Secret Insider Savings Info

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Mary Hunt in Home & Family 35 Comments

I enjoy discovering secret information—stuff most people don’t know about. And I love spreading the word. Here’s an example: My supermarket, like most, offers a “rain check” if they run out of a product that is on sale. This is really great in my opinion, because my store’s rain checks have no set expiration date.

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Here’s another secret: There’s no limit on how many of that item I can get later—at a more convenient time—with my rain check.

Case in point: Last summer my supermarket advertised its London Broil cut of beef for $3.99 a pound. That’s a bargain where I live. And sure enough, they sold out before noon on Sunday, the day I was shopping. No problem. Because my goal was to load up my freezer, I asked for a rain check. A full two months later, when London Broil was at its regular price of $7.99 a pound—quite plentiful in the butcher’s case and, I believe, a nicer selection—I bought 10. And yes, I got the $3.99 per pound for the lot. I smiled all the way home.

I am excited to have just learned another secret. Don’t we all believe Starbucks has four sizes of drinks? Tall, Grande, Venti and the new Trenta size. Well, we’re wrong. There’s a secret size for those who know to ask: Short. All hot Starbucks drinks come in an optional short size. It’s cheaper, and just the right size, at least for me.

Here’s a bonus: The “short” cappuccino from Starbucks is 8 ounces but has the same amount of espresso as the tall, meaning that your coffee to milk ratio is much higher. So, if you just want more coffee in your cappuccino or you prefer to spend as little as possible at Starbucks there are a few reasons to give the short cappuccino a try.

Here’s another secret: The large size of some products in the supermarket is actually more expensive per unit than the smaller size. No kidding! You have to look carefully at the shelf label that indicates the unit pricing (or just figure it out if you’re some kind of math wizard). This is not true of all products, you have to know to check.

Want another? I can’t represent this to be true nationwide, but at the Walgreens drugstore close to my office, milk is $2.99 a gallon—about half the $4.69 supermarket price. Who would ever think to buy milk at the drugstore? Smart people who’ve figured out that secret, that’s who! Another place for really cheap, fresh milk: The Mobile gas station’s mini-mart. They soak you at the pump, but offer a deal inside for those in the know.

Got secrets? Come on. ‘Fess up! Our curious minds want to know.

Question: Share your supermarket secrets here.

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Posted on March 12, 2013 by Mary Hunt in Home & Family 35 Comments
  • Holly Kerkes

    Supermarkets like to hide their best priced items. They often are not the ones blaring at you from an endcap, nor the ones in the isle with the big colorful signs that say “best deal.” For example, my local supermarked will once in a while advertise their Tombstone pizzas “3 for $10.” with bright signs pointing to the Tombstone pizzas. That is a good price, but every day, hidden slightly to the left and with no fanfare, are the supermarket brand pizzas, which are just as good, and always $2.99 a piece.

    Another tip: look at the back of the store for the closeout bins. I often buy bread, baked goods, produce and cosmetics for half of what they are in the store.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001630606614 Darlene Cunningham

      I work at a grocery store. We don’t “hide” our best priced items. When certain items go on sale that are brought in by distributors, such as Tombstone, Digorno, Pepsi etc., we have to put them on an end cap. The supermarket chains allow the vendors to bring in extra product but the product must be displayed in the end cap. However, the grocery stores make a higher profit on the store brands, not the name brands. Name brands bring in most customers, but they make a smaller profit for the store. The company I work for has great store brand products. The ice cream is Knudsens, the canned and frozen fruits and veggies are Del Monte. In closing we would like to put up end caps of our products but most customers still insist on buying the big names.

  • Mary Cannette

    I have found so many sneaky tricks that are being played on us at the supermarket these days. It all started when they made canned tomatoes only 14 oz, instead of the 16 oz. they had always been. Usually at the same price.

    The latest “trick” I have seen is the toilet tissue companies are making the tissue narrower and the hole in the middle larger….also for the same price. There are many more tricks that I have discovered…I would start a blog, but I can’t figure out how.

  • Beck

    If Kroger has an item on sale and I use a coupon they double it up to .50 cents meaning I get a $1.00 off – many times this makes the items much cheaper than using the same .50 coupon off the price at Walmart. I also find that sometimes Walmart does not feature the size of a product in a coupon but will have a different size that won’t work with the coupon. If I have a $1.00 off that cannot be doubled I mainly use them at Walmart unless it is a better deal somewhere else. Kroger’s 10/$10 sale is great too when you have a .50 cent coupon for the items on sale you can get them for free.
    Kroger gives me points to use for cents off at the gas station too. I don’t get that at Walmart. That said if you buy a Walmart gift card then use at the Murphy Gas station in their lot you can get a few cents off a gallon.
    I use Couponmom too. It will show many stores specials for the week if you don’t get the ad in your paper. It is free too. If you have a Kroger card they also send you coupons once in a while you even get a free item. My Kroger and Walmart are across the street from each other so I don’t waste a lot of time or gas doing this. Aldi can sometimes be the best place to buy canned goods unless they are on sale elsewhere.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1313266188 Deb Ragno

    I buy my bacon in bulk from the meat department instead of the pre-packaged bacon. For $3.99 a pound I get thick sliced fresh bacon that doesn’t cook up to nothing. And I can get a pound or a pound and a half or whatever other amount I want. Compare this to $5.99 per pound of the pre-packaged bacon that cooks up to nothing and leave a lot of grease behind.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Weiser/1202604084 Pat Weiser

      I discovered this just last year. And the butcher bacon tastes so much better!

  • http://www.facebook.com/lillian.mahoney Lillian Anderson Mahoney

    I don’t know about other states, but here in Texas Kroger has a great deal for Senior Citizens. First make sure your card is registered as a Senior Citizen card and then choose Kroger products and receive 10 percent off of Kroger’s price. Kroger products for the most part are great and they round up the percentage which is a fantastic savings most of the time, just check the sales price of the brand name products.

  • Miriam

    I live in Canada so store chains are different but up here – the local (big) chain of drugstores – Shoppers Drug Mart often has Omega 3 eggs at 2.99 when the average price in the supermarket is $4.19. Who would have figured you’d end up buying your milk and eggs at the drug store?

    • debbie

      We pay a lot more for are products in Canada then you guys due in the states for instance brand name aspirin even when the dollar is close to par go figure.

  • http://www.facebook.com/birgit.nicolaisen Birgit Nicolaisen

    When chicken quarters are on sale, DH buys a bunch and par boils them then vacuum seals them in quantities just right for dinner. Once defrosted they take a lot less time to cook on the grill and come out delicious!

    As far as milk prices….our regular grocery store price is $2.19 a gallon and the pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are always more. Guess the “good price” location depends on where you live.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Weiser/1202604084 Pat Weiser

      Holy cow, where do you live? Milk is 4.69 a gallon in St Paul MN!

      • http://www.facebook.com/birgit.nicolaisen Birgit Nicolaisen

        Upstate NY. And I can get milk at Aldi’s for $1.89 a gallon.
        People here would throw a fit at $4.69 a gallon. That’s more expensive than gas!!

        My sister lives in WI and she says there’s some law that the closer to dairy country you live, the more expensive the milk is (well actually, I think it’s the farther you live from dairy country the more discounted your milk is).

        Sorry…just saw today that you had posted.

  • Elain

    Please let me know some examples of the items where you’ve found the smaller sizes to be priced less per pound than the larger ones. Thank you. I realize that this changes in time and area of where one lives, but am curious nonetheless.

    • http://www.facebook.com/paralegallara Lara Winkler Goeckeritz

      I’ve noticed it with Tide laundry detergent…

    • http://www.facebook.com/kathleen.proctor2 Kathleen Proctor

      I’ve seen it occasionally with JIF peanut butter

    • Amanda Richards

      frozen corn & peas, surprisingly!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=38307242 Mary K. Marlatt

      Peanut butter is definitely one that the smaller size is frequently less per ounce. Store brand or national brand.

  • http://twitter.com/ThatGirlRenita Renita Marjan

    The short size is only for hot drinks and the Trenta size is only for iced coffee and iced tea — not for Frappuccinos/smoothies.

    But yes, the short cappuccino is actually an ideal size, because it gets the espresso/milk/foam ratio right. And the venti cappuccino or latte is a rip-off, you’re getting one more pump of flavoring (if you get any) and more milk, but no extra espresso (unless you pay for it). Basically, a short or a grande are the best values.

    As for milk, we usually get ours from a nearby Aldi, where it’s always $1.79. But Walgreens and Target both are good when we’re desperate and almost out.

    • JulieN

      Pennsylvania has set minimum prices on milk, and they’re currently about $3.60 a gallon for 2% — even at Aldi. You can be thankful to live in a state where you can get it for less than $2!

  • Emaline

    At most Walgreens in my area, they clearly display the today’s special on their marquee. So you can easity see what’s on special for the day without even getting out of the car.
    Also, at my local grocery store, they offer a 10% discount when you buy a case of something. This could be milk, chips, canned goods or anything. They do not advertise this. A bagger gave me this tip.
    I love your tips Mary!

  • Laura S

    I’m not sure how many states have Braums stores but their milk is usually cheaper, tastes better & lasts longer than any of the brand name milks I’ve tried. The 2% tastes like whole milk & the fat free tastes like 2%. You can also get good deals on meat, ice cream, cheese & breads. Yes, it means an extra stop but it’s worth it in my opinion.

    • k

      I was also going to mention Braum’s. Their ice cream is often on sale for $3 each and many times, you can get free bread, a 12-pack of cola, etc. for free if you spend over $25.

  • DebC

    Don’t always believe the numbers on the store shelves when it comes to the cost per ounce/unit. I always use my calculator, because the shelf prices can be wrong. I’ve seen it.

  • crafty

    Dog treats are expensive, and you never really know how they were made or what chemicals have been added. I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders for $2 per pound and boil them 10-15 minutes. When cool, slice the chicken into jerky sizes strips 2 inches long. Store in small plastic bags inside of a larger zip-lock in the freezer. Sometimes I slice boiled chicken livers as an alternative treat. My dogs love both of these treats, and I love knowing that I can afford to give them healthy treats.

  • Kathy F., Springdale WA

    I buy Tennessee Pride sausage, 14 oz packages, at the Dollar Tree instead of the 16 oz packages at the super markets for $2.49 and up. I also buy Pasteurized Processed Sandwich Slices are also $1 a package and comes in American, Swiss and Jalapeno. Saves a lot of money and well worth checking for items you use on a regular basis.

  • k

    you might find a cheaper discounted dessert for dinner that night in the bakery–if it is that day or just a day or two old on the cupcakes, bread or muffins–or even if a cake was messed up and not sold, can be half or more off the original price.

  • Julia

    What many people don’t know is that Target will take a “Target Coupon” AND the manufacturer’s coupon on the same item! Let’s say you find a coupon at Target.com for Post Cereal that has the Target logo on the coupon (meaning Target is issuing this coupon, not the manufacturer). If you also have a coupon from the newspaper for the same product you can use both. Be careful however, the Target logo must be on the coupon, otherwise they won’t take both. I’ve saved a ton on cereal this way because I had a “Target coupon” along with the manufacturer’s coupon AND the cereal was on sale! Not bad…..

  • Jo in KS

    Thought I’d share my recent grocery experience which may end up to be a tip. While choosing eggs at our local Wal-Mart a woman asked me if I ‘comp’ my groceries. (I’d heard of this shopping option but had not used it. Grocery shopping is routinely overwhelming for me as I follow a strict gluten free diet and my focus is on ingredients first, then dollars.) She claimed that if an item is on sale at any other store within 50 miles Wal-Mart will ‘comp’ it. Just tell the checker the price and name of the store. She keeps a list of sale prices, takes it with her to Wal-Mart and swears she saves even more. Probably because she does not run around to several stores. This takes some pre-planning but in our rural community where EVERYTHING is a distance away, it makes sense. I’ll be paying attention in the future, for sure.

    • SuzyQ

      My local Wal-mart does the same. H.E.B. used to but has now stopped.

  • MilitaryMom!!

    I buy my bread at the drugstore as well. Even after raising their prices by 20 cents a loaf and limiting customer/family purchases to 4 a day (to deter mom and pop stores from shelf clearing, and reselling it with an insane markup) it still sells for 1/2 the price of major grocery chains.

  • Shirley

    I saw those sandwich slices at the dollar store and as i picked them up, realized they are not cheese. They are sandwich slices and that makes me nervous what they are allowed to put in them. Also, in the past I always used to take advantage of meat sales until I realized how badly animals are treated in those big processing plants. I am not willing to buy meat when animals are raised in cages that are too small for them, their offspring are dying on the floor of the plant, live animals have bloody wounds on their heads, genetically modified chickens cant even stand up b/c the growth hormones they are given make their breasts so big and much much more that I cant even stand to see. All this in the name of cheap. I am ALL FOR frugal living but not at the expense of other living creatures suffering so I can buy meat at $.99/pound. I buy all my meat at Whole Foods b/c they advertise that ALL their meat is humanely raised. I cannot afford to but all organic or responsibly raised food but I am starting with meat.

    • Loretta

      I don’t know…I really struggle with this point. I’ve watched all of the documentaries and feel horribly for the animals, but in the end no matter how cage free and humanely raised they are, at the end of the day, the animals are slaughtered. I’m not an animal rights activist or anything, but I think the REAL way to treat animals humanely is to let them live, not raise them humanely and then kill them.

  • Linda

    I live in Mn. and we have Kwik Trip stations where I buy skim milk (rbst free-the best, no hormones added) or any milk for $2.39 with a dollar off after 10 gallons. Also their butter is $1.99, eggs $1.00 and bananas are 38 cents a lb. Wonderful place!

  • Shirley

    I know what you mean, Loretta. It IS a struggle and one that everyone needs to figure out for themselves. I am a meat-eater and dont anticipate becoming a vegetarian ever. So I opt for knowing the animals are treated well while they ARE alive. It is just being a responsible human being to treat all living things well. Too many people don’t care about this at all and that really worries me. Veal is a perfect example. Some places where veal is raised, the animals are NEVER allowed out of a cage and that cage is minascule and quickly too small for them as they grow. I saw a few pictures on the animal pages on Pinterest and it is extremely disturbing to me how they suffer. And, in my opinion, just b/c they will die anyway, does not mean they should live in hell on earth. And I worry that there are those who believe ANYTHING done to animals is OK just so they can pay next to nothing for chicken legs. And Wal-mart is one of the worst offenders. I love this site and I respect Mary Hunt so much but so often Wal-mart is viewed as the Holy Grail of money savers and they are a very irresponsible company behind the scenes. Sorry to go on, but I really thank you for addressing this. You are the ONLY one who did. MANY people just don’t want to face it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/virginia.heeran Virginia Heeran

    I found that cake mixes have different amounts inside each box. Ranging from 14 oz. to 17 oz. Depends on the brand and kind .(Spice. choc. val)