SUPERMARKET SAVVY

1. SUPERMARKETSAVVY

2. Moving through the supermarket calls for special skills and awareness because of the variety of food and non-food items available and advertising strategies.

3. Advertising Strategies being aware of strategies can help you save money • Impulse buying: most popular and profitable items are at eye level to encourage buying; on end isle displays and at check out. • Multiple pricing: encourages buying more, for example, 3 for $1.00. • Specials: buy one get one free • Celebrity endorsements: often don’t tell you they don’t use the product.

4. Create brand recognition: shop for a brand instead of a product (Kleenex vs. facial tissue). • Advertisements appeal to basic needs : security, self-esteem, acceptance. • Positive images: associate the image with the product. • If the claim is too good to be true, it probably is! • Manufacturer and store coupons. • In store samples, free mailed samples. • Loss leaders: get you in the store to purchase the bargain and you often end up buying extra items.

5. Supermarket Shopping Tips • Learn where things are in the stores where you shop frequently. • Shop systematically…up one aisle and down another to avoid backtracking or missing specials or items needed.

6. Ask for personal advice when you need it in self-service sections. • Handle merchandise with care and respect to help keep overhead down and control food prices. • Save time at checkout counters by placing items on conveyor belt with prices or UPC codes visible, put like items together, and have payment ready. • Get to know your supermarket and department managers.

7. A SHOPPING LIST saves time and helps control spending and forgetting of items. • Keep the list handy in the kitchen to write down items needed as foods and supplies run short. • Check both staples and items needed for the week’s menu before going shopping.

8. Organize the list according to major sections in the store to save shopping time and avoid forgetting items. • Add specials advertised in the newspaper to the list when the prices are advantageous and the items fit into the overall food plan.

9. Food Shopping Skills Use a shopping list as a guide, but be flexible. Buy seasonal foods in season. Take advantage of low prices and specials or other price reductions. • Buy the quantity best suited to needs and storage facilities.

10. Buy the quality of food best suited to the intended use. • Compare the cost five ways: • Different brands • Foods in different forms such as canned, frozen, fresh, dried • Different stores • Similar foods such as pears vs. peaches, rolls vs. bread • Built-in-convenience vs. made from scratch

11. Read the labels to determine contents, quantity, number of servings, preparation instructions, serving suggestions and other useful facts. • Learn the desirable characteristics or features to look for in different types of food. • Check condition of package or container.

12. Consider cost per serving and amount of waste such as bones. • Buy by the ounce, pound in foods where there is no waste. • Store foods properly. • Develop price awareness.

13. Dates and Labels • Sell date: indicates the last day the product should remain on the store shelf; allows reasonable time for home storage after that date. May also say “sell by (date)” or “best if purchased by (date)”

14. Use by date: recommended date to use the product by. Product may still be safe to eat after the date has passed but quality will start to go down. Examples: breads, cereals, dressings Note: A package date doesn’t guarantee quality, that depends upon how the product was handled.

15. Convenience Foods • Are food products sold prepared or semi-prepared. • Come in many forms. • Generally, the more the food is processed/ prepared, the higher the cost. • Save time, but more expensive. • May be worth the added cost. • Most contain additives and are higher in fat and sodium. • If on a limited food budget, may not want to use.

16. Coupons • Usually offered on national brands; check cost of other brands to compare. • Use when the final cost is less than other comparable brands/products. • Are often used to get consumer to try new products. • Consumer often purchases items they don’t need because of coupon incentive. • Rebate coupons – require work on part of consumer.

17. Storing Food Proper food storage prevents spoilage and preserves the nutrients, flavor and appearance of food. Food spoilage represents wasted money and can be one of the reasons for failure to keep spending within what your food budget will allow.

18. How, Where and When to Shop How: Buying in quantity can be the least expensive providing you have a need for the particular product. Large sizes usually give more value per ounce of food than smaller containers. Be careful to compare the prices though!

19. Where: Where you shop affects the value you receive for the money spent. Prices vary among different stores so you must evaluate the benefits of different stores and their convenience. When: When you shop will depend on your schedule of activities and amount of free time. Shopping when stores are well stocked and offer good buys is recommended.