I see two major philosophies, if we will, to saving on standard grocery items / consumer packaged goods.
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Loss-leader model. This is when you go to a store that advertises crazy good prices on a few items (these days, often via digital coupons). However, the drawback is the other items not on the ad will have higher prices. To double down on savings, you'll stack the store's digital coupon with a manufacturer's coupon. This is about the best you can do in the post-Extreme Couponing era world where there is no more deals like "double coupon" offers (where the store 'matches' the Manufacturer's coupons). What a heyday of couponing that must've been. I watched TLC's Extreme Couponing, those techniques simply wouldn't work anymore.
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Bulk buying. You go to a store like Costco and buy in sizes that are 3x-10x or more of the quantity you'd get at the supermarket. The idea here is you're saving at scale, and are offered better prices. To throw a final option into the mix:
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Stores that offer everyday low prices. (Confusing phrasing, since everywhere says their prices are low. Marketing 101.). Basically, stores that don't play games with pricing. Examples include places like Winco and Aldi's. You don't get any absolutely fantastical deals, but also, nothing is obviously overpriced: the items you're buying are at the market clearing price.
So, what's your take on these approaches? Which have you found most effective?
May 21, 2023 at 11:14PM
