The best deals at the grocery store aren't listed in the weekly circular, but now that a supermarket cashier has posted insider secrets online, you can find out how to really save when shopping. These tips, which were published on Reddit (note: profanity is used), aren't exactly rules to live by, but utilizing them may help save you a few bucks at the register, and that can add up over time.
In addition to common sense suggestions like "always buy in season," Reddit user Lenniebaby advises to make friends with your produce guy, and says to shy away from pre-cut fruits and vegetables. Ready to save? Check out the top money-saving shopping tips below.
1. "Don't put mixed-priced things in one bag. The main offenders are sweet peppers -- if green peppers are $0.99/lb, orange peppers are $1.99/lb and you put them in the same bag, I'm charging you $1.99/lb for the whole thing."
2. "If things are lying on those slanty flat surfaces (lettuce for example), take the stuff that's near the back. Rotating stock means putting old produce at the front so it sells faster. Plus everyone touches it."
3. "If you're buying light stuff (chili peppers, mushrooms) and want to be cheap, don't bother putting them in plastic bags. Four chillies in a bag = $0.85; four chillies carried in your hand and put on the scale bag-free = $0.30. For someone who buys $0.99/lb apples instead of $1.49/lb apples, this is a much better strategy for saving money without compromising quality."
4. "Buy onions in the biggest quantities you can eat before they go bad. If you're buying onions once a week, you're doing it wrong. They keep for months, are used in pretty much every dish, and unlike most other fruits/vegetables you're saving a ton of money when you buy them in bulk. A 10lb bag of onions is $5.99, while a 5lb is $3.99."
5. 'Similarly, never buy those 'cuts' of watermelons that are priced by weight. I've stopped so many people from buying $4 cuts of watermelons (about 1/4 of the melon) when they could buy the entire thing for $6."
6. "Bananas are the cheapest fruits. One banana costs, on average, $0.25. Remember this next time you're in a cafeteria or some other lunch-serving place that sells bananas for $0.99 each."
7. "Don't buy asparagus unless they're displayed in water basins. The bottoms of asparagus should be submerged in water; they'll be fresher for longer."
8. "Baby carrots are overpriced. All they are are cut up, peeled carrots in a plastic bag. For the same price, you can buy twice the amount of normal carrots, peel and cut them up yourself."
