By now you know that this saving money tips blog is about a lot more than just saving money.  It’s about community building, working together with friends and neighbors and helping each other out.  But in the process, when it comes to shopping for a bunch of people, the savings can really add up.  I’ve told a number of my neighbors about my saving money tips blog and practices, and as it turns out, I have been doing some grocery shopping for them.  One advantage is that if another person does your shopping, you are not actually at the store and won’t be tempted to buy things you don’t need.  You just hand them the list, and they get it for you.  As it turns out, the savings can be substantial.

That is, if the person doing the shopping knows where to go.  Incredible amounts of research has been conducted to lure you into spending money within a certain price range.  One of those ways is to have hundreds of the items on pallets, to make you think about abundance.  Another way is to price things in odd fractions, such as “5 of these for $10″.  If the item is $2, why don’t they just say so?  It’s that idea of abundance.  Getting 5 of something sounds better than getting one of something.  Another gimmick being used is the Discount card, or “club card”.  You see, the idea of the club card is a gimmick to get you into the store.  And you are presented with SOME items that appear to be marked down, IF you just happen to be a member.  I found out real soon (years ago, actually) that you don’t really save money just because you have a Safeway club card.  Some stores chose not to jump on the club card bandwagon, and Fred Meyer is one of them.  And guess what?  Yesterday I did the shopping for a weeks worth of groceries for myself and two other families at Fred Meyer, and saved more than $35.  For example, vegetables were about 3/4 the cost at Fred Meyer, and catfood was less then 2/3 the cost, compared to Safeway.  So, beware of the gimmicks they play.  Once they have you in the store, it’s all too easy to decide you’ll be willing to just pay what seems like a few extra dollars for the “Safeway convenience”.  Read more saving money tips below and on the free tip sheet.

Until next time…