Grocery Store Tricks

If you want to save money on groceries, Tightwad Tod of Consumer Reports has some retail tricks to watch out for:

Have a plan. Check on line or read the flyer first, but don't assume every featured product is on sale. Spot the ones that specifically say you'll save. Some of those items are paid placement ads.

Buy the store brand. Most supermarkets now have their own label brand of a lot more products, and they test as well if not better than the name brands. In some cases you can save about 50 percent! But they're not ALWAYS cheaper. Make sure there isn't a name brand running a big special on that same item.

That eye level placement is still a factor. That's where the most popular and priciest items still are. Don't forget to look up, down, and behind. And those items displayed at the aisle ends, aren't always on sale. They are usually either new items at full price, or stuff that's about to expire.