|
Aug 14, 2002 Whether your headed to the supermarket to grab a loaf of bread or to stock up for the week, you can save money by boosting your "aisle IQ." Staples, such as milk, bread and meat, are usually at the back of the store. If you’re shopping for just a couple essentials, go straight to what you need and get out! When comparing costs, look at high and low, as well as middle, shelves. The more expensive brands are often displayed at eye level. Foods that kids want are often at eye level for children in carts. Keep your cart in the center of the aisle and move quickly past tempting displays to discourage grabbing. Read unit-price stickers on the shelf below each item. They show the name, retail price and cost per unit - quart, pound or ounce, for example. This lets you compare costs of comparable products, or between different-sized containers. Bigger isn’t always a better buy. Avoid coupons unless they’re for a brand you would normally buy. A $.75 savings on something you may not even use isn’t a savings. Before using a coupon, check that there is no minimum purchase requirement (if you have to buy three of an item but can use only one, its no bargain); that the item costs less than a comparable item on special; and that your store redeems both in-store coupons and the manufacturer’s coupon on the sameitem. Check costs of foods within the same group: rice with pasta, fresh vegetables with frozen. Compare prices of different forms of the same food (fresh, canned, frozen) and different styles (whole, sliced, etc.) to determine which option is the best buy. Use the scale to get the best produce values. One head of lettuce may look larger, but weigh less. Buy frozen large, whole turkeys (or turkey breast) when they’re on special and ask the butcher to saw them in half down the middle. This size is better for non-holiday meals and take up less freezer space. Likewise, buy a chunk of meat or a whole chicken and cut it up yourself. ------------ Teresa Cook is the official "home" columnist for Useless-Knowledge.com. Teresa is a 25 year old homemaker who lives in Idaho. She is married and has two children. Email Teresa: tdcook92@hotmail.com ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
