With the price of food rising you can still save when you go shopping for groceries if you change a few tactics. Most grocery stores have weekly specials you can find out about them early by signing up for email alert of new food sales. And if you train yourself to purchase mostly the buy one and get one free or to buy mostly the store brand name products you can save on average .69 cent to $1 per item.
Tip #1: For example, Harris Teeter is famous for their buy one get one free specials ..on a lot of the products customers like such as Ben & Jerry Ice cream or Breyers and Edy’s ice cream. I compared this week: Harris Teeter brand – Neopolitan ice cream (vanilla, choc and strawberry flavor) @ 2 for $5 vs. Breyers buy one for $5.69 and get the second one free. In this case if you chose the store brand you would save .69 cents or if you just bought one of the store brand you only pay $2.50.
Tip #2: I know a lot of people like shopping at the big warehouse stores to buy in bulk like BJ’s and Sam's but the biggest drawback is the whopping $40 annual membership fee you have to pay. I found that BJ offers non-members a free one day pass so you can shop without paying the $40 fee but the catch is they will add a 15% surcharge to your total bill. So if you purchase $200 the additional surcharge would be $30…that’s not bad for a one time shopping deal but if you plan to shop there more than one a year you are better off getting a membership. Here is the one day pass.. http://www.bjs.com/join/one_day_pass.shtml
Tip #3: Since meats are one of the higher priced grocery items next to wine, another savings tip is to ask your local meat manager what day do they get their new shipmen of meats. The local Harris Teeter typically get a new shipment of meat on Tuesdays so why is this valuable information you might ask? What do you think they do with the existing meat in the store .. YOU got it!! they mark it down for a quick sale on that same day and the next day to make room for the new shipment. So the savings reduction on the existing meat in inventory can range from 30 – 50% off. I have seen a rack of ribs marked down from $9.99 to $6.99 that’s a $3 savings per rack.
Tip #3: Since meats are one of the higher priced grocery items next to wine, another savings tip is to ask your local meat manager what day do they get their new shipmen of meats. The local Harris Teeter typically get a new shipment of meat on Tuesdays so why is this valuable information you might ask? What do you think they do with the existing meat in the store .. YOU got it!! they mark it down for a quick sale on that same day and the next day to make room for the new shipment. So the savings reduction on the existing meat in inventory can range from 30 – 50% off. I have seen a rack of ribs marked down from $9.99 to $6.99 that’s a $3 savings per rack.
Tip #4: And don’t forget to check for the red sign displaying “Manager’s Special” in the meat department also during the week when several meats such as the shrimp and Tilapia fish for example would be reduced by $2 – $3 per pound.
So your grocery savings can add up quickly by buying groceries that are only on sale which is usually during the week. By the time the weekend comes Friday, Saturday and Sunday you normally wouldn’t see a lot of sales unless it’s a holiday or there is a huge amount of inventory that still needs to move.
Harris Teeter is not the only store that use these same methods for inventory control and sales promotions so ask and find out the inside sales scoop!
