Are you losing more money than you realize every time you go through the grocery store checkout? According to business reporter Jennifer Waters, it’s pretty likely.
She joined Rob Hart on WBBM Newsradio’s Noon Business Hour this week to discuss the common grocery shopping habits that siphon money out of our wallets.
“Don’t drive to multiple stores in one single trip,” was Waters first recommendation. “I mean, if you go to Costco for bulk, but you go to Jewel for everyday things… then, you know, make sure you go for Costco maybe once a month or once every six weeks or something like that, because you’ve got all the bulk items, and then just shop at whatever your favorite store is after that.”
With less trips, consumers can also save on gas, which has been pricier this summer due to the Iran War. Bulk buying can help save, but it’s important to check expiration dates and it can help to share big bulk purchases with a shopping buddy, Waters said.
Waters also advised using credit cards instead of cash to build credit and get rewards. However, she said consumers should pay balances as soon as possible to avoid paying interest.
Another important tool at the grocery store is a shopping list. Sticking to a list can help shoppers avoid impulse purchases and tantalizing offers that will just go bad at the back of their fridge.
“I have a list of things I know I’m out of, but then I see a sale on something like, say, green beans or fruit… and I think, ‘Oh, okay, I’ll make those.’ I don’t have any idea of what I’m going to use them for, but hey, it’s a sale,” Waters told Hart.
That’s dangerous territory, she added. Stick to the list.
