By Michelle Chapman
Associated Press
If high gas prices and the sputtering economic recovery have forced you to limit your shopping and visit only one store per trip, you're not alone.
There's still a chance that running from store to store will net you the most overall savings, especially if you are buying large quantities of lots of different items. But you're more likely to save by checking shopping blogs, signing up for retailers' tweets, e-mails and Facebook deals and — yes — clipping traditional coupons.
Here's a practical guide for one-stop shopping for groceries and other basics.
Keep watch: The blog at www.afullcup.com publicizes deals at pharmacies, restaurants and other retailers, while the site www.mygrocerydeals.com lets you compare ads for some local grocers. And smart phone applications like Coupon Sherpa help you find coupons for various stores, while www.GroceryGadgets.com offers an app that lets you make shopping lists and shows product prices.
"Blogs allow shoppers to share savings information such as which stores are offering exceptional values that week or what types of new savings programs specific to stores have launched and how to take full advantage of them," says Jon Hauptman, a partner at retail consulting firm Willard Bishop LLC.
Some stores offer deals exclusively to e-mail subscribers. So sign up.
"The more loyal you are by being on their e-mail list, the more advance notice you'll get of the best sales," said Bob Phibbs, a consultant, speaker and author who calls himself The Retail Doctor.
With so many online tools to choose from, you may want to circle back to the most traditional information-gathering method of all, word of mouth. Ask friends and family members what works best for them so you can home in on just a few and save time as well as money.
Loyalty pays off: If you hop from one store to the next depending which has the best bargains, consider hitting the same store frequently instead and see if you can save just as much, or even more.
Stores that track your purchases through such things as loyalty clubs will reward your consistency with coupons and special promotions. Shop Rite recently started a free gas promotion for loyalty club members, while Sears Holdings Corp.'s program allows Kmart and Sears shoppers to earn points that can be used for purchases and layaway transactions.
Regular visits also help in developing relationships with salespeople.
"Better salespeople can tell you why something is on sale and what to avoid if you just allow yourself to listen," Phibbs explains.
Journal it: As you hunt bargains, keep a detailed shopping log, Phibbs suggests. In addition to recording receipts and prices, note how much time you spend on each task, including clipping coupons and surfing the Web for deals, and record your mileage and transit costs. Also record the coupons and rewards points you receive at checkout at the stores where you belong to loyalty programs to determine if you're really saving and whether your trip will bring future benefits.
If the numbers don't add up, reassess your strategy right away. Especially if you live alone or in a small household, it could be that shopping at the closest store will save you the most on the basics, even if its prices aren't rock bottom.
Aisle analysis: Even if you're already armed with coupons and knowledge, keep seeking deals once you get to the store.
As a rule, store brand products are cheaper. But they aren't always, and you should be aware of the differences among these products, which include mainline and economy private-label items, Hauptman says. Mainline private label goods, such as the Kroger brand, can cost 20 percent less than national brands, while economy private labels, such as Kroger Value, can save you 10 percent more. Store brands increasingly offer natural, organic and specialty goods so be sure to look.
Buying larger sizes can also help; just be sure the bigger box of cereal, package of toilet paper or bag of dog food actually costs less per ounce or count, and don't ever buy more than you can use before a product will go stale.
Remember those store displays you're supposed to avoid because they spark impulse purchases? Some may actually be useful, assuming you need the product being promoted. Hauptman says promoted products can cost 15 percent less. Just check the everyday price as well because the same store may sell the same soda for more per can in a deal on 12-packs than it regularly charges per can for a box of 20.
Keep thinking ahead: If a sale on milk is going to last more than a week, you may be able to catch it twice or even three times, for instance.
Hauptman says the best values normally last one or two weeks, while those that last six weeks or more usually provide more modest savings.
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