Have you ever cashed in a rain check? What happens if the price you paid doesn’t match the price on shelf? There’s more savings out there than meets the eye.
Hi there! Welcome to the another edition of #FrugalFridays: a series of blog posts focused on how to save your hard-earned cash!
In this post, we’re going to take my first Frugal Fridays topic, saving at checkout with coupons, and go a little bit deeper: how to save at grocery stores and retail shops like Target and Wal-Mart using little-known tips and tricks.
The key here is to read the fine print: doing a little research up front at your local store(s) will save you time, energy, and money (hello!) in the long run. I’ve listed out some money-saving tactics below that I love to use every time I shop! As of the publishing date of this blog post, all information contained herein is accurate and up-to-date.
1. Rain checks: We’ve all heard the saying, “I’ll have to take a rain check”…but have you ever wondered what a rain check actually is? At grocery stores, rain checks are available for items that are sold out, usually because it is currently on sale. For example, let’s say Dunkin’ Donuts ground coffee is on sale in the weekly flier. You arrive at the grocery store, only to find the Dunkin’ Donuts shelf space empty. When you ask a store associate to see if there’s more in the back room, they return only to tell you there’s no more left in stock. When you head to checkout, you can request a rain check: simply show the weekly flier and state the product is currently out of stock. The associate should be able to write down all of the information, so that when you return to purchase the item, you can still pay the sale price!
2. Incorrect pricing: When I complete checkout and get my receipt, I always step off to the side to check my receipt. It only takes 60 seconds to do a quick scan to ensure you were charged the correct price for everything you bought. Sometimes, the price is listed on the shelf does not match the price you paid on the receipt. Another scenario involves incorrectly weighed produce during the checkout process: if the cashier has their hand on the scale, you could be paying for five pounds of apples when you only bought one pound! Another common error is the advertised price for an item being lower than the price you paid. If anything on your receipt stands out to you, bring the receipt along with the item to customer service. At the very least, you will receive correct pricing, and receive the difference back in cash. Some stores, such as Publix, have a correct-price guarantee: if during checkout, the scanned price of an item exceeds the shelf price or advertised price, they will give it to you for free!
3. Private label couponing: We’ve talked about using competitor coupons in my first blog post, but have you heard about using competitor private label coupons? Check with your grocer to see if they will accept coupons from competing grocer’s private labels. Oftentimes, they will allow shoppers to use those coupons for purchases of their own private label items. This way, they can try and win you over as a customer and convert you to their brand!
4. Manager’s Specials: Have you ever noticed Manager’s Special markdowns? As products near their expiration dates, the store marks down the prices as part of a “manager’s special.” This can also be done for products that are seasonal (such as decorations, or pumpkin-flavored anything), or becoming discontinued. The idea behind the manager’s special is that they would rather sell it at a discount than throw it away. I’ve bought yogurts, meat, milk, cereal, decorations, napkins, dressings, and beer from Manager’s Specials across many different grocery chains (Kroger, Safeway, and Publix to name a few!). Just make sure that you don’t buy something you don’t need, just because the price is cheap. I’ve definitely been sucked into a good deal before, only to end up not using it once I get home!
5. Gift Card “Sales”: I’ve saved the best for last here! Every so often, grocery stores will offer discounts on your grocery bill if you purchase a gift card along with your groceries. One example is my local grocer, Publix, which offers $10 off your grocery bill with the purchase of a $50 gas card. If you know you will be buying gas in the near future, buying the gift card is a smart idea. There are some limitations to this, though: if the gift card requires an activation fee, the discount might not be worth it. This usually only applies to those “debit-style” gift cards, such as a Mastercard or American Express gift card. As always, read the fine print to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck!
I hope some of these are helpful, and maybe even some new ideas for your next shopping trip! One recommendation is to visit the grocery store’s website before you go to read the fine print and get all the details on their policies. Otherwise, you can head over to the customer service desk when you arrive for the latest and greatest. Have you ever tried any of these savings tricks before? Let me know in the comments below!
