Loba Blogs

We’ve all done it. We go in to buy milk and eggs, and end up with a $60 bill for all the stuff that we thought we needed. Half of the stuff we buy may be things that we think are “on sale” or are based on impulse.

Coming from a marketing background, I’m always skeptical of the word “sale” but I have to admit that I even fall for them sometimes. By the time I realize it was all a big scam, it’s too late and I really have no energy or patience to argue over a few dollars and get a refund.

The best part is when you walk into a grocery store and the merchandise have been switched or moved around. Believe it or not, product placement is rather expensive and not every company can afford to be at eye level in prominent areas. So look up and down!

As most shoppers seek convenience to avoid wasting gas and traffic, we become narrow sighted and develop “tunnel vision”. We end up just looking for the products that we usually use and don’t look around.

For this reason and a few others, grocery stores rearrange their merchandise forcing us to look for the items we need and buy a few unnecessary impulse ones. Five grocery bags and $60 later, we come home upset and irritated about why we didn’t just make a shopping list and actually stick to it.

Even those huge signs in the front for pasta, frozen foods or ketchup, are likely paid for by the companies to get more visibility. This in turn means that the sale sign doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

Then of course, there’s the regular floor plan of grocery stores. Milk and eggs are far apart and in the back of the stores. Produce, bread, dairy and meat products are all along the edges of the stores with so much “sale items” surrounding them.

The concept is simple really. If you have to walk all the way to the back of the store, you’re likely to see at least a couple of things of interest by the time you’re there. To get what we need is usually an exercise on its own!

As my plan is to save more money and improve my spending habits, I’m committed to research everything further to make sure that this becomes a permanent change and I won’t fall into any traps, God willing!

I don’t believe in changing anything dramatically as I know myself quite well and I know there’s no way that I’ll be able to stick to such plans. I will calculate how much everything should cost and I will carry cash and no cards!

So the plan so far is not confusing. I will be making shopping lists and sticking to them. I will decrease the number of unnecessary junk purchases and mark the needed ones on the list as well.

I plan to reduce junk and processed food items, and will cut water, many frozen foods, frozen juices and sugary items. This in turn will be saving me at least $100 per month. Every dollar counts and adds up!

I want to stick to the edges of the stores, which actually carry the healthiest items. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and breads. My other big plan is to use coupons. Clipping coupons may be considered thrifty but why pay full price for items that the companies are promoting?

I highly believe in discipline and don’t think that we can preach discipline to others, if we lack it ourselves. Groceries are a large monthly expense and just the thought of eating healthy while saving money sounds good to me!

Loba

Coupon websites:

Canada
http://www.save.ca
http://www.coupons.smartcanucks.ca
http://www.coupons.smartsource.com

United States
http://print.coupons.com
http://www.mysavings.com
http://www.mycoupons.com