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They say that the only two things that are inevitable are death and taxes. I think they missed at least one more:.
Unless you have discovered an earthly source for manna, you will also have to go to the grocery store at least once a week.
Although going to the store isn't my favorite thing to do on a
weekend, there are several things you can do to make the next trip to your local Higgly-Piggley a little less traumatic. Here are a few tips:
 * Avoid the grocery store like the plague during peak hours. If you try going in there
at 10 AM Saturday, I guarantee your blood pressure will go up several notches.*If at all possible, stick your spouse with the kids while you shop. This will save you time, at least $10 in I wanna Barney/Rugrat/Tubby
toys, 2 spankings and a clean up on aisle 6 -- in addition to immeasurable amounts of sanity.
* Remember The Prime Directive: Never Shop With The Munchies. Everything looks good, especially high-priced snacks
or takeout foods. You'll spend a hundred bucks and won't have anything to eat.
* Don't judge a book by its cover. The manufacturer of my favorite brand of canned beans just reduced the contents of
the cans from 16 ounces to 15. The can looks exactly the same, and wouldn't you know, so does the price. It's nothing but a sneaky way to make more money.
* Don't be a slave to brand names. I'm the world's worse for this, but I'm getting better. Canneries and packing plants often handle several name brands as well as store brands.
What's inside the store-brand packages may be just as good as the big-name version, but for as little as half the cost.
* Bigger isn't always better. When you are comparing various
brands of the same product or different quantities of a single brand, read the unit price (those labels on the shelves that break down the cost by ounce). Larger containers often work
out to be a better deal, but not always. It may even be cheaper to buy two of a smaller size than a single large one.
* Don't go coupon crazy. If you didn't want it in the first place,
getting something for less is no bargain. And just because you have a coupon for something doesn't mean it's the best deal. Check other brands.
* Make a list and stick to it. But if you see a sale on a
nonperishable food that you use often, stock up.
* Bend and stretch. Higher-priced products are often placed at eye level; lower-priced versions of the same item are usually on the top or bottom shelves.
* Look twice. Be careful of those big sales displays at the ends of aisles. The same item can sometimes be found for less in its usual place on the shelf.
* Stick to your mission. This is especially true when you're picking up just one or two items. Getting milk, for example, means walking all the way to the back of the store and
passing all sorts of temptations. If you think you'll succumb, bring only enough money for what you need.
* Check out the checkout. Those scanners at the checkout line
are connected to a central data bank, but shelf tags or computer listings aren't always updated promptly. Watch the numbers, and don't be afraid to speak up if you think you should be paying less.
These are just a few tips to keep you from going postal at the local grocery store. Now, where is that economy size of gourmet pork rinds?
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