Beat Stores at their Own Game!

Stores are there to make money, but also bring customers through the door. What looks like a good price sometimes isn't, and stores make a healthy profit from little things that a lot of customers don't bother with or never think to do -

- how many times have you splurged on an item, only to have it go on sale the next day? This happened to me last week, with a pair of boots I got from Zellers. I paid $49.95, the next week their flyer read $34.95 for all ladies spring boots. Now I knew Zellers has a great return policy, so I brought the receipt back in and was refunded $15 + tax. Not a huge amount, but 30% of the purchase price. Not bad. It's worth trying at other stores, even if their return policy isn't as flexible.

- mail-in rebates. Large electronic stores like Staples use these a LOT, and many people either lose them, wait too long, or don't bother to mail them in. Mail them in right away and it's money in the bank (well, in the form of a mailed check). Keep a supply of envelopes on hand and keep a good supply of stamps handy - this is one of the best tips I ever got. I buy stamps in rolls of 50. When postal rates go up you save a few cents by using the stamps you bought at a cheaper price, and things like mail-in rebates and birthday cards (which I also buy in bulk and keep on hand) don't get pushed to the wayside.

The Grocery Game

Grocery stores in particular will squeeze as much money as they can while still staying competitive and appealing to customers. These stores are designed to get you to leave with a full cart. Some ways to save here -

- check unit prices. I've noticed places like Wal-mart never show their unit prices, but grocery stores usually do, in small print on the shelf price tag. It may surprise you, we always hear to 'buy in bulk', but sometimes buying a medium size is actually the cheaper way to go, especially is the medium size of something is on sale and the larger one isn't. This is the exception rather than the rule, but it happens. Or, something that seems like it would be a significant savings for the larger size is exactly the same or so negligible that the inconvenience of, say, a huge jug of laundry soap that you can barely pour is not worth it. Especially if you don't use it all by the time it expires.

- stock up when there's a sale! This is a no-brainer, but remember, a sale is only a sale if you it's a product you'll use, in a quantity you'll use by the expiration date, and there isn't a cheaper version of the product available. If the unit price for a larger size of the same product is still lower, go with that provided you'll use it by the expiration date (if there is one). Or, if a quality store brand or less expensive brand product exists, this may still be the cheaper option unless you want that certain brand. Things that are great to stock up on are any non-perishable (like toilet paper), and loss leaders (designed to get customers in the door by being ridiculously cheap, usually the front or back page of the flyer or any item that has a limit on how many you can buy is worth checking out). If you can pair sale items with coupons even better. Generally, coupons for brand-name items don't save you enough to make it a better deal than the generic version - unless it's already on sale, in which case you can get some great deals or even get it for free. But if the name-brand is $1 more than the store-brand, and your coupon says 50¢ off, I'd stick with the store-brand.

- last day meat (meat that is about to expire the next day). This is only an option if you will cook it that night or if you have freezer space for it so you can freeze it right away. Last-day meat is generally reduced by 50% or so, a significant savings on one of the most expensive grocery items. Most people typically freeze meat right away anyway until it's ready to use. I've never had a problem with last day meat when I've frozen/cooked it right away.

- stick to the outer perimeters of the store. This is typically where the produce and meat/dairy coolers are. Only venture into the middle aisles for things that are on your list. And don't shop hungry! If you have a few seconds, jot down what type of meals you plan to serve for the next week or so when you're making out your list. That way, rather than wandering around getting whatever looks good and ending up realizing that you're missing a few key ingredients for actual meals, you'll save yourself time and cut down on the amount of groceries you need.

- buy only as much produce as you will actually eat. Be realistic here. The majority of people don't eat enough produce as it is, so make sure that whatever you buy gets eaten. If you live near the grocery store or there is one on your way home from work, take advantage of that and stop in every few days to buy a small amount of produce (and check for any promising last-day meat if you have freezer space!), rather than buying large amounts that may get wasted, no matter how tempting they look all fresh and displayed in the store. If you do have uneaten produce that is starting to turn that you wouldn't want to actually eat, but is still technically edible (for example, I can't stand bananas with any black spots at all, or apples that are anything less than firm), find ways to use it up. I cut it up into chucks and slices and freeze it in ziploc bags to throw into homemade smoothies I make in my blender - just add frozen yogurt and juice, or a few ice cubes and soy milk. Another option is to make banana muffins out of mushy bananas, or cut up mushy apples and bake them in the oven with pork chops. With vegetables, cut off the 'bad' part and boil the rest for a sidedish or put it in soups.

- if you grocery store charges for bags and offers canvas bags you can buy, it's worthwhile over the long run. They hold more and make grocery easier to carry in and put away, plus add less waste. Just be sure to keep them in your car and don't forget them! I run mine out to my vehicle right after I put groceries away (or at least the next time I go out), and stash them under the seat.

- the snack aisle. Yes, it's unhealthy. Your health conscious probably tells you to avoid it, especially when there is so much fresh produce on display. But, everyone likes the occasional snack - a bag of chips while watching TV, or a chocolate bar fix. If you stock up on a few bags of 99¢ store-brand chips and 50¢ chocolate bars to stash away in an inconveniently located snack shelf, it might save you buying that $2.99 bag of chips or $1.29 chocolate bar while in line at the convenience store or movie rental place. Provided you keep them 'out of sight, out of mind' until the mood strikes.

-'instant' meals. You know, Meal in a Box type convenience foods like *blank* Helper and *something* Sensations, for example. I won't comment on the specific nutrition info, but it's safe to say they are overpriced and chock full of preservatives (which you can actually taste in them). If they were instant, I could see the point, but they still involve cooking. It would take the same amount of effort to cook yourself some pasta and browned hamburger with sauce or gravy, seasoned nicely, or to cook some beef or chicken strips with some chopped fresh veggies. Sure, you can buy it all in one box or package, but it's cheaper, fresher, healthier, and just as easy to make it yourself.