For a majority of Americans, going to the grocery store is a must. Unless you grow a massive garden and grow your own grains, raise your own chickens and pigs and have cows to milk, chances are you head to the grocery store fairly frequently. If you are trying to keep those trips on the cheaper side, there are some things you should always avoid buying there. Here’s a list of things you should NOT put on your list the next time you head out to the grocery store:
Pre-cut Anything: Whether you’re looking for stew meat, veggies for fajitas or some apple slices for your kid’s classroom snack, if you take advantage of convenience buys and purchase pre-cut foods, you’re going to pay significantly more. Cut them yourself and save big!
Deli Cheese: The deli always looks so tempting with their lavish displays and all sorts of meats and cheeses to choose from! The problem is, you can pay up to 2x as much for the exact same cheese as you can find in the same store, just in the regular ol’ refrigerated cheese section. And you’ll save even more if you buy block cheese and slice it yourself or ask the deli to slice it before you buy it {did you know they’ll do this?}.
Alcohol: If you are looking to save on beer and wine, a grocery store isn’t your best bet. Try a warehouse store for the biggest savings. Costco or Sam’s Club are both stores that will save you a lot on these alcohol purchases. Unless the grocery store is having a big sale, you’ll typically pay 10-20% more on beer and wine purchases.
Organic Fruits and Veggies: If you have a local farmer’s market nearby, take advantage of their organic selection. You will normally pay a junkton more for organic produce at a grocery store. If you don’t have a farmer’s market near you, Costco is your best bet {as long as you’ll eat their larger quantities before they go bad!}.
Cake: This one is tempting because they’ve done all the work for you, and sometimes, their decorating skills are amazing! But I can make a cake from scratch for a fraction of the cost. The cheapest pre-made cake I could find at our local grocery store was $16, but they were selling basic cakes for up to $30!! I can make one from scratch for about $4. You can even simplify and find a $.99 box of cake mix and pay a few more bucks for a tub of frosting. Not quite as delicious as homemade, but when you’re saving over $25, it’s worth it!
Detergent: Your warehouse type stores are the best bet here, followed closely by your Walmart/Target-type stores. Almost without fail, you will pay more for detergent at a grocery store. Plus, the selection will be significantly less as well.
Pet Food: Same as above. Grocery stores have the highest prices for pet food I’ve ever seen! Costco, Walmart or Amazon are the way to go.
Cards, Gift Wrap, etc.: This one might seem silly, but you really will pay more for a greeting card at a grocery store. Try a dollar store for the cheapest prices on cards, gift wrap, gift bags and tissue paper. If you can’t make it to a dollar store, a CVS or Walgreens are still a better bet.
Individually Packaged Items: One bag of chips vs. a case of them. One donut vs. a dozen. One can of soda vs. a 12-pack. When you buy an individually packaged item, you will often be charged double for it! And don’t let those bags of chips at the checkout line tempt you. They are so much more expensive. In fact, many grocery store price those last second chip bags only a few cents less than a full-size bag in the chip aisle!
Office Supplies: I was at a grocery store to pick up a few things when I remembered we were out of Scotch tape, so I perused the office supply aisle. Ohmygosh. They wanted almost $10 for a flimsy stapler. I was shocked at their prices. I decided to hold off on our tape purchase until my next trip to Target!
Kitchen Goods: They strategically place their overpriced pots and pans and spatulas right next to the cake mixes, so you’ll remember you need one in a pinch and pay twice as much as you would at a big box store. Resist the urge! Normally the price is high and the quality is low. Not a good combo!
Diapers: Warehouse and big box stores are the way to go here. Also, your drug stores often have great sales and coupon deals on diapers. Even getting them shipped from Amazon is a much better option that buying at the grocery store.
Cosmetics: Grocery stores aren’t known for their vast health and beauty section. If you just must have that tube of mascara, it’ll cost you {and you’ll probably only have one or two options!}. Try Amazon or a drug store for some great deals or a big box store for massive selections and discounts.
Personal Hygiene Items: Exact same situation as above. In a grocery store, you’ll find a limited selection and higher prices on everything from shampoo to razors to sunscreen.
Flowers: Odd one to include, but it’s true. Not only will you pay more, but grocery store flowers are typically not the freshest {unless they have an in-house florist}. Costco has my very favorite selection and prices on flowers, but you can often find roadside stands and farmer’s markets with gorgeous, inexpensive flowers plucked fresh from the farm!
Batteries: Buy your batteries in bulk and you’ll save A TON. I purchased a 24 pack of batteries on sale on Amazon for almost the exact price our local grocery store had 8 of them priced at! I’ve even seen cheaper battery prices at gas stations! Yikes!
Cleaning Supplies: Unless you desperately need that toilet bowl cleaner, hold off for a trip to a big box store or warehouse. Or even better yet, make your own DIY cleaning supplies! { Check out my full list of DIY Cleaners.}
And there is my list of things I avoid purchasing at the grocery store. Do you have any more to add to my list?
Save on,
~Mavis
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