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5 Ways to Save at the Supermarket
Motley Fool personal finance expert Dayana Yochim offers no-fuss strategies for reducing your grocery tab.
Want to save money in every single aisle at the grocery store? No sweat. Seriously! These five low-effort supermarket-savings strategies do not require complex cost-benefit calculations, time-consuming research or pre-shopping preparation.
1. Cheat off your grocer’s math homework. Is the bigger box of cereal actually cheaper than two smaller boxes? Put down that calculator and get the answer right off the sticker posted on the shelf — the per-unit price “cheat sheet.” This savings shortcut helps you instantly compare different sizes and brands of everything you toss into your cart. It’ like cheating off the smart kid in math class, only there’s no risk of detention.
2. Stick to your shopping syllabus. There’ a reason the proverbial “they” say never shop when hungry or without a grocery list: These timeworn nuggets actually work. An estimated 40% to 70% of supermarket purchases are unplanned (a.k.a. “impulse buys”). You can save some serious cash by composing a grocery list and sticking to it (the latter is a critical part of the equation). If you have standard meals in rotation, type out all the staples you need and make a stack of copies to keep in your pantry. Before each trip to the store simply checkmark the items you actually need. And no, adding things to the list as you toss them into the cart doesn’t count.
3. Become BFFs with your grocer. Most people don't need any more plastic in their wallet. The one exception is a card that helps you save money, not spend it: your supermarket’s loyalty program (sometimes called a shopper’s club card). Enrollment is usually free, and the rewards for card-carrying customers are instant. Soon your grocer may even get to know you better than you know yourself and provide tailor-made coupons (printed on your receipt or mailed to your home) based on your shopping patterns.
4. Stop binge buying. Yes, we’re back to harping about making a shopping list. Here's yet another reason to never leave home without one: The average household tosses 14% of its groceries down the disposal every month — that’s nearly $600 annually going to waste because of bad planning and overbuying. Toss fewer greens in the trash and keep more green in your wallet by making a list of what (and how much) you need before you’re at the store.
5. Pay with paper, not plastic. Give your credit cards a rest and start stocking your wallet with cash before you shop. Research show that people spend as much as 18% more when the transaction doesn’t involve cash. Using cash forces you to be more mindful of what you buy, plus it limits your spending to the amount of money you have in your wallet. Voilà! Instant budget!
About the author: Dayana Yochim is the consumer finance expert at the Motley Fool (fool.com) and the author of, The Motley Fool’s Guide to Couples & Cash: How to Handle Money with Your Honey and co-author of The Motley Fool Personal Finance Workbook.Rate this article:
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I do all of those things and they work! I'm constantly comparing per unit prices on the shelf stickers and when I take cash with me, I always stick to the list and keep track of how much I'm spending. I also like to clip coupons and build my weekly meals around what's on sale at my local grocery store.
Just started using cash instead of plastic or checks and it really works! There is something about having to pull out the green that helps me remember not to impulse buy.
I always take a calculator to the store, it keeps us close to what we budget for that week.
Tired of waiting at the deli counter? Make a separate list for your meats and/or cheeses; when your number is called, go over list with deli person then continue shopping! I save about 10-15 minutes with wait time and telling deli what I'd like next.
Remember to check your weekly super market flyer and use those coupons.I save any where from 40.00 to 80.00 per shopping trip by using coupons and shopping for weekly specials combined with coupons.
i prefer paying with plasic - with my chase freedom credit card. it pays me back 3% of what i spend at grocery stores and pharmacies. this is good if you pay the balance completely each month so you incur no finance charges.
If you have a Wal-Mart near you they "comp" prices from other stores (with in reason) so you save gas by not driving all over and they still use your coupons for the comp'ed price. I work there so I know.
I have one word COUPONS. I have become an avid coupon shopper. I make my list according to the weekly sale ads. I shop Publix because they have buy one get one free deals every week and combine coupons with store coupons. With the buy one get one deals I use 2 coupons and store coupons. I always come out saving more than I spend. For non food item I mainly shop CVS according to their weekly ad. They have an Extra Care Buck program that has saved me a lot. I know I sound crazy but believe me at the end of the day every little bit turns into a lot.
I have found cases where my grocer's "cheat sheet" was wrong. I calculate it myself.
I plan my grocery shopping and menu planning based on the weekly ads, the loyalty card discounts and available coupons. I purchase items on sale that can be stocked up for later use, such as canned and paper goods and frozen food. I shop at the grocery stores that double coupon values up to 99 cents. When they triple the coupons, I stock up. It may be worthwile to buy some of the 'binge' items at that time. I prefer to use plastic for my purchases because I can track the amount spent on Quicken.
Withall of the rewards for using credit cards, it is really foolish to pay cash. Have your bank set up to pay the bill in full every month; you use no checks, no postage, and make quite a bit of free money with no effoert at all. I make at least $1000 per year, no brainer!
You can also shop when items are on sale and use your coupons. You save even extra when doing so. Some grocers double your coupons. So buy the item when it's on sale and shop the stor that gives you double off the coupon on that item.
Regarding price per unit...you can most times do better by buying the smallest size of an item WITH a coupon on a product that is on sale, even if the cost-per-ounce is higher. Wouldn't it be smarter to pay less out-of-pocket? I like a free small box of cereal (or anything else) instead of paying actual money for a bigger box with a lower cost-per-ounce. Just buying only the items that are on sale AND that you have a coupon for (and stockpiling) I usually realize about 60% savings on every grocery store visit.
Here's another tip to go along with the one above about using the Chase Freedom credit card. Don't collect your reward until it has reached $200--because then Chase will give you a check for $250 when you request it. So in addition to getting a full 1% cash back on everything, plus another 2% on top of that for your 5 biggest categories, they pay you an extra $50 just because you practiced "delayed gratification!" Can't beat that! Of course, the catch is also to pay it in full every month or you're cutting into your savings.
Real good advice that I will use
Really good advice! I make a practice of doing this each time I shop and it DOES really save you money.
With the store adds and my coupons I generally save between 40-70% each time I go to the store. I plan my meals around the sale adds and the coupons I have and walk out with at least $70.00 bucks tucked back into my pocket.
Great advice! Thank you! There are so many ways to save now with all the coupon sites to print coupons and sites that you can load coupons directly to your loyalty cards. It doesn't take long to do these things and it really does save you a lot of money each week. Take care everyone!
I do most of these suggestions. I truly should practice more with making the list.
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