Grocery Sure: Why Certain Foods Leave Budget Flailing

Do you enjoy grocery shopping?

Most people don’t and for a variety of reasons.

Some argue that the crowds, the lines of people and just how it seems like everyone shopping exactly when you are don’t have a clue about time management and have no problem scoping out produce for hours.

Others say the grocery store is tedium at its finest, having to shuffle down the aisles with that cart with the broken wheel and do your best to follow a list (of course, it’s only in your head, and you’re trusting memory to recall it all).

The real problem with the grocery store is that it can be a money pit, and not because you have to spend quite a bit to stock your fridge but rather the man missteps the average individual makes when they’re there.

For instance, do you have a list at the store? Do you realize that not having a list leads you to spend about twice as much every time you visit the store? That means a simple, five-minute list making task can save you thousands every year.

And you’ve all heard the phrase about not going to the store hungry, right? Well, that has some truth to it since you spend 30 percent more at the store if you haven’t eaten beforehand. You’re so hungry that you buy more than you need, and even worse you end up throwing food away as a result.

The freezer is only so big, right?

Also, if you’re making a list and checking it twice, you might want to look for a few items and products that are overpriced and have less expensive alternatives that are just as good. If you’re someone who loves a fresh product, lettuce specifically, why are overpaying for salad in a bag. It’s nearly double the cost of a head of lettuce that is the same (or better, actually) but you pay more because it’s already bagged.

And if you’re someone, like anyone, who has a busy, hectic schedule, you might buy groceries but also hit the section of the store where salads, sandwiches, and soups have already been made. These items are overpriced, and the markups are adding cost to your grocery trip in a big way. What’s even harder to swallow is that you’re paying more and only get one meal out of that sandwich or salad, when buying deli meat by the pound or your lettuce for the same cost can make a week’s worth of lunches. Essentially, you’re just eating out but without the restaurant.

Make your grocery store experience more enjoyable by preparing, spending wisely and avoiding high priced items that you can find elsewhere. If you can’t get rid of the lines, the carts and the stress of it all, at least you can save some money.