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Home > Financial Tools > Advice & Planning > Money Management > How to Save on Groceries

How to Save on Groceries

The average American household spends $3,753. -illustration of grocery basketBreaking Up with Name Brands

Picture this: you’re steering your shopping cart through the sliding doors of the supermarket, shopping list in hand. As you walk the aisles, there’s a strategy you can use to save an average of 33% on your entire purchase. It doesn’t require any coupon clipping or rewards cards. And the best part? You still get every single item on your list. The secret? Buying private-label products instead of brand-name products.

What are private-label products?

Commonly referred to as “store brand” or “generics,” private-label products are manufactured by a supplier and offered under another retailer’s brand. Some suppliers exclusively offer store-brand products, while others are brand-name manufacturers who also use their facility to create value-brand products in a non-competitive category (a brand-name ketchup producer may also manufacture a store-brand tomato paste, for example). In some cases, a single supplier may provide products (with different recipes and formulas) for a number of different store brands.

Why are they so much cheaper?
Private labels are able to sell their product for less because their marketing and advertising costs are significantly lower than their brand-name counterparts (when’s the last time you saw a Super Bowl commercial for no-name tortilla chips?) and they’re able to pass those savings along to the customer.

What about the difference in quality?
One of the biggest obstacles in switching over to a store brand is a psychological one: getting over the idea that a brand name automatically means top quality. We’ve all had the experience of being disappointed after straying from a brand-name product—but by convincing yourself that all off-brand products are low quality, you’re missing out on some great deals, as well as some great products. In a Consumer Reports taste test, more than 60% of store-brand items were judged as good as or better tasting than the national brand-name items.

In recent years, retailers have been doing their part to make store brands more appealing to shoppers by updating their branding and packaging designs, and by including exciting specialty products in their store-brand lineup. Some grocery stores, including Target and Trader Joe’s, have managed to build extreme brand loyalty to their store-brand products.

Here are a few strategies to start incorporating more private-label products into your shopping list.

Single ingredient? No-brainer.

When something on your list has a single ingredient, it’s hard to justify paying more for a brand name (salt is salt; bleach is bleach). The same applies to simple pantry items such as flour, sugar and spices. For produce, learn to read the signs for freshness before defaulting to the label. Other kitchen cupboard staples such as nuts, dried fruits and canned foods are also interchangeable for the most part (although it’s always a good idea to check the ingredients list to see if there are any differences in preservatives or additives that might affect your decision).

Play with preference

Take a peek inside your fridge and pantry and take note of the products you consistently buy brand name. Is there a reason why you’ve never strayed from them? Do you have a real preference for the taste, or are you buying them simply because that’s what you grew up with? Substituting the occasional brand-name stock, seasoning or sauce with a store brand can be a great way to save money while exploring new flavor profiles.

Be selective about your brand loyalty

Sure, sometimes a brand-name product will outperform its generic version—but before you automatically reach for the national brand, think about whether that performance is really worth the extra expense. You will find that some items in your shopping cart are completely non-negotiable, whereas others have more relaxed requirements. For example, shelling out for brand-name super-soft tissues with lotion might mean the world to someone who suffers through allergy season, but for the occasional nose-blower, a store-brand box of tissues will do the trick. Be critical and selective about which specific products deserve your brand loyalty.

Trial and error

We tend to be creatures of habit; as a result, it can be difficult to introduce change into our routines. Not every generic product you try will be a winner, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any generic winners out there! Instead of overhauling your entire shopping list all at once, try swapping out one or two products every time you go to the store and see what works for you. Over time, you’ll be able to keep your household running while saving some cash at the same time.
Ways to Save on Groceries
How to Save on GROCERIES - The average American household spends $3,753 a year on groceries. Here are some tips to help you take a bite - DESIGNED TO UPSELL: Grocery stores are designed to make you slow down and wander around—and spend more money in the process. MUSIC: Studies have shown that music can affect your purchasing behaviors. Slow music makes you take your time and spend more money, while classical music encourages you to buy more expensive items. BULK SALES: The promotion of bulk pricing can entice you to buy more product than you need, at prices that aren’t necessarily cheaper. If you really do need more, be sure to compare unit and volume prices to see if you are actually saving. STORE LAYOUT: The dairy department and other essentials are usually located in the back of the grocery store. This makes you walk through the entire store to get what you need, increasing the likelihood that you’ll buy more. SAMPLE STATIONS: These delicious freebies are only there to break down your defenses and get you to buy something you wouldn’t otherwise purchase. BAKERY LOCATION: Grocery stores place the bakery department near the entrance, hoping that the smell of baked goods will activate your salivary glands and entice you to buy.CHECKOUT: This is the most profitable area of the grocery store. Glossy magazines and shiny candy bars entice you to throw a last-minute item or two into your basket. COUPON CLIP YOUR WAY TO SAVINGS - Check for store or product coupons ahead of time to save major bucks:  Groceries cost American households $312.75/month. An average family using coupons can save $38.40/month. That’s a potential savings of $460.80/year. NEXT-LEVEL COUPONING! SAMPLES: Always sign up for a free sample. In most cases, your freebie will also come with coupons for significant savings and discounts on other related products. Social: Like your favorite brands on Facebook and follow merchants on Twitter. Many brands reward their loyal customers with exclusive offers, so you’ll stay up to date on contests and giveaways. Homework: Hard work pays off when it comes to couponing and saving money. Do online searches for the best price and search for coupons from grocery stores as well as from product companies. B ECOM E A SHELF MASTER: Consider everything that you take from the shelf and place in your basket.  BRAND NAME VS. GENERIC: Save the brand names for products where you can really taste and see the difference. For everything else, generic or storebrand products are just fine and cost much less. PAYING FOR CONVENIENCE:Convenience comes at a premium price. Avoid prewashed and precut fruits and vegetables, shredded cheese and other overpriced foods. Instead, save money by doing some of the work yourself. COMPARE PRICE PER UNIT: Packaging shapes and sizes can make it difficult to compare prices. Some retailers break down how much you are paying per unit on their price tags. If you’re still not sure, take out a calculator. LOOK UP AND LOOK DOWN: More expensive items are placed at eye level. For example, brand-name cereals are typically placed on middle shelves, while healthier options are at the top and cheaper cereals are at the bottom. DO NOT PUT DOWN YOUR SMARTPHONE. Head into the store with the tools you need.GROCERY LISTBefore hitting the store, download a list app or use the built-in notes app to make a list of items that you intend to purchase. Stick with your list to avoid overspending. CALCULATOR Your phone does math! When in doubt, use the built-in calculator to figure out unit costs. COMPARISON Not sure if you’re looking at the best price? Use an online shopping app or your web browser to compare prices before buying. COUPONS Use your web browser or specialty coupon apps to search for grocery store and product coupons. REWARDS Most grocery stores have loyalty programs and many have companion apps that track your points and serve up tailored offers. BROUGHT TO YOU BY VyStar Credit Union -  Sources: CouponCabin.com, Food Marketing Institute, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s a Money Thing is a registered trademark of Currency Marketing
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VyStar Credit Union
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Jacksonville FL 32232
904-777-6000 or 800-445-6289
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