If you walk into a grocery store, you are likely to be drawn to splashy displays & advertising for huge savings. I used to feel a little proud when I found these bargains as if I was making smart choices for my household. But over the years, I realized that these offers are all psychological pricing tricks & they aim to trick us into spending more than we mean to. It’s blown my mind to learn these tactics & now I shop differently. Here are 10 common “deals” that could actually be causing you trouble.
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Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) on Perishables
BOGO offers are tempting, like on dairy or fruit. However, if you don’t immediately use or freeze the surplus, it might spoil before you are ready to use it and be wasted. Once I bought 2 big bags of salad greens for a BOGO deal & I just threw one away because it withered before I could eat it all. You have to evaluate what you really need before taking advantage of this offer.
Discounts on Family-Sized Packs
Big family packs seem affordable, but the cost per pack is not always that low. Also, if you don’t really need it all, it will lead to overuse or wastage. Always check for the unit cost & take into account how much you consume before buying bulk packs.
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“Sale” Prices That Aren’t Discounts
Some stores announce “on sale” & then never reduce the price — they just use the emotional appeal of the word “sale” to encourage customers to purchase. I have bought things thinking I was getting a great deal & later finding out the “sale” price was the regular price. You’re also good to know what the usual prices are on things you typically buy and to look for the markdowns on the sales tags to make sure you are not getting a fake deal.
Bulk Discounts That Tempt You to Overspend
My husband used to buy bulk packs of chips for a coupon, then left them in the pantry for months. Random bulk buying can bust your budget and create clutter. Remember to buy what you want and check if the bulk buy meets your needs.
Pre-Packaged Produce “On Sale”
Pre-cut/Pre-packaged fruits & veggies are usually branded at a markup for their ease. Pre-cut fruit mixes were a thing I used to buy thinking they were time savers, but found I was paying a lot more for them than for the whole fruit. If you take a few extra minutes to clean & prepare produce at home, you’ll save a ton of money over time.
Loyalty Card “Exclusive” Savings
Discounts are offered through loyalty programs, but the regular price may be increased to look like a discount. Make sure to shop across stores, and don’t just rely on loyalty points to save.
Expiring Products at “Discounted” Prices
Things nearing expiration get marked down to promote instant sales. These are great for those who will use them right away, but I’ve purchased cheap dairy that got bad before I could use it – so it ended up in the trash. Always check expiration dates & make a realistic decision if you will use the product on time.
“10 for $10” Promotions
I once bought 10 cans of soup and, at the checkout, realized that I could have bought just two at the same per-can price. So, read the offer details well & buy only what you need.
Brand Name Products “On Sale”
Brand-name products on sale may be even more expensive than the generic versions. By comparing ingredient lists & trying generic brands you can save big money and still get excellent quality.
Flashy Seasonal Promotions
Seasonal items often create a sense of urgency, leading to impulse purchases. For example, I once bought holiday-themed snacks that were more expensive due to their limited availability, only to find I didn’t enjoy them as much as my usual choices. It’s always wise to think through whether seasonal items are really essential or if a marketing push is conning you.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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