6 Costly Habits to Avoid at the Grocery Store
How much do you usually spend on groceries each month? According to Value Penguin, the average American household spends about $500 monthly on food. However, that figure might seem a bit low to some families who spend over $700 on groceries each month. In our household, we typically spend about $350 monthly since we rarely eat out. This means most of our meals, including those for work and school, are prepared at home.
The cost of lunch brought to work averages about $7, adding up to $140 monthly or $1,680 yearly for my husband. School lunches for my son cost $3.40 each day, which totals around $68 each month or $816 annually. We manage to save quite a bit both through these lunches and our supermarket trips, which helps reduce our overall food costs.
Looking to cut down on your grocery bill and avoid pricey restaurant meals and costly work lunches? There are plenty of ways to save on groceries, like making a shopping list, visiting the store less often, and using apps and coupons to find deals. However, one of the best ways to save money is to break some of your bad shopping habits. Here are six habits you should ditch to shop more cost-effectively:
1. **Brand Loyalty:** While being loyal to a brand can be good sometimes, it often costs more. Brands often focus on flashy marketing rather than competitive pricing. If brand isn’t crucial for what you’re buying, consider store brands to save money. Small savings on various items can add up.
2. **Impulse Buying:** Emotional purchases can blow your budget. We often buy items on a whim that we don’t even like and end up wasting. Stick to buying what you need and allow a small budget for fun treats if you tend to buy on impulse.
3. **Skipping Price Comparisons:** Always compare prices to avoid spending more than necessary. It’s easy to do within a store since similar items are usually together. Also, check weekly ads for the best deals.
4. **Ignoring Labels:** Read labels carefully. Picking the wrong items because you didn’t pay attention can lead to wasteful spending. Take a few extra seconds to make sure you’re getting the right product.
5. **Not Checking Receipts:** Look over your receipt after shopping to ensure everything is charged correctly. Mistakes can happen, and if you’re expecting a discount, double-check that it was applied.
6. **Overlooking Store Reward Programs:** Even though we advised against strict brand loyalty, store reward programs are useful if you shop regularly at certain places. These cards can offer extra savings without requiring you to shop at one store only.
Do any of these shopping habits sound familiar to you? Making a few changes can help you save more money. Many loyalty reward cards are free and don’t come with the pressure of store credit cards. Have you ever caught yourself in any of these expensive grocery shopping habits?