Easy ways to save at the supermarket
TRADITIONAL big weekly supermarket shopping trips are being replaced by several smaller shops each week, increasing the chances for consumers to overspend.
The secret to avoiding a grocery budget blowout, experts say, is to plan every shop no matter how small it is, hunt for bargains just as you would if you did one weekly shop, and don’t skimp on package sizes.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has been adapting to this consumer trend, called micro-shopping, which it says reflects busier lifestyles and people’s desire for fresher food.
Woolworths director of buying and merchandising Steve Donohue says shoppers should check weekly catalogue specials no matter how often they shopped.
He says customers are finding it harder than ever to find time to cook, but did not want to compromise their health by taking short-cuts. “As a result, convenience and ready meals continue to grow in popularity, with the category experiencing a 13 per cent increase in sales in the last year.”
Queensland Consumers Association spokesman Ian Jarratt says people were generally less valueconscious when spending smaller amounts of money. He calls this “the psychology of smallness”.
“With a big shop, you knew you would have a big bill, so were maybe more motivated to shop around and compare value,” Jarratt says. “Get yourself into the frame of mind to think, even though it’s a smaller amount, if you do it a lot of times the total amount will still be large.”
Shoppers should always check unit pricing, which showed how much product they received per litre or 100g, Jarratt says. Larger packages were generally better value, so consumers should aim to buy bulk packages, even if they shopped frequently.
Always write a list before you go, even if it’s a few items on the back of some note paper. This will provide clarity about what you need to buy, and should help prevent impulse purchases.
Lea Narciso, a health professional, says she shops three or four times each week, as it helped ensure fresh produce for children’s lunches and family dinners.
“Working in the city, it’s convenient to pop over to Woolworths,” she says. “And, if you use public transportation, it’s good to be able to bring home a few groceries throughout the week.” Picture: MIKE BURTON