grocery tricks Archives | MoneyDigest.sg

8 Shopping Traps That Make You Spend More

Have you ever experienced going into a shopping mall or an online shop with a list in mind, and ended up buying more? Whether you shopped with an empty stomach or got entangled with several marketing strategies, stores can employ tricks to make you spend more. It is best to increase your awareness on the subtle, psychological, and clever marketing traps to help you save more money on your next bill.

On that note, here are 8 Shopping Traps That Make You Spend More:

#1: CHILDREN’S OPINION

As the Yuletide season approaches, many stores offered colorful options for children. Children have a strong influence on what goes inside the carts. Supermarkets purposely place cereals, toys, and sugary treats at a kid-friendly level. Avoid giving in to your child’s desires by leaving him or her at home when you are grocery shopping.

#2: VICTIMS OF FREE SHIPPING

The truth is, free shipping is not “free”. Retailers have already factored in the shipping costs before they release their prices. It is easy to be lured with “free shipping”, especially when you are purchasing several items online. You just have to pay an extra S$5 to S$10 on an item just to get the free shipping option. This ensures that you end up buying more than what you expect.

#3: HIDDEN NECESSITIES

Daily necessities such as dairy, bread, eggs, etc. are placed at the back of the store and far away from each other so you will be encouraged to travel the whole store to get it. Once you have travelled, you probably got more that what you initially needed. Consider going straight to the back of the store and keep your shopping list on hand.

#4: LURED BY THE NUMBERS GAME

Retailers are smart! Instead of putting a price of S$5 on a product, they will put an irregular price of S$4.99 or S$4.96 to make you think that you have scored a better deal. What’s more? They will also add the illusion of saving more money by buying more of their products. These seemingly small details actually work.

#5: ATTRACTIVE SALES

When you see the word “sale” advertised in a physical or an online store, you automatically think that you are getting a better deal. This may not always be the case. Just because something is on sale, does not mean that you have to buy it. Purchasing sale items overtime can get you on a trail of consistent overspending.

Sale traps include: “receive a free give when you spend…” and “buy 1, get 1 free”. The former may be giving away free items that the store could not sell. While, the latter is only useful for essential items such as food and toiletries.

#6: ENTICED BY THE AROMA

Imagine the smell of baked breads mixed with the fresh smell of flowers. Very attractive, right? This is why newly baked goods and fresh flowers are placed near the front door. The goodness of smell will surely make you feel hungry and keep your mood up!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#7: RIGHT DAY TO SHOP

Interestingly, there is a “right” day to shop. Prices seem lower than usual during Tuesday and Wednesday. Moreover, you can get better discounts in the month of November. This month is so close to the Yuletide and year-end sales. You can also score good deals on January as retailers are trying to clear their stocks.

#8: RIGHT SIDE TO SHOP

Many grocery stores place popular items on the right side of the shelves to move shoppers from the left to the right. This is because all items throughout the store are strategically placed to follow the right path. Are you really saving more money by moving from left to right? Keep that in mind!

Sources: 1, 2, 3 & 4

6 Genius Hacks You Can Use At Grocery Stores

Grocery stores, like any other businesses, are looking for ways to make profit. This is why they have used strategies and psychological obstacles to entice customers to put more items in the basket. Combat those strategies by knowing the genius hacks shared by store employees, food experts, and industry analysts. Here are several of them:

1. BE AWARE OF SENSORY STIMULATION

Imagine the smell of baked breads mixed with the fresh smell of flowers. Very enticing to the senses, am I right? This is why newly baked goods and fresh flowers are placed near the front door. The goodness of smell will surely make you feel hungry, and keep your mood up! Furthermore, bright colors will inspire you to purchase more.

2. LISTEN TO UPBEAT MUSIC

Some supermarkets play relaxing music that can help slower down one’s heartbeat and later on lead to more purchases (i.e., about 29% more). An inexpensive way to beat this trick is to listen to upbeat music with your headphones or earphones. Grocery shopping never sound this good!

3. BULK IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

Consumers think that when they buy something in bulk, they end up having a better deal. But, that is not always true. For example, individual avocados are always cheaper than grouped ones.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Be vigilant and analyze the total price first.

4. KNOW THE BEST DAYS TO SHOP

Imagine a crowded supermarket on weekends – the queues are longer and the products are nearly running out. It makes you want to grab more of what you need before the stocks are gone. Researchers examined this phenomenon and they found that consumers tend to purchase more in crowded days because they subconsciously want to be a part of the group. Forget belonging-ness, Mondays and Tuesdays are the best days to shop!

5. KNOW THE BEST TIME TO BUY MEAT

Determine the time when your butcher marks down the prices of meat and purchase accordingly. Usually it is between 8 to 10 am but the timings depend on the operating hours of your local supermarket.

6. TRUST YOUR ROUTINES

Look at your last grocery receipt, chances are, approximately 80% of those items were the items you bought a week ago or the week before. It is good to trust your routines by having the previous receipt along when you shop. With that receipt, you can tell when something is on sale. That is when you must stock up.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Shop smarter and save more! 🙂

Source: 1

Watch Out for these 6 Grocery Store Tricks!

Have you ever experienced going into the grocery with a shopping list in mind, and ended up buying more? Maybe it is because you shopped hungry, or just because of the grocery’s marketing strategies. Some grocery stores have subtle, psychological, and clever tricks to make their consumers buy more. Thankfully, I’ve uncovered 6 Grocery Tricks that will help you save more on your shopping bill.

1. VISUAL ELEMENT: SHOPPING CARTS

Upon entering the grocery, you’ll notice the shopping carts. An invention designed in the late 1930s have grown in size over the years. Since larger purchases are easily done, the bigger the cart, the more money may be spent. So, if you intend to buy a relatively medium amount of items opt for using a friendly basket.

2. SENSORY ELEMENT: AROMA OF FRESHNESS

Imagine the smell of baked breads mixed with the fresh smell of flowers. Very enticing right? This is why newly baked goods and fresh flowers are placed near the front door. The goodness of smell will surely make you feel hungry, and keep your mood up!

Image Credits: Paul Swansen via Flickr

3. RIGHT SIDE PHILOSOPHY

Most grocery stores place popular items on the right side of the shelves to move shoppers from the left to the right. This is because all items throughout the store are strategically placed to follow the “right” path.

4. KIDS MATTER

Another strategy is to target the children’s interests because they play an influence on what goes inside the carts. Supermarkets purposely place cereals, toys, and sugary treats at a kid-friendly level. So, do not give in to what your kid wants (unless he/she makes a huge and uncontrollable scene) or you can just leave your kids at home.

5. HIDDEN ESSENTIALS

Essentials such as dairy, bread, eggs, etc. are placed at the back of the store and far away from each other so you’ll be forced to travel the whole store to get it. Once you have travelled, you probably bought more that what you’ve needed. By knowing this trick, you may start with going straight to the back with your shopping list on your hand to keep you on track.

Image Credits: Redjar via Flickr

6. LASTLY, THE NUMBERS GAME

Instead of putting a price of, “$4” for example, they will put an irrational price of “$3.99 or $3.96” to make you think that you saved more money by scoring a better deal. What’s more? They will also put that if you buy more then you will save more! It’s these small details that may sound silly but it surely works.

Sources: Grocery Coupon Network, Idea Finder, & Lifehacker

Grocery stores, like any other businesses, are looking for making profit. This is why they have used strategies and psychological obstacles to entice you to put more items in the cart. I hope that by knowing these tricks, you will be able to shop smarter and save more!

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