There are several discount grocery stores that keep costs down by not offering many national brands, and instead feature their own products. While some items may not be the same quality, many of these “generic” products are every bit as good as the name brands and they are offered at a substantial savings.
Discount stores also keep costs down by not offering any frills. For truly frugal shoppers, the fewer frills, the more he or she is drawn to the store. Bagging their own groceries is not a problem; many even bring their own bags!
Stores like these tend to offer dramatic savings. When you spend $100.00 at a discount grocery store, you get a workout while loading your groceries into your vehicle. When you spend the same amount at the corner market, you can probably carry your purchases easily, even if you are a fairly careful shopper. Think about it; is it worth limiting your purchases in order to pay the bag boy’s wages? Most frugal shoppers don’t think so.
Besides discount stores, there are also shopping clubs. When you first come across one, you will probably think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. It might be, if you are actually going to shop there often enough, and save enough, to pay for your membership card. In addition, keep in mind that while buying in bulk can provide great savings in some instances, it can also backfire. If you buy a huge package of something and your family does not like it or doesn’t use it all before it goes bad, you haven’t really saved any money. Only buy in bulk when you are certain of the quality. Try a small package first to see if it is something you will use. Shopping clubs can be a great resource if you’re aware of certain pitfalls.