Feb 23rd, 2008
Grocery stores are evil
Well, they are exactly evil, I mean they are actually a modern marvel. Can you imagine telling someone a couple hundred years ago that you could someday go to one store and it would have every food from everywhere in the world? Unfortunately, this is also what makes them a trap. Heres a question to ask yourself: how do I shop?
Until recently I shopped by the “instinctive food gathering principle” which as it turns out, really means “spend tons of money on crap I probably dont need just because it sounds good.” It doesn’t help that they arrange things specifically to mess with you… in any case I would go to the store for toilet paper and come back with some drinks, chips, mens health, some fruit, a ribeye, cottage cheese (because I somehow always convince myself that I am out, even though I never am), ice cream or pizza, and who knows what else. Except toilet paper. I’d almost swear there are voices whispering in my ear to buy crap I don’t need. Anyway Ive come up with a list of things that has drastically reduced spending and the amount of time I spend in the store.
1) Make a dang grocery list. It takes two minutes, do it! I know you are saying “uh Jesse I can remember what I need” and you are probably right, but not only will it help you get what you do need but because it gives you direction you will be less inclined to pick up other random things.
2) Don’t wait until you are out of things to go to the store. A lot of times this creates a huge rush situations. A great example is needing milk in the morning to eat your cereal. When you start to get low on things, make your list and go…you’ll know exactly what you need and there won’t be any guessing involved.
3) Stick to one store if you can so that you can go directly to the aisles you need to go to. Wandering up and down the aisles is frustrating and leads to picking up more than you need.
4) Use coupons. I know, I get pictures in my head of my grandma cutting out coupons medituculously for 2 hours too…but really you can save a lot of money. And some places like King Soopers will give you coupons based on stuff you just bought with your receipt. nice-a!
5) Plan out some meals in advance. If you don’t feel like eating your planned meal you can always change it.
6) Eat healthy. As it turns out if you eat healthy stuff you can eat as cheaply as just getting junk. I eat kashi for breakfast with milk, then a mid morning protein shake, then a lean pocket for lunch, then some fruit and a pb&j sandwhich, some chicken for dinner and a post workout protein shake. All of that together can cost less than $5/day. Of course I dont always eat like that but its a good example.
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Oh boy, you need to add some veg to that diet!
Most major grocery stores now have websites where you can peruse the circular, and click on an item to add it to a printable shopping list.
If you do that, then you can make a menu from the specials, and just add any items to your list you’ll need to round out your weekly supplies. (I never pay more than $2/lb for any meat; I buy family packs and freeze it in smaller portions.)
I usually break down my shopping this way:
Reg groc store: meat, grocery items, eggs, milk, ice cakes, prepared and frozen foods, etc. Weekly.
Produce Mart: veg and fruit on the cheap, and super fresh! Weekly, or 2X week.
BJs: all paper goods, cleaning supplies, and bananas (cheaper here than anywhere else) Monthly
Dollar store: toiletries, hats, gloves, wrapping paper, party supplies, pretzels, sausages, and Michaelina’s fettucini alfredo! Occasionally
Bagel store: Bagels, with a buy six, get six coupon only. Once a month. Cut first, then freeze in sandwich bags. Just pop them in the toaster as usual!
Walmart- If you happen to be there anyway, bread, cereal and Prego spaghetti sauce are super cheap.
My family of four can live rather cheaply this way, and never out of food, avoiding the costly convenience store run!
Loss leaders. Learn what things cost and buy them when they hit a down point (grocery prices usually move in cycles over a couple of months). Another tactic is using coupons.
BTW it was possible to walk into a general store and buy things from all over the world a hundred years ago, tea from India, Egyptian cotton, French perfume, …
I feel compelled to add “don’t shop when hungry” to the list. I find that if I’m hungry while I’m buying groceries, everything looks delicious, and I end up buying things that I’ll never eat.
[...] The Penny Saved Personal Finance Site has something worth reading today (Grocery stores are evil)Here’s a brief bit, but follow the link for the rest. … in any case I would go to the store for toilet paper and come back with some drinks, chips, mens health, some fruit, a ribeye, cottage cheese (because I somehow a… [...]