Five Ways to Save...

When Shopping at No-Frills Stores

by Stephanie Nelson, CouponMom.com

1. Bakery Outlets - Expect to save 50% and more on popular name-brand baked goods that are near their “sell by” date. My price comparison of two local bakery outlets found that all breads sold at least 50% off retail and pastries/donuts sold for 75% off retail. If you have room in your freezer, you can stock up. Check www.Google.com for your nearest bakery outlet.

2. Dollar stores - Don’t assume everything at the dollar store is the best deal. Bring a calculator and compare unit cost. Larger dollar stores are more likely to have produce, refrigerated/frozen grocery items.  Be sure and check www.CouponMom.com for coupons and specials of the week at Dollar General and Family Dollar.

3. Military commissaries - Commissaries.com says their prices are, on average, 31% lower than traditional supermarkets. They will accept coupons but will not double them. In general, they adopt an “everyday low price” strategy instead of periodic sales. 

4. Health Food Stores and Natural Markets - Even if you do not buy organic/natural foods routinely, if you buy in bulk this may be a source of bargains for you. Save on dry goods sold by the pound and liquids such as olive oil. My favorite bargains are spices sold by the ounce. You can buy just the amount you need at far below supermarket prices. If I only need a tablespoon of a spice, it will cost me pennies instead of dollars for a full jar that I may never finish.

5. Frill-free shopping. Aldi and Save-A-Lot are two of the largest no-frills discount store chains. In general, expect to find a more limited selection, discount prices that stay put for a while, limited customer service, and varying coupon policies. If you’ve been used to luxurious shopping surroundings, it might take a little getting used to. Remaining open to new places to shop can produce savings in places you’ve never considered.  CouponMom.com provides weekly lists of their specials and coupons.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. With more than 6 million members, Coupon Mom gives members access to thousands of printable coupons for groceries, restaurants and more. As the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country, Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.