Retired me is looking for every possible way to save money. So now I am trying to break into the secret world of the super shopper. Many super shoppers are already aware of some of the following tips I’m discovering, but it is all brand new to me. With more time on my hands, and a big incentive to stretch my dollars, I am researching this shopping/saving in earnest, and finding it fascinating.
The big box stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or Smart and Final are looking much better as I try to maximize my money. Though these stores automatically offers some savings, here are ways for even better savings when shopping there.
Go in with a friend to split the costs.
My friend and I buy bulk items such as toilet paper or paper towels together, for instance, then split the cost of an already reduced product. Splitting the cost of a bulk item like this also helps with splitting the storage of it too. Not everyone has a garage or space for huge bundles of paper towels, toilet paper, or napkins!
It is best to write a shopping list and stick to it.
Do not be an impulse buyer– it will gobble up the savings you seek. All stores are arranged quite deliberately (to maximize their profits). Super shoppers say it is best to go directly to the center or back of the store, and work your way forward along the aisles. Those showy Point Of Purchase (POP) displays are usually up front. POP displays are designed to tempt consumers into distracted- and more expensive- buying. Bypass this common trap by choosing a different shopping route, and stick to your list.
No Dawdling Allowed!
Stores know that statistically the longer you are in the store, the more you tend to buy- so do not dawdle. It may be fun to spend a lot of time exploring, but be mindful about it. Maybe you should set a time frame of how long you plan to shop, so as not to become part of that overspending statistic.
Look for the secret codes.
Most Costco prices end in $.99, $.49 and so forth, and those are usually regular priced items. Costco super shoppers know to look for the $.97 marking indicating a mark-down. Do not necessarily rush to purchase that $.97 marked item if there is a large inventory that might lead to a lower price later though!
Also Costco super shoppers know that if there is an asterisk on the price tag in the upper right corner of the sign, that item will not be restocked. This may be your Costco clue to buy it while you can. Instant Rebates, Energy Rebates, or Manufacturers Instant Rebates on Costco items are worth looking for as well (Rapoport,Len. May 6, 2020- https://www.toughnickel.com/frugal-living/Secret-price-codes-that-will-save-you-money-at-costco).
Costco price tags that end in .49, .89 or .79 indicate that they are special promotional offers straight from the manufacturer. If you like those items, snap them up while you can! (https://www.popsugar.com/family/Costco-Price-Tag-Meaings-46334250.)
Sam’s Club has codes too- a yellow price tag at Sam’s means the product is always in stock and will not go on sale. A price tag at Sam’s ending in a penny (e.g. $.91) means it is not just on sale but a clearance item. Sam’s also has store labels with letter codes in the lower left next to the product number code. There are five- N (Never Out), A (Active), C (Clearance), S (Seasonal), and O (One Time Buy). These clues can help you decide if or when you should buy an item.
By the way, other stores besides the big box stores also have their shopping codes. Yellow tags at Walmart indicate items at their markdown limit that likely won’t drop further. $.99 indicates full-price, prices ending in .93 are clearance and marked down from original price.
Get savings with a store’s credit card.
I have not tapped into this savings trick yet, but will soon, just based on the astounding rising gas prices. Costco for instance has their own Visa card (Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi), and you can get 4% cash back on gas at Costco for the first $7000 per year, and then 1% after that- plus 2% back on all Costco purchases, in-store or online. Sam’s Club has their own gas credit card too- Mastercard by Synchrony Bank. That card give 5% cash back on the first $6000 in fuel per year, then 1% afterwards, plus 1%-3% cash back on dining and other purchases.
Be patient with your shopping.
All stores try to lure you in with a “sale” so it truly pays to avoid impulsive buying. Some deals are just not for you, no matter how good they are. But if you are positive that an item is for you, you can still spend smart. Check that item’s price code to get some insight. (For instance, does it have that tell-tale asterisk showing it will not be restocked when it runs out? Or is it a regular priced item with a huge inventory of stock?) You can use such clues to pace your spending. It may be possible for you to return and buy that item later, when your budget can better handle it.
So armed with some of these tips, I am going to explore the box stores with a new eye. We will see if I can join the ranks of skillful super shoppers who know how to stretch a dollar and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.
