Save Your Money - Know the Sneaky Tricks

 Hello and good morning to all.  It is a warm morning, but gloomy looking.  A bit foggy this morning, but nothing like a few days ago.  Goodness, that day, you could barely see across the street.  We are supposed to get rain and storms late afternoon and early evening.  Then temps are to fall a bit.  We will get through these ups and downs - spring is just 30 days away!

The price of goods at the stores is high enough, but there are many tricks and strategies the stores use to get you to spend even more money!  YES, that is right - it is time to take back some control of your money.

These apply to MOST major grocers - not necessarily small ones.

When you walk in it is almost overwhelming.  Many big stores have fresh produce, bakery and floral all at the front.  It is pretty, healthy looking and it smells good!  Not a mistake on their part.  They are trying to set your brain into the mode of shopping.

Carts are BIG.  If you only want a couple items, get a little basket or skip the cart.  A couple things in a big cart - looks sad and lonely.  We tend to over buy with a bigger cart.

ALSO - that wobbly wheel?  It isn't that they just don't fix - it makes you move slower to control it.  (I just return it - so it doesn't work on me).

MUSIC - that is even part of it.  Slower calming 'elevator' music, has you walking slower and just dallying through the aisles.  That is the plan.  During busier times of the day - you will notice peppier music - to help the crowds move along faster.

Popular items are at eye level, and they tend to be the most expensive items.  Always look higher and lower for better prices and different brands.  You will notice a lot of the cereal aisle has the big brands a little lower - that is so it is eye level for kids!!! (yep, they are tricky)

We tend to think those endcap items are sale items.  Most of the time not - manufacturers pay extra for prime spots - you see it, think it is a sale - and buy.  Don't be fooled.

I have noticed at my regular store that they have increased the length of the aisles.  Used to be a walk through halfway down the aisle - not now.  You enter an aisle you have to walk the length of the store to get to the other end!  Makes you stay longer and look at more.

Milk, meat, cheese, eggs, butter are almost always at the back of the store!  So you have to pass a lot of stuff to make purchases there.  They want to temp you to buy more than you came for.

3.99 feels cheaper than 4.00 - so many places use the .99 principle.  You read left to right and you see the 3 and the 4.  Most always pick up the 3.99 item, even if really isn't what they want - it appears cheaper to the mind.

Many people never read the UNIT prices.  Just because something is bigger we tend to think better buy.  Not always so (same with smaller).  It is important to pay attention and do the math.  They keep that very small (in print) on the tags - the law says they have to list it - it doesn't say you have to be able to read it.  It truly does pay to take an extra minute and figure it out or use a calculator.

EX.  I can buy a gallon milk about every day for 2.29 - but they have sales of half gallons for 1.39!  People fall for it all the time.

Some stores actually pipe in smells - they want you to feel hungry while shopping.  If you are hungry you tend to spend more.  ALWAYS eat before shopping and try not to be enticed by the smells in the store.

CHECKOUT areas make more $$ per square foot than other areas in the store.  All those items that entice you - candy, chips, drinks, gum, magazines......  I know I have been guilty at times.

SHRINKFLATION - pay attention.  The package may look the same, and the price may be the same - but you get less in it.  This has been happening a lot for a few years.  You buy a bag of chips - it is half air.  There are less cookies in a package.  Cereal box looks the same, much less inside.  1/2 gallon of ice cream is no longer a 1/2 gallon!!!!!  It is all over the place.  Be aware.  READ!

CONVENIENCE items - sure they are nice and yes, we have all purchased them once in a while.  They do cost more.  Pre-cut items, pre-seasoned, even water.  At my local Kroger a small bowl of precut watermelon (all year) is minimum $5 - in the summer I can get a whole watermelon for less.

A head of broccoli is decently priced most of the time - getting less product in a bag pre-cut is almost twice as much.   A head of lettuce gives me more per dollar than a small bag of precut lettuce.  Pre-seasoned meat - do it yourself.  It is super easy.  Stew meat is super costly - a single cut of meat that can be used in several meals would be better.  Water - there is a lot of trash from bottles and wrapping and a filter at home - will give you good water from the faucet (you already pay for it).  A filter and a nice reusable water bottle or a, insulated glass pays for itself in a few weeks.

10 for 10 - items are a $1 regardless.  99% of the time you do NOT have to buy 10.  It just makes you think you get a better deal.  Just buy what you need - don't be fooled.

They see us coming, and they know we are often in a hurry - so they play games with our minds.  Don't fall for it!  Go with your list and get your needs and get out.  Don't dally along, unless you have money to burn!  This isn't just grocery stores - many other stores do the same thing.

A 'sale' isn't always a sale.  Some items always have a sticker on them that says sale.  It isn't!!!!!  When seeing those big signs offering mark-down prices - look under that sign!!!!  If is often the same exact price or even a lesser price - YES they can do that!

Keep your money as long as possible.  Don't be tricked.

Happy shopping.

Keeping you all in thought and prayer.