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Grocery list? Check. Coupons? Got ’em. Eat a snack so you won’t shop hungry? Done. Mentally prepared to resist impulse buys? Totally.
Now you’re properly prepared for your weekly trip to the supermarket. Or are you?
No matter how hard you try, supermarkets often find a way to eat up more of your budget than you bargained for. But don’t feel bad. Instead, learn the gimmicks grocery stores use — and how you can avoid them.
1. Using a clever store layout
It’s no coincidence that staples like milk, bread and eggs are placed in vastly different locations within the store, and nowhere near the entrance.
Is it possible to run a gauntlet of 10,000 impulse buys on your way to the milk without succumbing — but it sure isn’t easy.
Solution: Stay focused on buying what you need, and nothing more. Remember that your long-term goal is to stay out of debt and become financially independent. If you spend $25 on impulse buys per week, you’ve just lost $1,300 over the course of a year that could have been used to pay down debt, or to fund your retirement.
2. Tempting you to buy foods that ‘go together’
You spot a bag of some heavily-advertised tortilla chips. That’s OK — you’ve got a coupon. Too bad you don’t have another coupon for those jars of salsa sitting next to them.
In the blink of an eye, they’re both in your cart. So much for that carefully planned list.
Solution: Coupons are great — but only when they are for things you really need. Using a coupon to buy something not on your list starts you down the slippery slope to overspending. Only use coupons for things you truly need.
3. Sending sweet smells through the air
It’s a secret that real estate agents have known for years: The smell of freshly-baked cookies can help turn an open house into your next home.
If the smell of fresh-baked cookies will persuade you to drop $200,000 on a house, how are you supposed to resist dropping $4.95 on fresh-baked cookies?
Solution: Make sure to eat something at home before shopping. That way, you won’t be hungry when you head down “temptation aisle” at the grocery store.
4. Offering biggie-sized carts
In many places, the size of grocery store carts is growing. Not only does a giant cart allow you to buy more, a half-empty cart makes it appear you’re missing something.
Solution: Don’t ever use a cart. Only buy what you can carry in both hands.
5. Making clever use of shelf placement
The most profitable items are often placed at eye level. If you’re looking for mustard, for example, you’ll immediately spot the gourmet and spiced mustards, but you may have to look down a shelf or two to find the more budget-friendly house brands.