You head to the grocery store armed with your list, coupons and you’re ready to save some big time bucks! Yet, you come out of the store spending much more than you had originally planned for. You spend hours going over your receipt trying to figure out where your plan went wrong.
More than likely you have been a victim of the grocery store traps! Yes, those grocery store traps are very real and they trap more shoppers than you might think. Even the best couponers can get sucked into these traps because they aren’t always easy to spot. Today I will let you in on what traps to watch out for when you are doing your grocery shopping.
How to Avoid Grocery Store Traps
Avoid the Samples
Of course you want to taste the yummy looking sample the nice lady is giving away for FREE! First off you will probably love the sample and want to purchase the product. This is a trap for several reasons. First off you probably don’t have a coupon for the product, secondly it isn’t on your list and lastly sample items are normally a new item and not on sale!
Shop the U
The staple grocery items tend to be located on the two side walls and back wall of the store, thus the reason it is called the U. When you start shopping the inner aisles it is easy to pick up items you don’t need. The inner aisles contain the snacks, processed foods and typically the most tempting items. Be cautious when shopping the inside aisles.
Don’t Shop the Entrance
When you first walk into a supermarket you will normally be greeted with a large display of promotional items. Unless you have already mapped out a strategic plan to shop this area, skip it! This large display area is set-up to get you to purchase items you probably don’t need or want.
Avoid the Endcaps
The endcaps of the aisles are another area in the store that offer promotional displays. These “sales” look great and can really draw you in. If these items are not on your list do not pick up anything! This is one of the quickest ways to bust your grocery budget!
Shop the Produce Last
The produce area of the store is usually one of the first things you see when entering a grocery store. If possible shop this area last. Produce bruises very quickly and if you shop the produce area first you could end up with a bunch of bruised fruit. Shopping this area last will allow you to set your produce on top of your groceries and get it through the check out line and home safely.
Watch Out for On Sale Signs
Stores have tons of “On Sale” signs throughout the store. It is so easy to get caught up in the word on sale and buy more than what you need. Before you head to the grocery store check the store circular to see what is on sale and what is truly a great deal! Trying to decide if something is a good deal while in the store is very hard
We’ve put together the best shopping deals and coupon match-ups for most of the major stores! Check it out over on our stores page!