Have you ever finished up a grocery run at HEB or SuperTarget and realized you spent way more than you intended, or bought products you've never tried or intended to try before? Grocery stores are designed to help you spend your money quickly -- and maybe not on things you even wanted or needed. Here are 3 common traps to avoid when planning your next grocery shopping trip.
Pitfall #1: Shopping without a list.
The grocery store is a really expensive place to test your memory. Shopping without a list takes more time, as you find yourself doubling back to an aisle you already cruised, and you're significantly more likely to pick items you don't need -- or worse yet, forget the ones you do. Or you might remember a need from two visits ago, and wind up with a double order.
Solution: An organized shopping list is the best way to save money at the grocery store. You can spend some of that cash on a Sudoku book if you want to keep your memory sharp.
Pitfall #2: Shopping when hungry.
Going to the grocery store with a growling stomach is a disorienting experience that can be disastrous for your wallet. Grocery stores are laid out in order to maximize profit, which means that the expensive food is right at eye level, and easy to snatch when you 're low on both blood sugar and self-control. You're more likely to deviate from your shopping list, and also more likely to forget items you actually need -- which results in another trip later that week.
Solution: Keep an high-protein, high-fiber energy bar or two in your car's glove department. Munching on a high-satiation food can help your willpower in the store if you know you need to squeeze in a shopping trip between work and home. Click here for a free sample of a Kashi bar.
Pitfall #3: Shopping at an unfamiliar store.
Ever noticed that no two HEBs are laid out the same way? When you're shopping at a store that's new to you, you're going to spend more time adjusting to the layout and traffic flow -- and stores are betting that those longer shopping sessions result in higher receipts at the checkout line.
Solution: Stay on track with stores you know. If you're moving, plan time in your schedule to visit the local grocery stores and familiarize yourself with where the basics of your shopping list are in advance.
What are your tricks to help you stay on track in the grocery store? Feel free to share in the comments below!
Comments
Great points, M'am! I almost always have a list ready and usually shop at the same store--but I like your suggestion aout having an energy bar handy when you're hungry. It's soooooo easy to buy junk food when you are hungry right at that moment.
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I noticed that you missed a big P&G offer at HEB stat starts on 12/29. Buy $30 or more of P&G brands and get a $10 MasterCard debit card by mail.
Hi Michele -- Thanks for stopping by! I do cover the Proctor and Gamble offer in the 12/29 HEB recap, but there weren't tons of details in the ad. I plan on popping out tomorrow to the store to try and put together some couponing scenarios for everyone!
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