Get Savvy at the Supermarket: Shopping Savers for One

Hidden costs add up when you’re food shopping for one. Why? It’s no secret that as a single you are spending your hard earned dollars on foods that are designed to attract and satisfy other customers. Between the aisles of kid-friendly snacks and family-sized meals, one trip to the supermarket often turns into a workout for your wallet or exercise in frustration. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. You can save satisfy your lifestyle needs and save dollars and cents at the grocery store.   Here are some savvy shopping secrets and tips to consider that will help you on your next trip:

-          Take Time to Plan Ahead: Preparing a grocery list in advance may sound tedious but it does have financial advantages. For starters, listing out all the ingredients and food items you need ahead of time will keep you from costly impulse buys that shoppers are prone to make. Also, it gives you the time to consider discounts and special offers that will save you money.  Plus, with all the grocery app gadgets available today, planning ahead does not have to be a time suck. Grocery Gadgets is one that has easily earned top status in the category. Designed to help users save money at the supermarket, this application features ecoupons that can be redeemed at point of purchase plus a comparison shopping function to ensure you get the best prices.

-          Step Beyond The Supermarket: Food is everywhere, from the grocery and corner stores to the discount and mass merchandisers like Walmart and Target. (Walmart and Target have greatly expanded their grocery sections).  Selection, quality and prices vary on a regular basis. The local fruit store, for example, may be a better place than Whole Foods to pick up the freshest produce.  And canned goods may be cheaper at the pharmacy, so take time to get to know the merchants in your community and get in the habit of shopping around.

-          Skip the Shortcuts: Prepackaged veggies may be more convenient, and snack packs are friendlier in size, but don’t get fooled by the marketers! Prices for most of these items are inflated to account for fancy packaging and prep-work that’s done for you.   Consider this example: A 10.5 ounce bag of Sun Chips sells for $3.59 on FreshDirect.com compared to the 3.4 ounces you get for $2.59 cents when you buy the 100 calorie snack packs. That means you’re spending well more than twice the price for the same product when you grab the snack packs!

-          Be Cautious about Expiration Dates: If you’re not a big dairy consumer, those expiration dates can sneak up on you. Instead of letting a jug of milk or container of cottage cheese go sour, you can grab a single-serve container at a fraction of the cost. Minding the caution above about smaller sizes costing relatively more, know the circumstances, like avoinding waste, where it makes sense.  Same goes for orange juice, yogurt and even hummus. Sample packs of creamers, condiments and dressings, often found for little or free (don’t abuse it) at delis and convenience stores, are another great way to save on perishables that you don’t use regularly.

-          Shop in Season: Foods that are on prominent display, particularly fresh ones, are not necessarily in season and may carry jacked up prices. You can just as easily entice your tastebuds with frozen fruits and vegetables which maintain their nutritional value and are a lot easier on the wallet than premium produce.

-          Don’t Get Lured in by the Packaging: It’s easy to become a label whore, particularly when shopping for specialty diet and health foods.  Be wary of products labeled Gluten or Fat Free, Low Sodium or Organic - as these claims drive prices but may not be legitimate or sensible statements.  If it is not a dietary or personal requirement to get one of these specialty products, try generic supermarket products which boast the same flavor for a fraction of the price.