Many of you would have read some articles on how to save money on groceries. Some of these tips include: use coupons, have a shopping list, go to discount membership stores (like Sams Club), look for sales items and stock up when things are cheap. All these work, but there are other less common (and ingenious) ways too. Here are a few of them:
Unknown Fact About Your Loyalty Cards
Many grocery stores give their members special discounted prices on various items through loyalty cards. Beware! It can cost you your privacy. Some grocery chains are known to sell your purchasing information. Health insurance companies have been some of the most active buyers.
Okay, so what does this mean? You might not smoke, but suppose you buy cigarettes for your friend or neighbor. If they bought using a card with your name on it, you might find yourself having to pay more for insurance as a result.
Often times it pays to have false information on your card. No matter what you put on the applicant, your card still works. Try this: Put your middle name as your first, or use a different spelling.
Keep your membership card in your wallet or purse so you dont forget it. You can get 10% or more off your total bill, and when they run particularly good deals for members, you can stock up on something you use regularly.
Are Coupons Really Worth It?
One thing you should know - coupons are almost always for name-brand products. A particular name-brand sauce cost $2.15 as I write this, while it was just $1.49 for the store brand we just bought. A 50-cent coupon on name brands is still 100% more expensive as store brands. Coupons dont always save you enough money to make a product cheaper than other store brands that are available.
There is an exception. Some pharmacies that carry grocery items have very good coupon deals since they are willing to lose money on certain products to draw customers into the store.
The Dreaded Register Mistake
Sometimes a discount is not reflected in your final bill. Watch out for those and keep an eye on the register. Have any mistakes corrected immediately. Otherwise you might find yourself having to spend three dollars in gas to correct a two dollar mistake the other day.
Dont Bring Children
Most of the time children should be left home when you are out shopping. They tend to grab things and beg for things you dont need. And you end up giving in to their demands most of the time. Why make shopping more stressful for you? It is almost certain that you will save money on groceries if you dont bring children along.
Check The Per-Unit-Price
In the past, larger sizes were typically cheaper per-ounce. This is changing. Many grocery stores now have larger items at a higher per-unit price " possibly an attempt to trick you. Check the price-per-unit to find the best deals on each item.
Great Advice From My Aunt
This great advice came from my aunt. Eat before you go to the grocery store. Not only will you buy less than if you are hungry, but youll probably buy healthier foods as well. - 15224
Unknown Fact About Your Loyalty Cards
Many grocery stores give their members special discounted prices on various items through loyalty cards. Beware! It can cost you your privacy. Some grocery chains are known to sell your purchasing information. Health insurance companies have been some of the most active buyers.
Okay, so what does this mean? You might not smoke, but suppose you buy cigarettes for your friend or neighbor. If they bought using a card with your name on it, you might find yourself having to pay more for insurance as a result.
Often times it pays to have false information on your card. No matter what you put on the applicant, your card still works. Try this: Put your middle name as your first, or use a different spelling.
Keep your membership card in your wallet or purse so you dont forget it. You can get 10% or more off your total bill, and when they run particularly good deals for members, you can stock up on something you use regularly.
Are Coupons Really Worth It?
One thing you should know - coupons are almost always for name-brand products. A particular name-brand sauce cost $2.15 as I write this, while it was just $1.49 for the store brand we just bought. A 50-cent coupon on name brands is still 100% more expensive as store brands. Coupons dont always save you enough money to make a product cheaper than other store brands that are available.
There is an exception. Some pharmacies that carry grocery items have very good coupon deals since they are willing to lose money on certain products to draw customers into the store.
The Dreaded Register Mistake
Sometimes a discount is not reflected in your final bill. Watch out for those and keep an eye on the register. Have any mistakes corrected immediately. Otherwise you might find yourself having to spend three dollars in gas to correct a two dollar mistake the other day.
Dont Bring Children
Most of the time children should be left home when you are out shopping. They tend to grab things and beg for things you dont need. And you end up giving in to their demands most of the time. Why make shopping more stressful for you? It is almost certain that you will save money on groceries if you dont bring children along.
Check The Per-Unit-Price
In the past, larger sizes were typically cheaper per-ounce. This is changing. Many grocery stores now have larger items at a higher per-unit price " possibly an attempt to trick you. Check the price-per-unit to find the best deals on each item.
Great Advice From My Aunt
This great advice came from my aunt. Eat before you go to the grocery store. Not only will you buy less than if you are hungry, but youll probably buy healthier foods as well. - 15224
About the Author:
Sally Simmons is a 32 year old work-at-home mom, who teaches people on how to save money on groceries. Find out how you can get free groceries for the next 365 days by visiting this site.
