12 Ways to Save at the Supermarket
Compare, weigh, and watchif you concentrate on these three basic shopping strategies, you can keep your grocery bills in check, and take savings to new heights. Here are 12 ways to do that:- Weigh all produce, not just loose items. Bags of apples, packaged strawberries, and heads of lettuce can differ in weight, even though they're supposed to weigh the same and sell at the same price.
- Know prices. This is the only way you will really know if you are getting a deal.
- Buy marked-down meat. Find out when your store routinely makes markdowns, follow behind them, stock up, and freeze it.
- Ask for a rain check if an advertised sale item is out of stock.
- Don't buy items you can make yourself, such as chocolate milk, marinades, and grated cheese. It's usually cheaper if you do it yourself.
- Plan meals around those store specials where you got such a great deal.
- Make comparisons based on price per ounce or per unit. Big differences are possible. At some stores you may need to consult your calculator, but others post unit prices on the shelves.
- Watch for volume discounts. Stock up on items you use a lotpaper towels, soft drinks, toilet paper, dog food, canned goods.
- Stay away from impulse buys. Stick to your list.
- Coupon shop aggressively, using coupons from as many sources as possible. Being organized can mean big savings, particularly if you can apply a coupon to a sale item.
- Always be on the lookout for marked-down items like holiday candy, paper goods, or torn bags of dog food or charcoal.
- Use store brands. They are almost always cheaper, and most stores guarantee a full refund if you don't like them. There's nothing to lose, except for a return trip to the store. But make sure you compare the prices, because national brands sometimes will surprise you with special promotions and coupons.
first appeared: 11/12/2000
Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos
Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.Related Stories
If you enjoyed reading this story, 12 Ways to Save at the Supermarket, then you might enjoy these other stories.Discuss this Article
There are no current discussions for this article. Why not be the first?
Below are the most recent American Profile articles:
- Why Do We Say That?
- Thar's Gold in Dahlonega
- Homesteader's Four-Bean Casserole
- Harlem Globetrotters
- Get Moving
- Turning Heads with Wooden Hats
- Quick Apple Dumplings
- Hearty Fare
- Easy Appetizers
- Dressing Women for Success
Below are the most recent, highest rated American Profile articles:
- Bill Gaither: The Gospel of Giving
- George Strait Is Just a Cowboy at Home
- Kenny Chesney's Christmas
- The Big Heart of Big Oak Ranch
- Library Cats
- An American Life
- Where the Land Is Free
- Restoring the Little Sisters of Lady Liberty
- Hats off to Stormy Kromer
- TV The Way It Used To Be
Below are the most recent, highest rated American Profile recipes:
- Buttermilk Brownie Cake
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Best Ever Meatloaf
- Strawberry Sour Cream Pie
- Vinegar Chicken (AR)
- Midnight Biscotti
- Shrimp Feast
- Georgia Cornbread Cake
- Italian Cream Cake
- Carolyn's Morsels
Below are the most recent articles from our Relish sister site. Click on the "Spry" tab above to see
the most recent articles from our other sister site.
- Bistro Chicken
- Abracadabra
- O is for Orzo
- Moroccan Stew
- Nantucket Bay Scallops
- Spiffy Pop
- Striking Oil
- More Popcorn Recipes
- Pork Pointers
- Week of Oct 5, 2008
Below are the most recent articles from our Spry sister site. Click on the "Relish" tab above to see
the most recent articles from our other sister site.
- Hit your stride
- Must-Have Medical Tests
- Quick Core Workout
- Live Better Now September 2008
- Your Checkup Checklist
- Ab-solute genius!
- The Power of Ahhhh
- New Ways To Walk Off Weight
- Halt Headaches Fast
- dining in with... Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf
Where to read American Profile
American Profile is a weekly magazine carried in newspapers across the country. Check out list of partner papers to see where you can read American Profile.
American Profile is a weekly magazine carried in newspapers across the country. Check out list of partner papers to see where you can read American Profile.


