Smart Spending

By broke&disgusted

January 26, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this

ALSO….make sure you know the terms of BOGO. Meaning if you only need one of a BOGO item, some stores will half the price…some give you no break at all unless you buy the 2. They usually don’t disclose up front so you have to ask.

By lovelyliz

January 26, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this

Look at the big picture!!!!!!!!Offering big discounts on product with high markups is not real discount at all. I’ll do store brands more often than not to save $$$$

By try to be savy shopper

January 26, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this

Do not beleive the large discount stores ad “We match our competitors prices” (it is all over their TV advertisements). I had a local drug store ad with me for a major manufacturers glucosamine pills. It was buy one get one free. When I spoke to the manager.She proceeded to tell me that they do not match any items from the pharmacy area due to it not being run their their main company. They apparantly lease out this area to another company and they do not have to match any of their competitors prices. Wow.

By Mike

January 26, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this

I know Publix will sell one item at half price during bogo offers. Not sure about other stores.

By JB

January 26, 2009 8:59 AM | Link to this

Publix is also guilty of marking items up quite a bit when thet do the BOGO. You have to be careful.

By ShopperGirl

January 26, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this

I’m confused. If you bought two items at $1.29, they’re about 65 cents each - cheaper than the 79 cents at the other store. Two items at $2.39, each one is about $1.20 - cheaper than $1.75. Maybe I’m misreading though, and you’re saying that you paid $2.39 for each can of soup, for a total of $4.78?

And like another commenter said, Publix in Georgia (and, as far as I know, Kroger) doesn’t require you to buy two items to get the sale price, each one is half price instead.

And yes ;) I’ve beaten your receipt savings, but not on a regular basis.

By Publix CEO

January 26, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this

Well, that was a good secret, Mike, until you let the cat outta the bag. Seems a policy change is in order. I’m on it.

I despise these type of articles. I “skyped” for years and it was fantastic. Now everybody on earth uses it and it has become overcrowded and unstable.

Here’s another tip. Goody’s “going outta business” sale is about the same as their every Saturday sale since I’ve been going there but you still see the Walmart Freakshow streaming in on a daily basis.

Good deals are hard to come by,simply because when you find one, usually some idiot starts shouting it to everybody else and the store/vendor says to themself, “I guess I could go up on this”.

It happened at my favorite salvage store. Over the last 15 years, I had bought furniture, appliances, electronics, and much more. But over the last 5 years, I have bought nothing because they now charge more than I can find it for elsewhere.

By Paul

January 26, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this

Here is one for you. I was once a smoker (quit a few months ago). Every once in while the cig mfg’s would have buy 2 get one free packs. One pack costs around let’s say on average $3.75. So you would think that if you bought the buy 2-1 free, it would run $7.50. Wrong. Was in a QT and they charged me $9 for it. A convenience store down the street from me charged $9.50. Yes, when averaged out it was cheaper than a buying 3 individual packs, but still I think it’s wrong. Kind of like all of these phone companies charging just $25 for their service. When you add all of the fees and taxes, it is almost $50. Their answer is that “we are only charging you $25. We broke down all of the taxes and fees that the gov’t is charging”. FALSE advertisement. If this was truely legal, why then gas would be around 90 cents a gallon. But of course you would still pay around $1.70 due to gov’t, state, county, and city taxes.

By Troglodyke

January 26, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this

This tactic works because most consumers are ignorant about how to spend their money. They don’t understand how marketing and economics work. It’s sad, because they needlessly throw money away when just a little bit of studying could save them big bucks.

There is a great book about this: Predictable Irrationality, by Dan Ariely. It explains how we get blinded to this sort of thing, and what people can do to stop being so dumb.

I will not waste time and money driving to several stores to save a few cents (another dumb thing people do). But I will compare prices, and I have a pretty good idea what my favorite products cost at each of the two main grocery stores where I shop. I buy store brands, check expiration dates, and buy what I need only unless it is a really good deal on something that will not go bad before I can use it. My Foodsaver storage system (affectionately referred to in my home as the “sucky bagger”) is one of the greatest purchases I ever made. It keeps things fresh for months.

I use coupons some, but most of the things I buy do not fall in the coupon category. Using lots of coupons is great—if the items are ones that you need and will use! And sometimes, the name brands are so much more than the store brands that even a doubled coupon will make the item more than the store brand at regular price.

If more people did their homework, the stores would catch up. They are just trying to make a buck, but it doesn’t have to be yours if you feel like they are fleecing you.

I love Publix, but it is consistently more expensive than Kroger, so I go to Kroger for essentials and only shop at Publix for special meats and “get one on the way home” items (Publix meats are far superior to Kroger’s). Even then, I avoid the hot stuff, because it is outrageous. Their chicken fingers are delicious, but they are so expensive. I will not pay for convenience unless I have to.

Something else I noticed is that so many stores are “going out of business” right now, and you’ll see huge percentages off, but don’t believe it! Most mark up the prices before they do the discounts, so it is a rip. I went into Linens-n-things and was disgusted. 20% off is chicken feed, anyway, but when you’ve marked up the price before you started the liquidation, it really stinks. If you wait until things are 50-80%, there is nothing left you want.

Be smart, people!

By Judith Baisch

January 26, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this

To many people don’t remember, THAT A BARGAIN ISN’T A BARGAIN, unless you NEED IT! Judith B

By Cheapskatin

January 26, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

Kroger occasionally clears out items it will no longer be carrying. This is your opportunity to swoop in, like a hawk over a cornfield, and score a serious bargain.

I am still swooning over my latest coup. Loreal mascara, which I think is superior to super-pricey department store brands, was offered 2-for-1, at $11. HA! Not swayed. They lowered to 2-for-1, at $7. Hmm. Still not budging. Then Loreal ran some coupons in the AJC, $2 off mascara. Because I also get another newspaper I had two $2 off coupons.

Next time I was at Kroger I used my two $2 off coupons, and took advantage of their 2-for-1 at $7, and with my $4 off I paid three bucks for two mascaras. Nowww we’re talkin.

Watching sales and clipping coupons is a little time consuming but when you view it as sport it’s fun. Plus you can save tons of money! The trick is not to buy something that you don’t need, won’t use or is still too expensive even with a discount - just because you have a coupon.

By ShopperGirl

January 26, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

People are funny. I personally love using coupons - matched with sales, this week I was able to get free (brand name) cough drops and microwave popcorn (both things my family uses - OK, so I wouldn’t buy the popcorn unless it was free, but it’s a nice treat!). I spent 5 cents apiece on a few cans of a tomato-chili-pepper blend that goes a long way in various recipes. In past weeks I’ve paid 10 cents for (name brand, whole wheat) pasta, gotten organic milk for nearly free, and stocked up on hand soap for 30 cents. When a sale comes up with a coupon, brand name items are quite often cheaper than store brands, and why yes I get my newspapers inexpensively in various ways so I’m not spending money in order to save money, I promise you. It’s about smart shopping - it doesn’t take me much extra time and it saves me a LOT of money. But it’s true that if everyone did it, I wouldn’t get the great deals - then again, there are plenty of websites offering this information for free (my favorite is couponmom dot com), so I’m not sure what the “OMG DON’T SPILL THE BEANS” attitude is about. It is no secret that Publix does its BOGO deals in the manner it does in all states but Florida, for example. Anyway, keep at it Mr. Cheapskatin - I like your blog!

By Steve

January 26, 2009 10:18 AM | Link to this

I agree - driving around to save a few cents on items at supermarkets is a waste of time and money. I really hate my Kroger for service and cleanliness, but you can’t beat the prices. I used to work for Publix - they jack up prices, believe me, but you get a better shopping “experience.”

Coupons are fine when you need the items. Store brands are often adequate, not always…you learn which is best with experience.

For meats/seafood/Veggies/dairy…the Dekalb Farmer’s market is amazing, but I hate the crowds there, and it’s a drive.

By oldschooldog

January 26, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this

If you drive by an ALDI, don’t buy milk or eggs anywhere else. Usually several other items, too, often fruit, but always the milk and eggs. Fruit displays aren’t massive or particularly pretty, but it’s good.

By blackbird13

January 26, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this

Troglodyke,

I loved Predictably Irrational..I am much more conscious of in-store marketing ploys since reading it.

By mr. cheapskatin'

January 26, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

ShopperGirl: You read it right. Yes, the two-for-one deals saved me a few cents over the price of a single item at the other store. I’m just pointing out the disparity in the item’s price. Once for two-for-one offer is over, unless my grocery drops the price, that can of soup will cost $2.39 at my main store and $1.75 at the other. That’s a big difference.

By ShopperGirl

January 26, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

Mr. C - Ah, I totally agree with you, that’s pretty lame. But that’s why you stockpile when it’s on sale (ideally buying enough to tide you over until the next sale cycle - not something I personally manage to do by the way, but it’s a goal!) and turn your nose up when it’s at full price (or go to the other store on non-sale days when you need something). ;) I still think the sale itself was worthwhile, but then again, what if the store with the better everyday price has a 2 for 1 sale…ah…that would be amazing. (To be honest, I prefer stores like Trader Joe’s or even farmers markets that don’t bother with sales - but I still frequent the regular grocery stores, coupons in hand….) Looking forward to reading more tips in your blog!