3 min read·shopping
How to Save Money at the Grocery Store
Saving at the grocery store mostly happens before the actual shopping trip. Meal planning and creating a shopping list are helpful strategies to counteract stores' attempts to maximize customer spending.
Key points
- Clever grocery-store marketing strategies tempt consumers to overspend
- Planning ahead and sticking to a shopping list helps resist temptations in every aisle
Stores and brands hire psychologists to ensure customers spend as much money as possible. It’s all fair game: eye-level shelves, end-of-aisle displays, and the bakery smell! Here is what to watch out for:
- Store layout: Customers are guided through a path past the maximum number of products to get to essential items like milk and eggs at the back of the store.
- Music and lighting: The ambiance of a grocery store is carefully planned to create a pleasant experience that encourages shoppers to move more slowly, spend more time in the store, and ultimately purchase more items.
- Product placement: Brands pay a premium to have their products displayed at eye level, while cheaper or store-brand products are placed on lower or higher shelves. Items at end caps and special displays are highly visible to attract impulse purchases, even though they may not be cheaper than similar items in the aisles.
- Limited-time offers: Flash sales and limited-time discounts tap into the fear of missing out, encouraging shoppers to make quick purchase decisions and spend more.
- Sampling stations: Free samples create a sense of obligation to purchase the sampled item, even though it may not fit the meal plan or the budget.
- Loyalty programs: Discounts and rewards encourage customers to visit more frequently and spend more to accumulate points or redeem rewards. They may or may not be advantageous overall.
Shoppers can foil the stores’ tricks with a few strategies of their own:
- Meal planning: Know what is happening in the upcoming week, check the pantry, fridge, and freezer, then use flyers or apps to find sale ingredients before adjusting the meal plan to fit the available budget.
- Shopping list: With a rough meal plan in hand, create a detailed list and stick to it to avoid unnecessary purchases.
- Eat before shopping: Shopping hungry often leads to impulse buying. A full stomach makes it easier to stick to the shopping list and the budget.
- Store brands: They often offer the same quality as name brands at a lower price. Sometimes they are actually identical products packaged differently.
- Bulk buying: This only saves money on non-perishable goods or items that are used frequently. Buying perishable items in bulk can lead to waste.
- Coupons and loyalty programs: Use coupons, promo codes, and store loyalty programs only when they truly lower the price you pay.