In these tough economic times everyone is looking for ways to shave money off their daily expenses. As most people know the first place to save money is on your grocery bill and the best way to do that is by cutting and using coupons. Did you know however that cutting coupons is not the only way you can save money? Just as consumers are trying to save money businesses are also in the market to make money. In the process businesses have developed tactics to encourage consumers to spend more money. Once you are done cutting your coupons (which will save you money if you do it right) read the following tips to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck the next time you hit the grocery aisles.

• Look beyond eye level. We are a society of convenience and this extends to our shopping habits. Many people buy products that are placed at eye level on the shelves. I wouldn’t say that people are too lazy to stoop down and look at the bottom shelf or reach higher for things on the top, however the fact remains stores place the highest priced items at eye level. Check out products on the entire shelf to find the best bargains.

• Buying in bulk. Often recommended as a way to save money, think twice before you buy in bulk. Do you really need five boxes of the same snack? Will you consume the product before it expires? If you have a large family that has a genuine need for that justifies buying in bulk than it can certainly be a money saver, however if you buy more than you need just for the “savings” and end up throwing it away, you really aren’t saving anything after all.

• Pay attention to “sale” items. If you do the grocery shopping in your house, you are familiar with the sale items that are showcased at the front of the store. Manufacturers are generally behind the placement of the products at the front of the store and you may be surprised to find that if you compare the brand to others in the same isle the “sale” price really isn’t your best buy.

• Brand name isn’t always best. If you are trying to save money and haven’t yet tried store brand than you really should give it a shot. When you are looking to save money and find you will be amazed at the difference in your bill upon checkout by simply swapping a few brand name items for store brand.

• Shop with a list. You are less likely to fall prey to manufacturers tactics if you know in advance what you need when you get to the store. Make a list (plan for at least a week) and stick to it to avoid making impulse buys.

Tags: grocery, save money

This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 7:07 pm and is filed under tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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