Working World

Since most of us are unlikely to get a raise this year, and many people are coping with reduced hours or no job at all, it’s critical that we make the money we do earn stretch as far as possible. Even if the big-ticket items have been trimmed from your budget for the foreseeable future, those everyday expenses like groceries, health and grooming aids, household cleaners and the like — items we really cannot do without — can still represent a significant drain on your wallet. Seeking out the best prices for these routine purchases is worthwhile and can save you a bundle over the long term.

Shop Around

Instead of using only one major supermarket, throw loyalty out the window and rotate between them consistently. Don’t go to all of them every week (unless you really like supermarkets), but maybe one market one week, another the next, a third one the following week and so on. This increases your odds of hitting sales on your must-have items and gives you the maximum opportunities to stock up cheaply. And naturally you will be signed up for all of their club cards to get the best prices.

Mix in trips to Trader Joe's, Smart & Final and the big-box stores on a regular basis to defray the cost of eating and basic survival. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has been popping up all over Southern California. These stores offer food and nonfood items at very good prices, especially on the house brands. You will have to scan your own groceries, but the scanning machines are easy to use and employees will help if needed and bag the goods for you. I found a 32-ounce bottle of pure cranberry juice (Fresh & Easy brand) for $4.99. The same product in a name brand sells for $9.99 at Ralphs. Even though they only take their own coupons and not the manufacturers’, with discounts like these, you can still come out ahead.

The 99¢ Only Stores have some amazing deals on packaged and canned foods, and health, grooming and household cleaning products, but it is best to go without too many preconceived notions about specific brands you want to buy since their inventory is unpredictable. They do carry some major brands, but also many obscure and unfamiliar ones. If you are brave enough to experiment, these inexpensive off brands may be acceptable substitutes for your usual mainstays. One enterprising cook, Christiane Jory, even wrote a book called The 99¢ Cent Only Stores Cookbook: Gourmet Recipes at Discount Prices, illustrating how entire meals can be constructed with ingredients bought solely from those stores.

Good deals on quality food are often available at local farmers’ markets, where you can find fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, eggs, flowers and more. Here the vendors set their own prices, there are no middlemen/distributors who need to make a profit, and no transportation costs to speak of. All those savings can be passed on to you. The goods are generally fresher and they last longer, which reduces waste and makes your food dollar go further. Click the following link for a list of locations and hours of Certified Farmers’ Markets in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Also check and see if you are near a bakery outlet such as the Oroweat Baking Company. In addition to Oroweat bread, they feature Boboli, Francisco International and Entenmann’s products at wonderful discounts, as well as a selection of jams, peanut butter, teas, spices, soup mixes and snacks. The price at Ralphs and Target on Thomas’ English Muffins: $3.59. The same product at the outlet store: $2.09, a discount of 40 percent. I drove by the Oroweat outlet in Torrance for years before I bothered to stop, but then was amazed at how low the prices were.

Be adventurous, vary your routine, and explore various new sources for bargains you may have been missing.

Alternative Cleaning Products

In addition to changing your habits about where you shop, a little experimentation with what you buy can help save you money. A lot of the more expensive items on grocery store receipts are cleaning products, and there are natural and less costly alternatives to the commonly used commercial chemical cocktails. Baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemon juice, ammonia and borax have long been used as household cleaners. These are generally healthier as well, although some, such as borax, can still be toxic and need to be treated with the appropriate amount of caution.

Jet-Dry will sell you a solution for about $5 to run through the dishwasher periodically to clean the machine. Putting a cupful of baking soda in the detergent dispenser and running a cycle will serve the same purpose for pennies. Many other recipes and uses for every room in the house can be found in a publication from the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (under “Living Healthy” click on “Heath eHome”). There are even more solutions at EarthEasy (Click on “Live” and then on “Non-Toxic Home Cleaning”) or by going to Loretta’s Place. Once there, click on “Clean & Green.”

Additional Tips

• Pay attention to the items below or above eye level on the shelves. Eye-level shelves tend to hold the pricier merchandise.

• You may find more specials mid-week, when traffic is lighter and the manager needs to move the perishables.

• Buy produce in season, which is less expensive than out-of-season fruits and vegetables. And, if you have space to store them, buy nonperishable items in bulk whenever possible for a lower per-unit cost.  

• Remember to look at the per-unit costs when comparing prices of similar items (the “fine print” on the sticker on the shelf) because that is the number that matters, not the price of the package. For example, how much you are paying per Q-tip or per ounce of coffee or juice?

Bargain hunting can be fun, and a little strategic shopping can bring a lot of satisfaction in getting the maximum possible bang for your hard-earned buck.   

Suzanne Ridgway is a freelance writer and regular columnist/contributor for Working World and Working Nurse magazines. Suzanne also writes grant proposals for nonprofit organizations.