Shopping Smart: Tips for Saving on Grocery Staples


Look Up
Expensive, name-brand items are usually stocked at eye level on grocery store shelves. Make sure you survey the whole aisle, looking up and down for the less obvious, less expensive options.

Stockpile Staple Items
Buying meat, seafood, and poultry during a sale and freezing it for later use could yield hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a year. Another tip for saving on animal protein staples: Ask the store butcher when perishables nearing their expiration date are reduced for quick sale.

Shop the Deli Counter
A study by ShopSmart magazine found that meat sliced straight from the deli counter was 31% cheaper than commercially packaged versions of the same product. This applies to cheese, as well. Prepackaged Alpine Lace Swiss cheese cost $15.99 a pound compared with the same brand for $10.99 a pound at the deli counter.

Compare Unit Prices
Sometimes packaging makes it hard to spot a bargain. For many pantry staples, the best deals come in larger sizes. For example, a 15-ounce jar of Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise might cost $3 or so while the 30-ounce jar costs less than $1 more. Be sure to check unit prices before deciding which size to buy.

Stock Up During Holiday Sales
Look for promotional prices on items associated with a particular holiday or season. Ground beef, hot dogs, chicken, soda, chips, beer and paper goods go on sale around Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Thanksgiving brings discounts on stuffing, turkey, frozen pies, and baking items. Steaks are discounted for Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Nonperishables, such as canned goods and oatmeal, are at their lowest prices during the winter.

Use a Cash-Back App
Apps such as Snap, Shrink and Shopmium give cash back awards for specific purchases. Some ask for scanned grocery receipts or a product’s bar code—both relatively quick and painless processes. Better yet, combine these incentives with in-store coupons for more savings.

For more money-saving ways to outsmart your supermarket and save, visit www.cheapism.com.


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