Shopping for groceries can be a dread, especially if you know you’ll be waiting in line for an hour or so. But with these tips and clever strategies, you’ll shop like a pro. Turn your grocery runs into efficient and money-saving missions to leave you with better food and more savings. Today, we’ll bring you 10 genius supermarket hacks to note for your next grocery trip.
10. Navigate Checkout Lines Like a Pro
When falling in line, choose checkout lines with fewer people, not fewer items. One person with a full cart moves faster than several people with small purchases, each requiring separate payment processing. Self-checkout is fastest for 10 items or fewer, but avoid it for produce-heavy trips unless you know all the PLU codes. Cashier-operated lines are more efficient for large shopping trips.
9. Check Expiration Dates by Reaching Behind Front Items
This tip saves you the hassle (and money) of realizing you got expired products. Products with the longest shelf life are always stocked in the back. Cashiers and stock clerks rotate inventory by putting newer items behind older ones. Reach behind the front row for products like milk, yogurt, bread, and meat to get items that will last days or even weeks longer.
8. Use Store Apps for Digital Coupons, But Shop Smart
When making your shopping list, download your store’s app to get exclusive digital coupons and personalized deals from your shopping history. However, remember to shop smart by not letting these deals dictate your list. Grab only the deals that you’ll be needing. Most apps show real-time inventory and aisle locations to make your trip efficient.
7. Decode the PLU Stickers on Produce
Those small stickers on fruits and vegetables contain the information you need. Write this down: four-digit codes starting with 3 and 4 mean conventionally grown produce. Next, five-digit codes that begin with 9 are organic items. Meanwhile, five-digit codes with 8 are genetically modified products but are rarely used in consumer markets.
6. Time Your Protein Purchases for Savings
This hack is for buyers who aren’t sensitive to meat purchases. If you want to grab savings, visit the meat and seafood counters 1-2 hours before their closing time. You’ll see marked-down items that are approaching their sell-by dates. Don’t worry, they’re perfectly safe to consume as long as you cook them within 24-48 hours or freeze them immediately. You’ll save up to 30-50% on high-quality meats.
5. Use the “One Touch” Rule for Packaged Items
Excessive handling by customers causes damage to the product. With that, gently press or inspect your items like bread, eggs, or delicate produce before putting them in your cart. If you think about it, this tip also reduces your decision fatigue, and of course speeds up the shopping trip for busy buyers.
4. Shop with Cash for Better Budget Control
If you’re serious about saving money, ditch your credit card and pay with cash for groceries. Withdraw way before grocery shopping and stick with the cash that you have. This method also eliminates the temptation for rewards programs, which means more debt. You’ll be amazed by how much you spend on groceries.
3. Check the Bottom Shelf for Hidden Deals
Supermarkets place the most expensive and highest-profit items at eye level. The best deals are often found on the bottom shelves where store brands and sale items live. Generic brands on bottom shelves can be 30-50% cheaper than name brands and are often made by the same manufacturers with identical ingredients.
2. Shop During Off-Peak Hours for Better Service and Selection
If you have the time, hit the store early morning (7-9 AM) or late evening (after 8 PM) to get the best experience. You’ll get a lot of store benefits, such as freshly-stacked shelves and shorter checkout lines. If you’re not really in the mood for a weekday run, then a weekend morning will do. They’re the perfect time for fresh produce and bakery finds. Meanwhile, late evening offers marked-down meat and seafood products.
1. Shop the Perimeter First, Center Aisles Last
Start your shopping trip by walking along the outer edges of the store where fresh produce, dairy, meat, and bakery items are located. These whole foods should make up the majority of your cart. Save the processed foods for last by navigating to the center aisles. With this way, you’ll have less room and budget left for unnecessary packaged items. Plus, you’ll naturally eat healthier when fresh foods dominate your purchases.