Grocery Store Layouts Are Designed To Maximize Your Spending!

Shopping in the grocery stores just isn't as much fun as it used to be. These days, you need to be sharp in order to avoid having to put your food on a credit card. With such high food bills, it pays to know how to save money when you shop. One such money-saving concept is usually ignored by grocery shoppers. Grocery stores are carefully organized so that you will fill your grocery cart just a bit fuller. Here are a few eye opening secrets that can save you money every time you shop.

Have you ever noticed that almost all grocery stores, including mini-marts, put the milk in the nether reaches of the store? You have to walk through the entire store, to the back, to get that quart of milk. Why don't they make it more convenient to the shopper? The reason is that in order to reach the milk, you'll pass by several tempting displays which might result in a purchase.

Then there's the end of the aisle displays. Grocery stores use the ends of the aisles to stack up a huge number of mayonnaise jars, sodas, spaghetti sauce or whatever. Then they stick a large price sign at the top, to draw your attention. The price is likely to be the regular price, but the merchandise displayed, out of its normal spot, send the message that it's specially priced. Unless you're out of the product and need to get it, check the price before you drop it in your basket. Get it when it's on sale.

Know which grocery stores carry the best produce and buy there. Many grocery stores install special lighting which enhances the colors of the produce. When you get it home, it doesn't look quite as good. If you don't know the store, take that tomato over to a window and see how good the color is in natural light.

The produce section is laid out to showcase food items and products that have some relationship to one another. For example, an expensive line of salad dressings are usually found by the lettuce. Packages of croutons may be found hanging above. You may find kitchen gadgets used with produce right above. If it isn't on your list, don't be an impulse buyer. It just adds to your bill.

Here's how to use a grocery store layout to your advantage, saving you both time and money. If your store doesn't offer a printed 'map' of the store, make your own the next time you shop. On a sheet of paper, note the number of each aisle and the items on that aisle that you usually buy. Next time you write out your list, you can group the items by the section or aisle. You can burn through your grocery shopping quickly and you're less likely to make those impulse purchases.

So now you can save time and money! That's a good thing.

Summary
Grocery stores are designed to have customers spend the maximum amount possible while in the store. This is nothing new! It is why all the healthy and fresh items are all around the outside areas and the not so healthy items fill the aisles. Produce is shown in a favorable light in the store, so check items like tomatoes using natural light instead.

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