exact same products that you’ll find in the freezer aisle. They’ve just been thawed, and marked up around 40 percent.

To save money, buy your seafood frozen, and try to find some time to thaw it at home.

#6: Buy Cheese from the Dairy Case

But seafood isn’t the only kind of product that grocery stores use to mark up prices.

They often also take products like cheeses from the dairy case, repackage them, and sell them for higher prices at the deli counter, according to Reader’s Digest.

#7: Buy Party Baked Goods In Advance

Many stores will hold sales in their bakery sections.

Ask to see if they’ll let you buy these items in advance (sometimes as far as one month in advance), and pick it up at a date closer to an event you’re planning.

This will allow you to plan ahead, and pay a lower price for something you’ve placed an

order on.

#8: Scan for Damaged Items

Grocery stores can be sneaky. Instead of throwing away bruised or otherwise damaged foods (these can be veggies, fruits, meat, and even dairy), they’ll toss them right in with the packages to be sold.

Next time you’re buying something pre-packaged, carefully inspect the products to avoid taking home rotten food.

#9: Do the Math Before Buying In Bulk

Buying in bulk can turn out to be a bigger commitment than you would think.

Stores usually want you to think that you’re spending less when you’re buying in bulk, but the truth is, buying items by the piece can often end up being cheaper than when you buy in multiple packs.

Next time, before you spend money on bulk items, consider doing some math to see if it really is the best option.

#10: Compare Unit Prices

If you’re worried about doing calculations right there on the spot, fear not.

Everything is laid out very clearly for you — just check out the pricing labels!

The best way to make sure you’re making the right decision is to compare unit prices, as well as sale prices. This is the cost of the item per unit.

You may think that something that sells for a lower price may always be better. But if the slightly higher-priced item has a smaller unit price, then there’s your bargain.

#11: Watch Out For Discount Cards

Many stores will lure you in with “shopper’s club” discount cards.

According to Business Insider, these cards only offer you actual discounts once in a while. The scary fact is that they’re a kind of microchip that stores and retailers put on you.

Buy owning such a card, they can keep information on your purchasing habits and other tracking data.

Discount cards also keep you going back to the same store, to do all your shopping there.

#12: Ditch the Shopping Cart

Lastly, be wary of the shopping carts.

Reader’s Digest and many other sources all blame the ever-growing shopping cart for making customers buy more than they actually should.

The bigger the cart, the likelier you’ll feel comfortable with filling it up. This will cause you to spend more.

Research has shown that when the size of the shopping cart doubled, shoppers bought 40 percent more products than they usually would have.

Last: SHARE these amazing grocery shopping hacks with all family and friends who want to be money-smart!