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How Money Are You: Trip to the Grocery Store, Ralph's

SavvySugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:30:35 -0800

Grocery stores like Ralph's that stay open 24 hours a day give us the option of shopping at any hour. This means we're not cornered into going when it's convenient for everyone else, too, and you don't feel rushed while comparison shopping your way down the aisles. When you shop at an odd time, you're more likely to make good decisions about what to buy. Can you guess how much some of the items cost last time I shopped at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday?

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How Money Are You: Trip to the Grocery Store, Trader Joe's

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:50 -0800

Every time I visit Trader Joe's, I leave with a few things that I can't wait to try for the first time. Discovering new delicious items is good insurance against the temptation of eating out. I dine out much less than I used to but the food in my belly is certifiably tasty, so I'm a happy camper who's saving more on food. Can you guess how much I paid for certain items in my cart? Take the quiz!

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How-To: Get the Most From Coupon Clipping

SavvySugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:45:10 -0700

Coupon clipping was introduced more than a century ago, and the present recession has given the practice a popularity boost. For some it's a hobby, for some it's a necessity, but for most people, it's just a smart thing to do. Use my tips to get more out of your coupon clipping.

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How-to: Save by Spending on Select Days

SavvySugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:00:14 -0700

Making a calculated effort to snip your expenses isn't easy. While there are things you can do to ease the pain of cutting back, tracking spending requires daily budgeting and discipline. Clearly, some days are better than others. Most of you agree that weekends are the hardest time to keep your wallet in your purse, but there are some simple ways you can bank on time of day discounts throughout the week. How can you save by spending on the right days?

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Reader Tip: Stock Up Your Pantry For Winter

SavvySugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:00:30 -0700

Over time we each develop a unique saving style, which is why I appreciate the Thrifty Tips - Getting The Most Out of Life group in the SavvySugar Community. It offers a place for you to preach your tips to other SavvySugar readers trying to turn a little into a lot and learn from fellow savers.

Beachwalker shares her seasonal saving suggestion:

I love buying fresh from the market in season. It is a delicious and inexpensive source of fruit and veggies. Before Winter I like to stock up on niblets of corn, peaches and pineapple tidbits when there is a sale. (They have to be less than half price.) Frozen, I like peas and mixed vegetables, as well as blueberries when they are on sale.

After stocking up on seasonal goodies some shoppers even can fruits and put them in the pantry to enjoy later. Have a thrifty tip to share? Join the Thrifty Tips - Getting The Most Out of Life group in the SavvySugar Community and preach!

Do You Buy in Bulk?

babysugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:00:17 -0700

Once upon a time, a trip to the grocery amounted to two brown bags and a $70 tab. Then came baby and the bill doubled along with the loot. More mouths to feed means more food to buy, making bulk purchases more attractive. On any given Saturday, moms can be seen sweeping the aisles of Costco or Sam's heaving packs of toilet paper and diapers into her cart. She can avoid multiple trips and escape the exorbitant bills of the local grocer. And if disaster strikes, chances are she'll have enough toilet paper and prepared foods to get her family through a storm.

Do you buy your groceries in bulk?

Do You Prefer to Shop at the Farmers Market or Grocery Store?

partysugar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:30:58 -0700

15 Store Brand Items That Taste Just as Good

SavvySugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:30:03 -0700

As a creature of habit, you might find it difficult to branch out of the brands you're used to buying. We all want to spend less at the grocery store without sacrificing flavor, and Consumer Reports saved us all a whole lot of time by taste-testing a slew of supermarket and name brand items. In a few cases the name brand was declared tastier, but the majority of tests either ended in a tie or with the store brand as the winner. Check out 15 items that have the Consumer Reports taste stamp of approval.

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Are You Buddies With the Staff at Your Local Grocery Store?

partysugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:50:09 -0700

On average, I shop at Mollie Stone's on California Street in San Francisco twice a week. I've been picking up groceries there since I moved into my current apartment two years ago. Naturally, I've developed a relationship with everyone from the fishmonger to the spirits director to my favorite checkout guy, Travis, who always asks what I'm making. Being friendly with the supermarket's staff not only helps me get better service, but it also means I have a more enjoyable shopping trip. I have a feeling I'm not alone in the matter, so tell me, do you converse with the workers at your market?

Stores See More Shoppers Ditching Goods at Checkout

SavvySugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:30:08 -0700

The other day, I was waiting in the checkout line when I found myself reaching into the grocery cart to restock something I didn't really need. The item was something I'd purchased in the past and didn't particularly enjoy, but it was on sale and I thought it couldn't hurt to give it another shot. Once we reached the register, I realized the likelihood of using it and actually being satisfied was slim to none.

According to the Associated Press, more shoppers are rethinking their cart's contents once they reach the checkout line. It might seem like a hard thing to measure, but store managers have noticed an increase in the time it takes for workers to restock the abandoned items. Joel Bines, a director at AlixPartners, a turnaround consultant, surmised that people "want to be in the act of shopping, but they don't want to be in the act of buying."

Have you been ditching items at checkout once you evaluate your wants vs. needs?