Have you ever left the supermarket juggling shopping bags in one hand while squinting at the receipt in the other?
“What did I even buy for all this money?” you wonder as you scan the list for obvious culprits.
Sometimes groceries are just pricey. Sometimes you’re forced to purchase specific items that rarely go on discount.
And sometimes, you’re the one to blame.
Don’t believe you’re sabotaging your own grocery trips? If you’re guilty of any of the six mistakes below, it’s time to tweak your shopping habits.
1. You Skipped Making a List
This is grocery shopping basics, folks. Did you really expect to stroll into the market without a plan and somehow leave with only what you need?
You know that appealing olive bar lures you every time. You know the Sunday meal you’re planning calls for an oddly specific ingredient whose name will probably slip your mind.
Stop relying on impulse decisions!
Creating a list reduces the time you’ll spend wandering the aisles trying to remember everything. A list also helps you stick to a spending plan, particularly if you think ahead about coupon stacking and rebate opportunities.
If you aren’t jotting down a grocery list — whether it’s on a premium notepad or a torn envelope — you’re not doing yourself any favors.
2. You Ignored the Unit Price
Bigger must be better, right? Sometimes, but not always less expensive.
Don’t automatically grab the largest coffee tin or detergent bottle just because you were told bulk saves money.
Compare unit prices. The unit price is usually printed on the shelf tag beneath the product, reading something like “$0.59 per ounce.”
If the unit price isn’t displayed, divide the item’s price by the number of ounces or other unit of measure. You may discover that the smaller package is the smarter purchase, especially when the bigger option isn’t on sale.
3. You Didn’t Confirm How Many to Buy to Get the Sale Price
I catch myself rolling my eyes in line more often than I’d like to admit. It usually plays out like this:
Customer, frantically checking the register: “I thought these were $2.50 each?”
Cashier, calm: “No, that’s if you buy two. Two for $5.”
Customer: “So I don’t get that price if I only buy one?”
Cashier: “Nope.”
The cashier shrugs, the shopper mutters, and I try to be sympathetic, but this is also shopping 101. If you spot a flashy “two for” tag, read the fine print.
Some stores list the single-item price; others make it clear you must purchase the specified quantity to qualify for the deal.
4. You Paid More Because You Used a Coupon
Coupons are tempting, especially when they knock a dollar or more off something already on your list.
Clip those coupons, but scrutinize the price once you’re in the store. If the brand-name product still costs more than the generic after the coupon, rethink it: Do you really need that brand?
5. You Assumed Store Brand Was Always Cheaper
Conversely, you can’t assume the store label is always the best deal. With store flyers, loyalty discounts, coupons and cash-back apps, name-brand products can sometimes be reduced to a lower price.
Occasionally you’ll need to combine deals for the premium item to become the better bargain. Other times, you’ll simply get lucky.
6. You Forgot Your Reusable Bags
At least a third of the time I reach the store entrance and realize (usually with too much internal drama) I left my reusable bags at home.
In many areas you’ll be charged for each disposable bag you take from the store.
If you’re only picking up a few items, it’s manageable — you’ll arrange your milk-eggs-bread balancing act on the walk home. But if this is your regular full grocery run, that extra $0.05 or $0.10 per bag stacks up fast.
Plus, it’s better for the environment: Make bringing your own bags part of your routine. Maybe tuck your in-progress shopping list inside one of your reusable totes.
And don’t try to tell me you can’t get reusable bags for free. Have you ever attended a local event with freebies? I dare you to see how many complimentary tote bags you can collect in your community.
Have we learned our lessons? Alright. Let’s give it another shot.
Your Turn: What embarrassing supermarket mistakes have you finally learned to stop making?
