Grocery stores are low margin business, which means they rely on selling a lot of items and focus on up-selling customers on expensive items when possible. Savvy consumers are able to see these expensive items and avoid them, but sometimes it can be difficult to tell when you’re getting ripped off by the grocery store. So, here’s a list of the most common grocery store rip offs that you can avoid purchasing during your next visit…
- Bottled Water – Water is a lot cheaper coming from the tap or filtered through a re-usable filter. Recent studies have also shown that tap water is better for the environment as the process of making and filling bottled water leaves a large carbon footprint.
- Energy Bars – Energy bars are often placed by the checkout as an “impulse buy” for consumers looking for a quick, healthy snack. However, these bars are often just as healthy as a candy bar, but cost two or three times more.
- Pre-made Meat Patties – Having meat patties already formed for the grill may be convenient, but the luxury can cost several times that of ground meat in bulk. Taking the time to make your own patties can save you a fortune.
- Salad Packs – Bags of salad can be a major convenience to making a fresh salad, but they often cost three times as much as buying the vegetables fresh. Salad kits that include small bags of dressing and croutons are also a rip off.
Combined, avoiding these and other expensive items at the grocery store can help you lower your monthly bills and become a smart shopper.