Finding the Cheapest Foods at the Supermarket
Where to Look for the Lowest Priced Groceries in the Store
Mar 4, 2009
Consumers can save big at the grocery store...if you know where to look. How to find the best deals at the supermarket.
Look high; look look low...but don't search in the obvious places. Manufacturers pay a premium to place their products in the best locations at the supermarket. That's why shoppers want to peruse the top and bottom shelves at the grocery store for the best deals. Products at eye level my be the worst values in the aisle.
How to Find the Cheapest Foods at the Supermarket
- Don't necessarily buy quantity at the supermarket. Save those mega-purchases for the warehouse clubs. Purchasing more at the grocery store doesn't necessarily mean consumers are getting a better deal. One needs to do the math. Bring along a calculator or pull out a cell phone and figure out how much the product costs per ounce. And if a sale says, "Buy 10 cans for $10," nine times out of ten, one can get the exact same deal by purchasing only buying five cans. When taking those items through check-out, consumers will see that they are only being charged $5 for those five cans.
- Buy in season. The produce will not only be cheaper, because local farmers have less distance to travel, but they will most likely be fresher as well. Also, buy whole apples instead of the packaged ones that are already cut and ready to eat. The labor it takes to slice all those apples adds to the price.
- Trade coupons. Sites like coupon forum offer a way to get rid of unwanted coupons and find the ones that are really needed, all for free! Save those valuable coupons for products like baby formula. They are worth a lot at trading sites.
- Pay attention to grocery store sales flyers. And plan meals around those sales. One can pick up free recipes at places like Food Network. Say tuna is on sale at a local supermarket, but many people don't have any idea what to make with it. If one does a Google search for "free tuna recipes," it's amazin, what can be found.
- The less processed, the cheaper the food is. Making a meal from scratch may not be one's idea of a perfect evening. But by involving the family, it might actually be fun. And shoppers can save a bundle. Those ready-to-eat frozen foods may be convenient, but they are a lot more expensive than buying the ingredients and cooking ones self.
- Take advantage of double coupons. Different supermarkets have different policies. They may double coupons on certain days, or even everyday, but there might be a price limit. Get to know your store's policies, and don't be afraid to price match those coupons!
The copyright of the article Finding the Cheapest Foods at the Supermarket in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Finding the Cheapest Foods at the Supermarket in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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