Your Shopping Personality and Savings
A study conducted by a marketing forum recently uncovered that 68% of the American public does not
like grocery shopping. Grocery shopping either is viewed as a stressful chore or as something takes too much
time to complete. This should not be revolutionary news for most of us but there are specific strategies
that shoppers can do to change this for them. It all depends on what kind of shopper you are. See if you
can identify yourself and maybe a few changes will help you become one of the people that can deal
with grocery shopping and maybe even save some money, maybe a lot of money.
The Stressed out Shopper
One third of all shoppers can be identified as “stressed out shoppers”, those shoppers with limited
time because of full schedules balancing work, home, kids and life in general. The one identifier of
the ‘stressed out shopper’ is the total lack of organization that they display. There is no orderly shopping
list and perhaps a few out of date coupons in hand. Their trips are characterized as disorganized,
stressful and filled with impulse buys. Looking through the weekly circular that they pick up on the way into
the supermarket may help them feel like they are saving money but it is too late to try, they simply
want to get in and get out. It’s not that they don’t want to save money, they do, but simply do not
know how. They lack organization and it stresses them out to think that there is something more that
they should be doing but are not doing whatever that might be. On top of it all they know they could
probably be saving money. When the ‘stressed out shopper” really considers how many trips they make
to the supermarket every week they are reminded of all the items that they have forgotten that add
up to another trip. The one trip is actually three or more, one “planned weekly” followed by one to
get the ‘missing ingredient’ trip followed by a ‘quick dinner’ trip and perhaps even a “my week for the
soccer snack” trip on Saturday morning.
Obviously the “planning” isn’t working for this group so if you are a one of these “stressed out
shoppers” there is good news for you. You can lose the stress and save money by organizing one really
well put together trip. There is no system of coupon clipping necessary just one shopping list. A list that
has everything that you need for the upcoming week will end up saving time and money by cutting back
on the unplanned trips to the supermarket. This list has to anticipate all the families activities and what
is planned for dinner, what is needed for lunches and breakfasts. Do this once a week and practice your
creating a total shopping list and you are on your way moving up to the “super shopper” category.
The Super Shopper
The "super shopper" prides themselves on details and organization. They begin by planning meals
around the supermarket’s advertised sale items and add in coupons for those same items. These
individuals will cherry pick at multiple stores, meaning buying only the best sale items at two or more
supermarkets. They take advantage of rebate programs, reward cards and online coupons. This takes
research, documentation and time but pays dividends in big savings.
The Anti-Shopper
Perhaps you are in the last group known as the "anti- shopper", you could care less for shopping. You
just plow through shopping as a mindless chore and could care less about coupons,cost comparisons or
saving money. Getting in and out is priority one and if it costs more so be it. Not much can be done for
you but these two suggestions. One, if the store has a rewards card get it and show it when you check
out. At least you will get the reward card discount. Suggestion number two, find a room mate or spouse
that is a “super shopper” and let them know what you would like at the supermarket and step back and
let them loose. |
