(And not give it back to the store)
We've all been there: You run into the store for milk and eggs, but 20 minutes (and $100) later, you walk out with three bags of groceries, including cookies, cereal and chips. All the money you were going to save with your coupons just got spent on "extras" that weren't on your list. This is about more than impulse purchasing. It's grocery store psychology at work.
There is a whole science behind the placement of items in stores. People have spent years researching how to get shoppers to fill up their carts. Think you've never been hooked? Think again. Here are some grocery store tricks to keep in mind before your next trip.
Why is milk always in the back of the store? Grocers place staples in the back so you have to walk past many temptations on the way.
If something says 10 for $10, your brain automatically says, "Buy 10." However, you might not have to. Check the fine print, but you can usually buy less than the amount advertised and still get the sale price.
A sale on soda might say "Limit six" -- this is a way to keep the item stocked for more customers, sure. But it also triggers an impulse in shoppers to buy all six because the item seems scarce and the deal too good to pass up.
Red and yellow attract the eye easily -- that's why many stores use these colors on specially marked price tags or end aisle displays. What appears to be a "sale" may simply be a display of a seasonal product at regular price.
No matter how hard retailers will get you to spend your money, coupons can help you save money.
Final Word: When buying groceries, plan your menu, make a list and stick to it. You'll be less vulnerable to impulse buying and the power of suggestion, and you'll pocket all the money you're saving with your coupons.