You’ve probably heard this before, but it bears repeating: don’t shop while you’re hungry, or else you’ll end up buying (and eventually consuming) more food than you need. Also, your ability to make healthy food choices is diminished when you're hungry, more so when you pass through aisles and aisles of tempting junk food.
Often enough, the best choices are not the prettiest of the bunch, so don’t be fooled by lavish and fancy decorations on products. When you’re picking out fruits and veggies, use your hands and judge them more closely and more accurately by touch.
It’s better to first load up on the perishables lining the perimeter such as dairy, fruits, fresh meats, and vegetables. That way, you won’t have much space left in your cart should you be tempted by the junkfood and chocolate set up in the middle aisles. That's what we call prioritizing!
Having a plan coming in is a good idea, but don’t let it give you tunnel vision — you'll just get stressed when you can’t find the exact items and brands you’re looking for. Be open to substitutes and alternatives—you might end up doing your wallet a big favor!
You actually spend more time and money when you buy only a few items at a time because you have to keep coming back to the store to get everything you need. The best approach is stocking up on items that last, which you can buy in bulk or in value packs. Membership shopping clubs like S&R can usually get you the best deals at the lowest possible prices, so if you like grocery shopping, you should think about becoming a member.
Members get free parking when they shop, too! That's a convenient bonus that will save you precious time time since you don't have to compete for parking with mall goers.
But aside from the free parking, there are other perks for being a member of S&R—you can enjoy major savings on gas expenses, too! Through the Power Fuel Savers program, S&R members can save money every time they gas up at UNIOIL. Just present your valid S&R Mag Stripe card at any of the 50 participating Unioil branches to instantly save on clean, high-quality fuels.
So what are you waiting for? Visit your neighborhood S&R branch and let the savings add up from your cart to your car.
For more information about S&R, click here.