March 31, 2008

How Large is Your Grocery Bill? 

          In case you’ve been on an extended vacation, down with the latest version of the flu for several months or just not eating – grocery prices have skyrocketed in recent months.  The whys for that include the price of oil and thus gasoline and thus transportation, price of commodities, such as North Dakota wheat, labor costs and availability of some items such as dairy products plus a few other factors including the stock market and interest rates.  Whatever the reasons, most consumers are finding themselves on less than friendly terms with their grocery bills.  If you would like to be friends again with the groceries you are unpacking, try the following.

          - Plan it, write it, follow it.  The “it” being a menu of some type for the week or month.  You may not have decided on every dish for every meal, but any meal planning done in advance is a sure-fire way to avoid higher grocery bills.  Double-check your menu against what is already sitting on your cupboard shelves or hiding in your freezer before heading for the store.

          - Rein in impulse buying.   That colorful package that proclaims the product within is new and improved?  Unless it contains something on your shopping list, leave it on the shelf.  Opportunities for impulse buying are everywhere in your typical supermarket – the aroma of bread from the in-store bakery, the free samples in the frozen foods section, the magazines and candy by the check-out lines.  All are designed to encourage you to add that particular item to your shopping cart.  If new and improved of a given product is what you are looking for, then you have found a match, otherwise decline the offer.

          - Create your own convenience foods.  This is a strategy that I have mentioned in earlier news columns.  Unless you are in a severe time crunch or require only one of an item, avoid purchasing convenience items such as prepared vegetables or pre-made sandwiches.  These items are more costly, and your grocery bill will be lower if you buy your own ingredients and making them yourself.  Note the qualifier though of, “if you need only one”.  Purchasing a loaf of bread, a jar of mayo, a jar of pickles, meat, cheese and lettuce to make one sandwich with no plans to make any others before the fixings spoil is one exception to this strategy.

          - Check all the store shelves.   The higher priced and newest items are strategically placed at eye-level.  So look at the top and bottom shelves for potential better bargains.  Also, often the healthier (and less expensive) items are more difficult to find so check all shelves for the best buys.

          - Groceries and Groceries Only.  Save buying toiletries, cleaning supplies and often laundry detergent for your next trip to one of the big box stores and you’ll save dollars too.  Bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, and other such items can be 20% to 50% less.  Ditto for air fresheners and air freshening candles.           

          - Shop Happy -   The adage, “Never shop when hungry” has been around almost as long as grocery stores.  A recent spin on it is that being in a positive mood when shopping means you are more likely to take the time to compare prices, watch for sales, check expiration dates and actually do all the other little tips and habits that can reduce your grocery.

          Shop frequently or rarely – Yes, that is a contradiction.  For some shoppers, shopping frequently means they purchase small amounts which do not spoil and so waste their food dollars, they purchase only what they need for that day and they are able to take advantage of unadvertised sales or clearance items.  For other shoppers, shopping rarely means they stock up on sales, they avoid impulse buying by seldom being in the store and they use what they have on hand to avoid more trips to the store.  Determine which type of shopper you are and plan accordingly to enjoy your lower grocery bill.