Sentry Page Protection
Common Grocery Budget Blunders
In the olden days, back before the days of supermarkets, it was common to visit the grocer, butcher and greengrocer three, four or even five times a week to pick up what was needed for just that day and maybe the next. Those were the days when more backyards than not had substantial veggie gardens, convenience foods were not even thought of and every meal was cooked from scratch, using basic ingredients.
Then supermarkets took over and we started dashing in four or five times a week to pick up just a few things. It was time consuming, but we didn't notice as we were used to shopping that way. We also didn’t notice just how much damage it was doing to our budgets, the plan to make us part with more and more of our hard earned cash was insidious.
These days, there are better options than trusting our grocery budget to supermarkets. And with food prices rising every week, even the smallest increase or mistake at the checkout can show up in big red figures on our budgets.
There are some simple things you can do to avoid being caught by the grocery budget blunders, and you'll notice the savings almost immediately.
Then supermarkets took over and we started dashing in four or five times a week to pick up just a few things. It was time consuming, but we didn't notice as we were used to shopping that way. We also didn’t notice just how much damage it was doing to our budgets, the plan to make us part with more and more of our hard earned cash was insidious.
These days, there are better options than trusting our grocery budget to supermarkets. And with food prices rising every week, even the smallest increase or mistake at the checkout can show up in big red figures on our budgets.
There are some simple things you can do to avoid being caught by the grocery budget blunders, and you'll notice the savings almost immediately.
Blunder No. 1: Brand Loyalty
Switching from name brands to generic brands can cut your grocery bill by 40% - 60% without sacrificing quality. In many cases the generic brands contained the name-brand product but with a different label and a lower price. Remember the name brands have to work the high cost of marketing and advertising into the cost of the item. It doesn't hurt to try the generic equivalent of your favourite brand name and if you don't like it you can always switch back. But it does pay to switch for the things you do like, try it and see.
Switching from name brands to generic brands can cut your grocery bill by 40% - 60% without sacrificing quality. In many cases the generic brands contained the name-brand product but with a different label and a lower price. Remember the name brands have to work the high cost of marketing and advertising into the cost of the item. It doesn't hurt to try the generic equivalent of your favourite brand name and if you don't like it you can always switch back. But it does pay to switch for the things you do like, try it and see.
Blunder No. 2: Unit Price Blindness
Most supermarkets and some budget department stores post labels on the shelf that show the item's price and the price per unit—per 100g, per serving, per portion and so forth. Don't assume the larger size is automatically the better deal. Often it's not, but you won't know that if you don't watch the price per unit. Carry your Price book and a small calculator with you and you won't get caught out.
Most supermarkets and some budget department stores post labels on the shelf that show the item's price and the price per unit—per 100g, per serving, per portion and so forth. Don't assume the larger size is automatically the better deal. Often it's not, but you won't know that if you don't watch the price per unit. Carry your Price book and a small calculator with you and you won't get caught out.
Blunder No. 3: Giving in to Temptation
There's a reason that everyday staples like milk and bread are at the back side of the supermarket. It makes picking up just a bottle of milk and a loaf bread a challenge because you will pass by so many opportunities to pick up other stuff on the way to the milk: the bakery (and doesn't it smell great), the deli with its delectable displays, and aisles full of yummy snacks, biscuits and drinks, etc. All of these temptations are placed deliberately so you are bombarded with them on the way to the milk cabinet. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself picking up all kinds of things you hadn't planned to buy. Everything about a supermarket is designed to facilitate impulse buying. Give yourself a head start by not picking up a basket - if you're only buying a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread you don't need a basket. No basket means nowhere to put those impulse buys and more money in your purse.
There's a reason that everyday staples like milk and bread are at the back side of the supermarket. It makes picking up just a bottle of milk and a loaf bread a challenge because you will pass by so many opportunities to pick up other stuff on the way to the milk: the bakery (and doesn't it smell great), the deli with its delectable displays, and aisles full of yummy snacks, biscuits and drinks, etc. All of these temptations are placed deliberately so you are bombarded with them on the way to the milk cabinet. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself picking up all kinds of things you hadn't planned to buy. Everything about a supermarket is designed to facilitate impulse buying. Give yourself a head start by not picking up a basket - if you're only buying a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread you don't need a basket. No basket means nowhere to put those impulse buys and more money in your purse.
Blunder No. 4: Lack of a Plan
Grocery shopping without a list is risky. Your memory isn't as good as you might think. Without a plan you'll buy things because you "might need them" or "because we'll use it anyway" and undoubtedly you'll find yourself coming back for what you forgot—and that starts the mistakes all over again. Write up a shopping list before you leave home and then stick to it as you shop. And no aisle cruising either - if the aisle doesn't hold an item on your list you can skip it.
Grocery shopping without a list is risky. Your memory isn't as good as you might think. Without a plan you'll buy things because you "might need them" or "because we'll use it anyway" and undoubtedly you'll find yourself coming back for what you forgot—and that starts the mistakes all over again. Write up a shopping list before you leave home and then stick to it as you shop. And no aisle cruising either - if the aisle doesn't hold an item on your list you can skip it.
Blunder No. 5: Checkout Daze
If you want to save money, keep a close eye on the scanner at the checkout. If the store you shop at adheres to the Supermarket Scanner Code of Practise then watching for errors could put money back into your pocket if your items scan at more than the advertised price. You also need to watch that each item is scanned only once and that any special deal prices (i.e. buy two get one free etc) are applied to your bill. It pays to check your receipt before you leave the store and get any errors corrected straight away.
If you want to save money, keep a close eye on the scanner at the checkout. If the store you shop at adheres to the Supermarket Scanner Code of Practise then watching for errors could put money back into your pocket if your items scan at more than the advertised price. You also need to watch that each item is scanned only once and that any special deal prices (i.e. buy two get one free etc) are applied to your bill. It pays to check your receipt before you leave the store and get any errors corrected straight away.
Blunder No. 6: Shopping with the Kids
Grocery shopping requires concentration: you need to look for the items on your shopping list, compare prices of similar products to get the best price, look for any extra unadvertised specials, then compare unit prices and then to top it off you have to be extra vigilant at the checkout. If you have your children with you this is almost impossible. I know it's hard to shop without them, but try. It will be faster, cheaper and a lot more pleasant if you don't have to keep one eye on the kids and the other on your grocery list.
Grocery shopping requires concentration: you need to look for the items on your shopping list, compare prices of similar products to get the best price, look for any extra unadvertised specials, then compare unit prices and then to top it off you have to be extra vigilant at the checkout. If you have your children with you this is almost impossible. I know it's hard to shop without them, but try. It will be faster, cheaper and a lot more pleasant if you don't have to keep one eye on the kids and the other on your grocery list.