Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
When it comes time to do your grocery shopping, you have plenty of choices. From the Walmart Super Center with the 100 acre parking lot to the heath food store across town, our communities are filled with stores, stores and more stores.
If you're not sure where to buy what, keep reading. I've got a breakdown for you.
Grocery stores
These are your stand-alone grocery stores. They are typically regional chains or independent retailers. Examples include SpartanNash stores such as Family Fare and D&W as well as Kroger, Publix and Safeway.
These stores regularly offer good sales, but everyday prices may be a bit higher than what you'd pay elsewhere. The only exception is discount chains such as Aldi and Save-a-Lot, which have low pricing but also limited selection.
Best for:Loss leaders ““ cherry pick the very best sales, but you may not want to do all your shopping at a stand-alone grocery store.
Mass merchandisers
Mass merchandisers are your Meijer, Target and Walmart super stores. They sell everything which makes them convenient plus, thanks to the economies of scale, they are often able to provide the lowest all around prices.
Best for:Regular shopping ““ if you only want to shop at one store, make it a mass merchandiser. Their low, every day prices mean you'll likely get the best all-around deal on your groceries.
Warehouse clubs
Nationwide, there are three main warehouse chains: Sam's Club, Costco and BJ's. You have to pay a membership fee to join, but their prices may make it worthwhile, particularly if you have a large family. However, be wary of falling into the trap of buying a lot simply because the price is good and then having all that food rot in the fridge or sit in your pantry unused.
If you don't want to pay a membership fee, you could try Gordon Foods Service which has a much smaller selection of goods but anyone can shop for free.
Best for:Stocking up ““ obviously, these are the best stores if you need to buy a large quantity of items. However, do a little comparison shopping before assuming the warehouse club is the better deal. Some items, such as paper products, may be cheaper at a mass merchandiser.
Outlets
If you have an outlet store nearby, you owe it to yourself to take a visit. Outlet shops come in all varieties ““ some sell a full range of food while others specialize in a particular department, such as bakery. While some shoppers balk at outlet food, you can find some amazing buys on perfectly good food.
Best for:Your stockpile ““ your freezer is going to be your best friend when it comes to the perishable food sold at outlet stores. Breads, meats and produce may be near or at their expiration dates so you'll want to freeze these items unless you plan to use them within a day or two of purchase.
Specialty stores
Finally, we come to specialty shops. These include health food and ethnic food stores among others. It's a bit of a mixed bag with these retailers, and since many of these stores are owned independently, their pricing can vary significantly.
Generally though, health food stores tend to have higher prices than you would find elsewhere. Meanwhile, ethnic stores may have lower pricing, but obviously, their selection will be limited and sometimes their location can be inconvenient.
Best for:Hard-to-find items ““ For most people, doing the bulk of their shopping at a specialty store is unrealistic or unaffordable. Limit your trips to pick up items you can't easily find elsewhere.
Josh Elledge is chief executive “Angel” of SavingsAngel.com, a website that teaches consumers how to save money through a free money savings video eCourse–and podcast. SavingsAngel also provides hundreds of 50% off or better deals each week to members by matching local grocery and drug store sales with its free database of over 5,000 accessible coupons.
