“19 Grocery Splurges You Won’t Believe You’ve Been Adding to Your Cart — And How to Finally Stop!”
10. Shopping While Hungry: A Recipe for Disaster
Ever gone grocery shopping on an empty stomach? This seemingly harmless habit can be a major budget buster. When we’re hungry, our decision-making ability is impaired, and cravings take over. We become far more susceptible to impulse purchases and unplanned treats.
Plan your shopping trip strategically. Always go to the grocery store after a meal or a satisfying snack. This simple tactic can save you from impulsively filling your cart with less-than-healthy items and help you stick to your list in the face of temptation.
11. Cart Size: A Subtle Trick
Over the years, grocery shopping carts have grown considerably. This is not an accident. Stores know that a bigger cart encourages us to buy more. It creates the illusion that we haven’t bought enough until the cart is full.
Opt for a handbasket whenever possible, especially for smaller shopping trips. The limited space forces you to be more selective and consider each purchase carefully, preventing the mindless accumulation of unnecessary items.
12. Confusing Unit Pricing
Different packages are sized differently, which makes it harder to compare prices effectively. Unit pricing (price per ounce, per pound, etc.) is designed to offer clarity, but stores sometimes make this information surprisingly difficult to locate or understand.
