Grocery Shopping

Be a smart grocery shopper by implementing the suggestions below.

Grocery Shopping Suggestions:

1. Eat before you go grocery shopping so you won't be tempted to make impulse purchases,
2. Stock up on basic food staples (non perishables) when they are on sale,
3. When buying pre-packaged fruits and vegetables for a flat cost, for example 8kg of potatoes for R 20, then actually weigh the bags and confirm that the bag weighs at least 8kg and not less,
4. Check out the price per weight / quantity. Just because it is a big box, doesn't mean it's cheaper! Sometimes two smaller packages are cheaper than the big box and vice versa. Compare prices like for like (look at unit prices),
5. Stretch the food that exists in your cupboards. We bet you have enough odds and ends to last you at least a week in meals if you're creative. We have learned to make wonderful and interesting meals with very few ingredients,
6. When you cook a meal, cook twice as much and freeze the leftovers. This works great with cookie dough too,
7. The weeks when the specials are not so good at the shops could be “light” buying weeks. If you have some food in reserve, on these “light” weeks, the extra food is like money in the bank because of the availability of poor / no specials. If you ever hit a rough patch, you might have enough to carry you through that time.
8. Plan your spending. Avoid impulse buys. Write up a shopping list and buy according to that list. If something was not important enough to put on your shopping list, it is not important enough to buy,
9. Advertised items are not necessarily the cheapest,
10. Watch for unadvertised specials,
11. To avoid crowds, do not shop after work, on paydays, or just before holidays. You do not want to get caught up in the “spending craze”,
12. Buy items before you run out of them (avoid “putting out the fire” buying),
13. Know the sales cycle in your area. All major shops have regular specials that they ran during the year,
14. Just because an item is on sale, doesn't necessarily mean it is a good deal for your family. If you won't use it, don't buy it,
15. Due to volume discounts, larger stores are generally cheaper than smaller ones,
16. Your emotions affect your shopping. Be careful of the "I deserve it" mentality,
17. Buy at the end of the season,
18. Stock up when prices are low,
19. Try alternative shopping such as second hand stores, factory shops, etc.,
20. Remember that no particular store has the lowest price on all items. If you go to buy specials, then stick with buying only those specials,
21. Create a "shopping pool". Agree with family and friends to shop for each other whenever specials are available – no use everyone rushing off to the shops if not necessary,
22. Shop alone. Other individuals will only help fill your shopping cart,
23. Check the entire store for specials and alternatives,
24. Know your prices – keep a price book,
25. About Prices: Compare, Compare, Compare. This is where your price book helps you,
26. You pay more for fancy packaging. Beware,
27. Remember this rule: The more uses an item has, the less chance that you will be wasting your money,
28. Shop defensively. Remember it is YOUR money that is being spent,
29. Try store and generic brands (if cheaper – refer point 4 above),
30. Watch as the clerk rings up your purchases. Check your receipt. They are only human and even the computer can make mistakes,
31. Shop for gifts year round,
32. Return purchases that do not meet your expectations,
33. Complain if it is genuinely warranted,
34. Call before you go to confirm item is available (especially for larger single purchases or if the shop is out of your way),
35. Leave the cheque book and credit cards at home. With the specials pages and your price book (refer point 24 above) you should be able to establish how much you will be spending, thus only take what you will need and nothing more.