Released June 13, 2008
MURFREESBORO, Ark. – Sharp-eyed shoppers trying to save a buck as grocery prices increase know that a sale is not always a sale, says Robbie McKinnon, Pike County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Be wary of sales that can actually encourage shoppers to buy more, and know how to take full advantage of the lower prices, she said.
One tactic is to check the expiration dates.
"Many times items might be on sale when inventory is high and the expiration date is approaching," she said.
Taking advantage of store brand items, which are usually cheaper than name brand, is another suggestion. Shoppers can find these items on the upper and lower shelves, as items at eye level tend to be name brand and more expensive.
Convenience foods, marketed to save time and money, can actually increase a family’s food expenses drastically. A box of oatmeal with 30 servings will cost roughly $5.50 less than the same amount of instant oatmeal.
Another tip is to check the unit pricing. Often items that are bundled in large packages billed as "economy sizes," actually more expensive per unit than smaller sizes.
Using coupons can be another money-saving tool, if the shopper uses them correctly. Otherwise, coupons can increase the bill and the amount of wasted food.
"If you save 50 cents on a $4 item that you hadn’t planned to purchase, you have actually added $3.50 to your shopping bill," she said.
"You could possibly cut your food waste by $40 per week," McKinnon said. "That will buy you about 10 gallons of gas. Every little bit helps."
The Cooperative Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/june2008/0613grocerylist.htm
Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu
