Black Belt Shopper
(featured column)
Bargain
Grocery Shopping
by Larry
Wiener
"Vons'
Double-Coupon Policy Is Expiring Soon"
That was the headline for an article
in the business section of the LA Times on March 31. Vons also does not
accept computer generated coupons from sources such as smartsource.
Another chain, Ralphs' will now only double one coupon for a specific item per
visit. Does all this mean that the days of bargain
grocery shopping is over? Hardly. It just means that we need to
change strategies. More...
Over the past
several years I would go through the Sunday supplement every week and cut out
coupons. I would then go to the two chains that doubled coupons and often
find that the item I wanted to buy was on sale as well. I racked up some
pretty significant savings that way.
More recently,
however, I haven't been doing as much couponing. I haven't found as many coupons
for items I wanted and the savings aren't as great. I don't find myself
making coupon runs every week anymore. Does that mean that my food bill
has gone up? Not really. I just have noticed that as coupons become
less important, I discover new ways of saving on groceries. New resources
have emerged and I actually like some of them better.
Dollar stores:
These are springing up everywhere and they have more to offer than ever to the
budget-conscious grocery shopper. Here in California the two main chains
are the 99 Cent Store
and Dollar Tree. Dollar
General stores offer staple items often of similar quality to the
supermarket and deeply discounted prices. Quality can be an issue on some
items. I have found that many of the trash bags, for example, at dollar
stores are of inferior quality. I depend on dollar stores for pasta, soft
drinks, many health and beauty items, and boxed meals. You don't have to
wait for a sale. I even buy penny-a-minute long distance at the dollar
store. Dollar stores have become more popular, especially among the upper
income set recently.
Ten for $10 deals: In response to dollar stores, some supermarket
chains are offering items on sale for 10 for $10. While they hope that you
buy ten of whatever they are selling, you can buy as many or as few as you want
and still pay $1 each. Some supermarkets even have dollar aisles that sell
items similar to dollar store ones on a permanent basis. In a way, this is
better than couponing if you have a large family because you can get as many or
as few as you want of something rather than being bound by how many coupons you
can muster up.
Ethnic supermarkets: I know people in my area who almost never go
to a mainstream supermarket, but who buy all their groceries in Asian markets.
Besides selling ethnic foods, many of the larger ones sell more basic items
often at great prices. Because these markets have a built-in clientele,
they don't have to advertise much. They are interested in having their
customers do a greater portion of their shopping in ethnic stores and reward
their buying with low prices.
Warehouse clubs: If you have a large family, warehouse clubs can
provide you with the right balance between economy and convenience. Large
quantities of food are often (though not always) well-priced. That means
you don't have to shop for all grocery items as often and you generally get good
quality food.
Closeout stores: Stores like Big
Lots have also gotten into the grocery business big. Wanting to
compete with dollar stores and other low-cost providers, these outlets buy odd
lots, closeouts, and other grocery items cheap and sell them at low prices.
Often they have the name brands that you see in the supermarket, but their
selection is limited to what they can get a good deal on.
Bulk buys: Some stores, such as Henry's
Marketplace here in the West allow you to buy staples without the packaging
from big bins. They provide plastic bags and you buy as much or as little
as you want. You save because packaging is expensive, in some cases more
expensive than the item itself. Many of these stores also have a great
variety of offerings, such as rye flour, that you can't find easily.
Farmers' markets: These weekly events often offer top-quality
produce at reasonable prices. They may not always be the least expensive
places to buy produce, but the quality is usually very high and the prices are
generally reasonable.
Specialty grocers: When the workers at major supermarket chains
here in California went on strike a few years ago, I discovered that I could buy
staples such as ground beef and bread cheaper at Trader
Joe's, the store I go to for pesto dips and other specialty items, than at
my local supermarket. Once again, Trader Joe's doesn't endeavor to carry
every conceivable brand, just items they think are worth carrying and at great
prices.
Supercenters: Both Wal-Mart and Target are opening up supercenters
which include full-line supermarkets. Prices are excellent. While
some consumers are boycotting Wal-Mart hoping to encourage them to be better
corporate citizens, these centers have a great deal to offer to a cash-strapped
family trying to feed everyone.
Free grocery saving tips: Couponing still can pay, depending on where you
live (if you live in the U.S.) and your own grocery needs. Michelle Jones,
the founder and publishing editor of BetterBudgeting.com, offers free coupon
tips (how to use and NOT use coupons) every month in her featured column, Coupon
Savings, and hundreds of free grocery saving tips and printable coupons at GrocerySavingTips.com.
Suppliers are constantly changing their marketing practices and we
budget-conscious shoppers have to change with them. For yet more
strategies on shopping, grocery and otherwise, look up my e-book The
Black Belt Shopper's Guide which is available on this site.
* * *
Copyright
© 2006 by Larry Wiener, author of The
Black Belt Shopper's Guide. All rights reserved.
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