Better Grocery Shopping: Avoid Impulse Shopping and High Prices

The weekly or bi-weekly trips to your local grocery store are necessary. Cutting down on the number of trips you take to the store is essential. Being fully prepared for your upcoming meals can save you hundreds of dollars every month. Be sure to get a good night's sleep before planning your shopping day. Shopping while tired can result in impulse purchases of sweet items, coffee or energy drinks.

Locate the best deals. Check your local paper for the weekly sales circulars to find out which stores have the best deals. Create a separate list for each store that you will visit. Write down your meals for the week, based on the sales circulars. Write down which ingredients you will need. Open your refrigerator and cabinets to see exactly what you need to replenish. Jot down your snacks, drinks, dessert, and non-food items. Sit down, and make yourself a snack. Never go to the grocery store hungry.

Start with the produce section first, stick to your list, and be sure to check for freshness. Select seasonal vegetables and fruits for the best quality. Try generic and store brands for frozen fruit and vegetables. Continue throughout the store sticking with your list.

Find the best value in prepackaged products. On each aisle, look at the very top and bottom to find the lowest cost for each item. Look at the unit price. In most supermarkets there is bar-coded price label on the shelves, in smaller numbers than the price. You should be able to see the unit price per ounce. For example, a 12 ounce name brand bag of rice may cost more than a 16 ounce bag of store brand rice. Be sure to look for unpublished sale items and specials throughout the store. Check the price of each item you select. Make sure that the sale item is truly a sale, and that there is not a lower cost alternative on the top or the very bottom of the shelf. The higher priced products are always prominently placed at eye level. Avoid impulse purchases of items on the ends of the aisles.