The neatly dressed clerks with the broad white smiles,
It all seems like a pleasant free treat
Until I look at the prices of the food I want to eat.
People invest millions of dollars and years of research to influence you to buy more high profit items - more often.
With high-tech marketing and slick advertising, the average consumer seems overwhelmed. Especially when it comes to saving money at the average supermarket of today.
You must learn the tricks-of-the-trade used by today's high tech supermarkets and the many ways to overcome them. If you don't you'll lose at the checkout counter now and in the future.
Learning how to see through the shiny displays, colorful packaging and tempting treats can save you a grocery bag of money.
For example, notice how the products most people buy weekly sit at the back of the store (dairy products, meat, and juice)? This forces you to walk past hundreds of tempting items. This is one of hundreds of tricks most supermarkets quietly use without you even noticing it.
Notice how the supermarket places the bread, vegetables, sodas, meat and frozen items in different areas of the store. I once went to the market to buy 3 small items and had to walk to all four sides of the store to find them. You think that was by accident? I think not, it's called high-tech selling my friend.
The goal of every supermarket today is to get you to walk around the entire store, to stay in the store as long as possible.
Supermarkets know from years of research the longer you're in their store - the more you'll spend. Now you know the rest of the story.
Now walk with me down the high-profit cereal isle. Did you notice most cereals cost more per pound than steak? Anyway, notice how the sugar coated cereals sit at the eye-level of children (A supermarkets favorite salesperson).
Next, see how the health conscious adult cereals sit on the upper shelves at the eye level of adults. Another coincidence? If you think so you haven't been paying attention.
These are just a few eye-popping examples you'll discover from reading this chapter. So, now that you know a few of the tricks to separate you from your hard-earned money. What can you do about it? I am glad you asked.
I can promise you after reading this chapter your supermarket visits will never be the same. You'll suddenly start eating better for less money. You'll know more about saving money at the supermarket than 90% of the population. So, let's stop talking about it and do it.
Here's 19 Tips To Use Both At The Super Market And At Home To Eat Better For Less Money:
1. Never shop for groceries when you're hungry, for obvious reasons. You'll always have a temptation to overspend, especially on impulse junk food items.
Try to eat before you go grocery shopping and you'll resist the temptation to overspend on knick-knack snacks.
2. When possible avoid taking children with you to the supermarket, if you want to save money (at least until you've taught them secrets in this chapter).
Research has proven you will spend 10% - 30% more if you do. Little children are a stores favorite salesperson and they can be a budget buster if you let them.
The best alternative is to learn the principles in this book and teach it to them. That way you can make it a game and let them help you save money.
3. Based on University studies, the simple act of making out a shopping list saves you money. People who make out a physical shopping list save 10%-25% more in money and time than those who don't.
4. Avoid going to the store more than once a week. The less you go to the store the less chance or temptation you have to spend or overspend money.
5. Learn to comparison shop as a habit. Check your Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday newspapers each week for specials. And compare prices before you go shopping for the week.
6. Shop the newspaper ads looking for bargain products you can stock up on. This is what the savvy shoppers do. The secret is to get only the items on sale that you know you will use. Think bulk items.
7. Secret tip! The high profit items usually sit on the upper and middle shelves at adult eye-level. So, by looking at the top and bottom shelves you can often save 10%-20% off your food bill.
8. Watch the cash register and scanner. Mistakes can happen. And 98% of the time, it's in the supermarkets favor. Such as overcharging or charging the regular price for an item that's on sale. (For some reason they seldom make the mistake of undercharging you).
9. Remember no food is a bargain if your family doesn't eat it. The secret is to buy foods that are a bargain and eaten and not thrown out. The more you can do this the more you'll save.
10. Be a label reader. The U.S government requires manufacturers to print the ingredients contained in the products you buy on the label. No matter what fancy advertising claims you see splashed on the front! Take advantage of this law and read the label. Read what you're really paying for.
11. Remember, when you buy convenience foods you pay for the convenience. You can pay up to 75% more than if you bought the items separately and prepared it yourself.
Frozen meals can cost 2 to 3 times as much per pound than if you cooked the same meal yourself. Ouch. Can you say money down the drain?
12. Learn the art of seasoning foods instead of using salt. Consult your local bookstore or library. This will preserve your families health and make meals more enjoyable.
13. When you buy soup purchase condensed soup instead of ready to serve (pre-watered soup). Otherwise, you're paying up to $1.50 a gallon extra for the water, think about it.
14. All things being equal look for plain packaging that indicates a less expensive product. Often the contents of a plain package or bag are the same quality as the stylish package. The difference? The product with the fancy packaging cost more because of the colorful packaging. Check the label for ingredients-you can't eat packaging.
15. Buy fruits and vegetables from open bins or displays; avoid buying pre-packed fruits and vegetables. You pay extra for the plastic and styro-foam, as well as the labor and time in took to wrap them.
16. Wash vegetables and fruits just before you eat them. Vegetables and fruit lose vitamins when you wash them before eating them.
17. Learn to cook wisely by investing in a good, informative cookbook. And remember practice makes progress when it comes to dishes.
18. Make use of all left-overs. Begin collecting recipe books on cooking with left-overs. You'll surprise yourself how delicious you can prepare left-overs, using the right herbs, spices and seasonings.
19. Search your newspapers and dine at restaurants on Wednesday and Thursdays.
The middle of the week is when you'll find the most restaurant specials.
By following the tips and suggestion you'll see how easier saving money at the supermarket comes to you. You can increase your savings as you apply these ideas and tips to overcome the supermarkets high-tech marketing tactics.
