If you shop in a store that mists its produce, be sure to shake off any excess water before adding items to your cart. While water may be calorie free when you drink it, if you are buying food by weight that water will add to your purchase price, causing you to shell out more than you should be. Dry off your produce when you get home and store it wrapped in paper towels in a clean, dry plastic bag, since the water that makes your fruits and veggies look pretty and shiny, will also make them spoil faster. Also, buy seasonal produce whenever possible. Not only is it cheaper, but it is also much more flavorful.
Forgo the organics when it comes to these fifteen items, labeled “The Clean Fifteen” by the Environmental Working Group because they are least likely to retain any pesticide residue: avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, cabbage, frozen sweet peas, onions, asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwis, eggplant, grapefruit, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.
Pay attention to sale prices and your store’s policies. If cases of soda are on sale at three for $12, do you need to buy three to get the sale price or does each one ring up at four dollars automatically? And if you have to buy three items to get the sale price, make sure that you aren’t buying more than you actually need.
Know your prices. The fact that a store has a big display of something or lists it in its flyer doesn’t mean that it is a great deal. And when that price is right? Stock up to the best of your ability, keeping in mind that you do need to have storage space for it at home and the ability to use up the item in question within a reasonable amount of time.
Not sure what size of a particular item to buy? Check the unit price, typically listed on the store shelf, freeing you from the agony of long division or the inconvenience of whipping out your phone to calculate the best price on a particular item. Remember that buying warehouse-size items isn’t always the most economical, particularly if it is going to spoil before you have a chance to use it up.
Check those expiration dates. Typically when you buy milk, stores rotate their stock, putting the soonest-to-perish items up front to move them out faster. Don’t be shy. Feel free to go digging at the bag of the row, looking for the freshest milk you can find so that you don’t find yourself pouring lumpy milk into your coffee one morning. Another item to watch expiration dates on? Diet soda, which has a fairly short shelf life since artificial sweeteners tend to break down rather quickly.
Don’t be shy about asking for rain checks. When prices are really good, items tend to sell out fast but most stores are willing to issue rain checks, giving you the sale price for the next sixty days.
Finally, watch the register like a hawk when you check out. Is there anything more annoying than buying something because it was on sale and then getting home and realizing that they accidentally charged you full price? While stores will honor their mistakes, if you catch them, there are those that will give you any item for free if it rings up wrong, making them excellent places to spend your hard-earned grocery dollars.