Grocery prices fluctuate from week to week based on the store’s sales cycle. The difference between the full price and the sale price can often be fifty percent or more. Buying certain items at full price is essentially a voluntary donation to the grocery store’s profit margin. These eight categories are promoted so frequently that you should never pay sticker price for them. Checking the weekly ad before you shop ensures you never overpay for these staples.
1. Soda and Soft Drinks
The markup on soda is incredibly high, but the sales are equally aggressive. Coke and Pepsi products rotate on a strict schedule of “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” or “3 for $12” deals. If you buy a 12-pack at full price, you might pay nine dollars. If you wait for the sale, you might pay four dollars per pack. You should stock up only when the deal hits the ad.
2. Cereal
Boxed cereal is one of the most inflated items in the center aisles of the store. A standard box can cost seven dollars, which is absurd for processed corn and sugar. However, General Mills and Kellogg’s run sales almost every week where boxes drop to two dollars. Combining these sales with digital coupons is the only way to buy cereal. Paying full price is a rookie mistake.
3. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Chicken is the most popular protein in America, and stores use it as a loss leader. One week it might be $4.99 a pound, and the next week it is $1.99 a pound. The quality is the same, but the price difference is massive for a family. You should buy ten pounds when it hits the low price and freeze it. Never pay full price for standard chicken.
4. Ice Cream
Premium ice cream brands like Ben & Jerry’s or Häagen-Dazs are treated as luxury items with luxury prices. However, they go on BOGO (Buy One Get One) sales constantly at stores like Publix and Kroger. Paying six dollars for a pint is unnecessary when you can get two for that price a week later. It is a high-margin item that is frequently discounted to drive traffic. Patience pays off with dessert.
5. Laundry Detergent
Detergent is a household necessity that is highly competitive among brands like Tide and Gain. You will see these items on the front page of the weekly ad at least once a month. Drugstores and grocery stores fight for your business with high-value digital coupons. Buying a jug at full retail price is throwing away five dollars. You should always wait for the sales cycle.
6. Ground Beef
Like chicken, ground beef prices swing based on supply and the store’s marketing plan. Family packs often go on sale for three dollars a pound, while smaller packs sit at six dollars. Checking the ad tells you exactly which size package is the deal of the week. You can save twenty dollars on a single month’s meat budget just by reading the flyer. It is the easiest switch to make.
7. Chips and Snacks
Bagged chips have seen some of the highest inflation of any grocery item in recent years. A bag of Doritos can cost six dollars at the regular price, which is shocking. However, the “Party Size” bags are often featured in the ad for three or four dollars. You should never grab a bag without looking for the yellow sale tag first. The full price is simply a trap for impulse shoppers.
8. Paper Towels and Toilet Paper
Paper products take up a lot of shelf space and are frequent features in the weekly circular. Store brands and name brands rotate their sales so that something is always discounted. Paying twenty dollars for a pack of toilet paper is painful when a similar pack is on sale for fifteen. You should check the unit price in the ad to find the real winner. Stock up when the price is right.
The Ad Advantage
The weekly ad is your roadmap to avoiding the “laziness tax” at the grocery store. By taking two minutes to scan the flyer, you identify the items that are actually worth buying that week. It prevents you from overpaying for the basics and keeps your budget in check. You should let the sales dictate your menu, not the other way around.
Do You Read the Ad?
Do you plan your meals based on what is on sale in the weekly flyer? What is the one item you refuse to buy unless it is BOGO? Share your shopping strategy in the comments below.
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