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Black Belt Shopper
(featured column)
How
to Get the Most for Your Dollar in the Marketplace
by
Larry Wiener
A recent visit to a local supermarket really
showed me how much black belt shopping can save on groceries on a weekly basis.
A mainstream supermarket that does a lot of promotions had
a coupon in the newspaper offering peanut butter for 99 cents if you bought $10
worth of merchandise at that store. Since the amount of peanut butter I
wanted didn’t add up to $10, I went looking for other items I needed to buy.
More...
As I went around the store, every time I
found something I wanted to buy, I said to myself, “I can get this cheaper at
. . .” That’s because mainstream supermarkets with lots of promotion
often have higher prices on non-sale items to make up for their promotions.
They hope you come in for the loss leaders and buy a larger number of other
items which boost their profits.
So where are these places where I get lower
costs? Here they are:
 | Specialty Stores When I
stopped to get that peanut butter, I was just coming back from Trader
Joe's, a specialty store that is popular here in California and in many
other states. This is a unique store with limited brand selection, no
sales, and good prices. Don’t let the fact that they carry spinach
feta appetizers and other specialty items distract you from the fact that
they have great prices on bread and other staples.
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| "B" Chains These
are chains of stores operated by the mainstream stores that are often
smaller, have fewer promotions, and offer lower prices. Here in
California, Ralphs' operates Food for Less while Albertson’s operates
Lucky and Maxx Foods. These chains may not have the fancy delis and
special services, but offer basic foods at better prices.
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| Other Plainer Chains Often
the chains that don’t advertise as much and don’t have the big specials
and other fancy amenities will offer good food at good prices. Super A
is an example of a chain like that here in California.
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| Dollar Stores These stores
have staple items usually priced at a dollar or so each or at multiples for
a dollar. There are both national chains and independently operated
stores. You have to watch out for quality at these stores, especially
some of the independent, but if you know what you’re doing, you can get
good deals on items like toiletries, pasta, cereals, and the like. Two
large multi-state chains I patronize are the 99
Cent Only Store and Dollar
Tree.
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| Closeout Stores These can be
great sources of groceries as well as other items. Some of their line
consists of closeouts that are available for only a limited amount of time,
but I have found that Big
Lots, a closeout chain near me, has a surprisingly consistent supply of
low-sugar cereal and ketchup at great prices.
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| Stores with Bulk Bins Why
pay for packaging? At some stores you can go to bulk bins and load
plastic bags with staples such as flour and sugar or with snack items.
You get just the amount you want or need and don’t pay for packaging.
Here in California and in Arizona Henry’s
has a variety of bulk bins and also has produce on sale.
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| Ethnic Markets You’d be
surprised what you find at ethnic markets. Because they appeal to a
tightly knit group, often they don’t need to advertise in the most
expensive media and are able to pass on the savings to buyers.
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| Warehouse Stores These huge
outlets that sell everything from cars to candy offer great deals, mostly on
large quantities. While best suited to large families, even as a
single person I find good deals on raisins, produce, spices, and other
groceries that I use regularly.
|
| Farmers' Markets These
usually weekly offerings may not always have the least expensive produce,
but they do have good prices on high quality fruits, vegetables, and other
items.
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Once you get used to using a variety of
sources for food, you will find that you know where to go for what. You
can then buy ahead. For example, I know the best deal for ketchup in my
area is at Big Lots. When I go there, I buy several bottles to save myself
a trip. Likewise, I know that Hebrew National reduced fat hot dogs are
best at Trader Joe’s so I get them there along with my bread and frozen foods.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with going
to a supermarket that does a lot of promotions and getting the items that are
reasonably priced there. If you get all your groceries at one promotional
store, however, you may be throwing money away. If you are on a tight
budget and have several people in your home to shop for, the time spent learning
about offerings in your area is worth it.
For more tips on how to get the most for
your dollar in the marketplace, check out my e-book The Black Belt Shopper’s
Guide, available on our
site. A revision is coming in the next few months, so look for it.
* * *
Copyright
© 2007 by Larry Wiener, author of The
Black Belt Shopper's Guide. All rights reserved. Want more
money-saving tips? Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly
newsletter!
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