Watch Out for Special Displays
Items in end of aisle displays and other special displays such as seasonal set-ups may not always be the best price. The store may be looking to liquidate their stock. Always go to the regular aisle where the item usually appear to check the price among different brands.
Do the Math
Check the tag displayed on the shelf for the unit price. The unit price breaks down how much the item costs per measurement such as $.50 per ounce. If the unit price is not displayed, pull out your calculator and figure it up yourself by dividing the price by the number of uses or servings in the package.
Shop the Edge
The healthiest items are located around the perimeter of the store. These are the staple items that you should build your diet around. Try to shop less in the middle aisles where higher-cost pre-packaged items and snack foods are. If you do need to shop in these aisles, be sure to take a list instead of browsing or don't take a cart down them so you can avoid filling it up as you browse them.
Don't Shop Sideways
Stores often stock items that are related to each other such as putting expensive olive tampenade next to bread. These can be tempting but try to avoid them.
Keep a Price Diary
Keep a price notebook that lists what you actually pay for items at various stores and take a look at the price before you buying something, even if it is on sale. Sometimes the price will be better, sometimes it won't and you may be surprised that a sale doesn't beat the price at a different store.
Be Smart About Package Claims
The packaging of items may sometimes say "25% more free" or something along those lines to make you think you're getting an exceptional buy. Even if it seems like a bargain, if you won't use the entire box before it goes stale, it's not a good deal. Plus, a smaller box or another brand may be cheaper in the end.
Limit Your Splurges
Set a limit to how many items you will allow in your cart that are not on your list. I do this by putting non-list items in the child's seat of my cart. When I start to make my way to the front of the store, I know it's time to take a good hard look at those items to decide whether or not I really should buy them. Often I realize that those non-essentials are just that and I leave them.
To learn more about saving money on groceries, check out 10 Ways to Save While Shopping Healthy.
