Buzz
Your grocery shopping habits might be all wrong. Unfortunately, I can't physically be there to guide you through the aisles at Piggly Wiggly and make sure you're doing it right. I mean, I'm currently working on an army of atomic super-robots to assist with that, but until a benevolent investor comes through with the necessary funding, you'll have to settle for reading through this list of the seven biggest blunders people make when grocery shopping.
Shopping in the wrong order
This is a classic rookie mistake, but it's one that everyone has made: you toss a pint of Chunky Monkey into your cart and go about your shopping trip as if everything's fine. When you get home, however, you discover your ice cream has melted into a soupy mess. Even worse: the meat you bought is now warm. You could end up getting sick from that. To avoid this culinary tragedy, follow this shopping order:
Non-perishables
Refrigerated goods
Frozen food
Deli items
Failing to make a shopping list
If you don't plan ahead and make a list before heading to the store, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Not only will you likely end up with items you didn't intend to buy, but you'll also forget the things you went there for in the first place. Most likely, you'll also end up spending more money than you should.
So, always make a list. Keep a master list of essentials—eggs, milk, coffee, and so on—and then add specific non-staple items for that trip. Pro tip: Check your fridge and pantry while making the list to avoid buying duplicates of anything you already have.
Shopping when hungry or thirsty
Your mom or favorite aunt probably warned you not to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. But, if that advice doesn't convince you, there's scientific proof to support it. A 2013 study by Cornell University researchers found that participants who shopped while hungry tended to buy higher-calorie foods compared to those who were full. Also, be cautious of shopping when you're thirsty (or drunk, or especially high—unless, of course, you're shopping for your next high).
Purchasing non-food items at the grocery store
Supermarkets are convenient one-stop shops for all kinds of non-food products like cleaning supplies, school supplies, motor oil, and greeting cards. But these items are often overpriced at grocery stores. You'll get a better deal buying them online or at a big-box store.
Another commonly overpriced item at the grocery store: Alcohol. Prices for booze can vary quite a bit depending on where you buy it. Grocery stores are typically in the middle of the price range, while smaller liquor stores are more expensive, and chain liquor stores tend to be cheaper. However, the best deals can be found at big-box stores like Costco, where the prices are so low, it's almost impossible *not* to buy a bottle.
Shopping at the wrong time or day
The busiest times for grocery shopping are weekend afternoons, the only days when most people like Jill and Joe Wageslave have some free time to stock up on food. If you want to avoid the crowds, try shopping on weekday evenings, usually between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., or early mornings during the workweek. If you must go on the weekend, get there as early as possible. Most people aren’t up at the crack of dawn to shop on Saturdays or Sundays.
Letting the store psychologically manipulate you
Grocery stores have a reputation for manipulating customers, but you don’t have to fall for their sneaky tactics. Here are just a few of the tricks they use:
The maze effect: It’s easy to get into a supermarket, but much harder to leave. This is why there are one-way doors: keeping you inside longer means you're more likely to spend more.
The produce section deception: Grocery stores use specific lighting and misting techniques to make produce look extra appealing, but that doesn’t make it taste better—just shinier and quicker to spoil.
The dairy section time trap: The dairy section is often as far away from the entrance as possible. That quick trip to grab milk usually leads to impulse buys like floor wax or pet food.
The shopping cart trick: Have you noticed how huge the shopping carts are? This design encourages you to buy more, since you’ve got so much room to fill up.
Product placement manipulation: Stores often place pricier items at eye level to encourage you to buy them. A good way to fight this is to crouch down and shop lower on the shelves, commando style.
Aspirational grocery shopping
Think about the produce drawer in your fridge for a second. How many vegetables are on the brink of being tossed out? When you bought that kale, you probably envisioned yourself as the health-conscious person who whips up kale smoothies every morning. But now? The kale is probably rotting away, while you're running out of Lil Smokey Cocktail Sausages and Hot Pockets. Stop shopping for the version of yourself you wish you were and accept your real eating habits. You're doing your best, and that's enough—kale smoothies or not.
