August 22, 2008
Analyzing your grocery cart
What aisles are you bypassing at the grocery store to save money?
A survey by analytics firm, Precima, reports some interesting findings about what Americans are buying at the supermarket. Apparently, convenience foods such as frozen dinners, snacks (chips and cookies) and dessert items (ice cream and cake) all are getting the boot as many consumers try to cut back their spending, according to the survey.
It also reports that 40 percent of people are not buying as much beer, wine and spirits for fear that it will heighten their grocery bills.
But 32 percent of women said they’re still buying environmentally friendly products and that these items are worth the extra cost, compared with 21 percent of men.
And have you been wondering if Americans actually used their federal economic stimulus checks, issued several months ago, on food? Kroger is one grocer that waved special deals to consumers who cashed in their checks to stock up on groceries.
But that didn’t convince everyone. According to Precima, 84 percent of Americans said they did not spend their stimulus checks at the supermarket.
Comments
[August 22, 2008 10:18 AM]
RigbyI buy a few more store brand items than I used to a year or so ago. Not everything though.Many things I'll pay a little extra for better quality. I definitely don't eat out as much or buy single drinks and frivolous food items at convenience stores anymore.
As far as alcohol is concerned, the only cutback I have made is that I probably don't splurge for that extra good(expensive) beer and wine as much as I used to.I stick to my usuals that I like but aren't as expensive as the high end ones.
Most of my stimulus check went towards a credit card bill. I spent about 1/3 of it in a couple stores around here.
[August 25, 2008 1:28 PM]
Heather FroeschlWe've cut back on meat. Not just for the cost but because one third of my household went vegetarian last winter and rather than fight it, I find ways to go with it. Veggie burgers aren't as expensive as you might think. Protein replacements like eggs and beans cost less than beef and chicken. I've saved a lot of money, and made family members happy. We still buy cookies, and ice cream, but don't feel as guilty doing it since the money is balancing out and the additional veggies I buy are balancing the grocery cart and leaning the food pyramid back into the healthier side of things.