Weirdly Useful Supermarket Secret Savings Tricks

Stressed out by the cost of food? Who isn’t? Try these unusual grocery store savings tricks for cheaper and deeper savings

Paying for food in this economy is probably one of your biggest outlays, and a recurring expense. 

If you’re financially strained, actively switching careers and/or trying to get out of debt, spending less on food is a great way to start taking control of your money.

Growing your own vegetables or raising hens for eggs could be a partial solution. But your hard work won’t cover everything you consume, and there are skill sets and  cash outlays to getting started. 

Here are a few fast and easy tricks that could help reduce your food budget:

Shop on Markdown Days
Most supermarkets begin their sales week on Wednesday, but forget about that for now. I’ve got suggestions to help you find bargains that are deeper than normal sales prices. These deals aren’t advertised and you will have to find them yourself.

Shop on Sunday afternoon and Monday mornings
These are my favorite times to grab bargains on prepared foods, dairy and produce. Bargains are more plentiful on stuff that doesn’t keep too long. Your market wants to out the older merchandise and make room for new merchandise.

Prepared foods in particular have an earlier expiry than frozen foods and manufacturer packaged and sealed items. Those chicken enchiladas and shredded cheese in clam shell packaging will only stay fresh for a couple more days after Monday. Stores want to get it out of there. It’s better to let it be sold for less than throw it out.

Pre-prepared foods are luxury foods, so get there early for your chance to eat cheaply for a couple of days. 

Last Week’s Sales Price is Your Price if  The Sign is Still Up
Here’s the deal in most or all states: If you’re shopping during a new sale week, but the old sale sign is still up, the old sale price is what you will owe them. 

The regular price may come up at the register, so you will likely have to point out to them that the old price is up.

Cuddling your cash means you need to peak up politely and don’t be a wuss. If they owe you a lower price, go get your markdown. Serving you and following the law is their job.

Ring up Your Own Groceries if You Can
Back when self-checkout lanes were barely a thing, I rejected them. At the market, if an employee encouraged me to enter the self-checkout lane, I said I’d rather wait for a real cashier to keep someone employed.

Yes, I am ornery, but that’s how I felt about self-checkout at the time. Now I see that ringing up my own groceries saves time and gives me more control over what I’m being charged.

Oftentimes, the store forgets to update the registers to reflect that an item is on sale. It’s too easy to not notice I’m being overcharged  when someone is ringing up my stuff. But when I’m the cashier I will notice.

I get it that I’m working for free cashiering my purchases. It may bother you, but it doesn’t bother me. I can watch the prices like a hawk, and it also gets me out of the store faster.

By the way, if I am charged wrong I am sure to get my refund at the Customer Service desk. Yes, it’s a hassle, but as a Cash Cuddler getting my rightful cash back is my job.

Weekends at Warehouse Clubs For For Sampling and Savings
I’ve had accounts at both Costco and Sam’s Club, and know it’s tons of fun to party hearty at the sampling booths. The store wants you to. It’s one of their best features.

Here’s a few facts about their sampling policies that you ought to know (which is the same at both stores):

• Sampling is unlimited, so if you’re a glutton then gorge away! I won’t judge. But it’s good form to take one sample, get back onto the line and wait your turn for another sample.
• Weekends are better days for sampling, as stores have more foot traffic, so there will be more sampling opportunities.
• It’s perfectly okay to take samples home with you. Sometimes I take a little box along to neatly pack up my samples. 
• You don’t really need to be a member to enter the clubs and enjoy the samples. Several times as a non-member I went to Sam’s for vaccinations. The membership checker at the front is supposed to allow nonmembers access to the store to visit the pharmacy.
• If you’re hungry with time to waste, nonmember it’s fine to visit the sampling booths during the wait time after being vaxed. (I’m aware the post-vaccination Covid waits have been changed or eliminated.)

Sign up For the Market’s Savings Club
Supermarket chains tend to offer members special deals and coupons to retain their business. Kroger offers lots of savings and coupons, so sign up for the club. 

You may not want to join a club that would accept you as a member (lame old joke), but my store sends me coupons in the snail mail for  free cheese and other savings every month. This involves a bit of coupon clipping.

Most stores have apps where they post coupons for the week. Discounting through an app requires no coupon clipping and extends the savings. 

Pay Attention to Cost Per Ounce Pricing
Bigger is not always cheaper. We’ve been trained to expect a larger size will cost less per ounce, but sometimes a particular size of a product costs less. 

Check the stickers for the best price per ounce, because that’s the pricing that matters most. 

Don’t Shop Hungry
This is an old dieters’ trick, and it works to keep you from making high calorie, high cost decisions. 

Eat something before you go shopping. Easy, right? 

Shop With a Sense of Adventure
I approach shopping with a sense of adventure. What will I find, and how low will my purchases be? 

Shopping like it’s a savings game is fun for me. Try it out.