Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Need extra cash? Tips for grocery shopping

Here are a few tips to help men -- and women not used to shopping -- navigate the grocery aisles.

Sign up for customer-loyalty programs. Such large grocery chains as King Soopers and Kroger have customer-loyalty cards that shoppers flash at check out to save on designated items. Some of these programs also are tied to further incentives, such as double coupons and savings on gasoline purchases.

Never shop with the kids. While older children can make great assistants, impatient toddlers tend to grab or demand items you don't need while limiting the amount of time you can spend comparing prices. If you don't want to come home with bags full of Count Chocula and candy bars, leave the kids at home.

Shop the perimeter. Perishable necessities usually are located around the perimeter of stores, so fill up on milk, bread, etc. before heading into the center aisles.

Look high and low for cheaper prices. Stores stock higher-priced, name-brand items at eye level, so make sure you stretch and bend for better prices.

Check out store-brand alternatives. Many manufacturers roll products off a conveyor and slap different labels on the same merchandise. Generic or store-brand products are usually the cheapest on the shelf.

Compare unit costs -- not product prices. Most stores now include the unit cost in small print next to the product price. While that giant pack of toilet paper may appear cheaper, a quick scan of the per-sheet unit price often reveals a four-pack of the generic brand is much cheaper.