On Thursday, January 27, CNBC aired a show called “Supermarkets Inc.” I won’t go verbatim on what was aired, but I’ll share some key takeaways, and some of my thoughts.
It’s no surprise that supermarkets try to entice you to buy more, simply with presentation. They strategically place the essentials – eggs, milk, bread – on the opposite end of the store so you can meander through the aisles. Free samples, gorgeous produce, and the aroma of freshly baked bread will steer you off-course.
Supermarkets also use heat maps tracking the aisles you walk down, video monitoring and loyalty cards to track what you’re buying, and to learn more about you. Kind of scary, huh? But isn’t everything we do tracked, especially when you use credit cards – or even ‘check-in’ on your smartphone.
Tips to cut how much you spend on a grocery shopping trip
- Do not bring the kids with you
- Do not bring a shopping cart; use a basket
- Don’t use your credit card. You think you have endless money to spend. Instead bring a big bill: Breaking a $100 bill would break your heart.
- I always stick to a grocery list. It helps keep you on track. When you make your list, organize it by section: fruits/veggies; dairy; meat; canned goods.
- I agree with using a basket instead of cart. There’s limited space, and you’re less likely to add more stuff in the basket if it gets heavy.
- Not sure if you’re paying too much for an item? Pic2shop, RedLaser, and other mobile apps allow you to scan barcodes and do a price comparison. For groceries, spending $.50 more on an item won’t save you much, but these apps would come in handy for bigger purchases.
