Shopper shares new saving techniques to cut grocery bills
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In the dance of daily life, we often find ourselves waltzing through familiar routines, especially regarding the weekly grocery shop.
We glide down the aisles, our trolley wheels humming the same tune, as we reach for the products that have become our regulars.
But what if I told you that changing the tempo of your grocery shopping routine could lead to significant savings?
The Psychology Behind Reverse Shopping Supermarkets are designed to encourage us to spend more.
From the moment we step through those automatic doors, we're greeted by a cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables, their vibrant colours beckoning us.
But this is no accident; it's a carefully orchestrated marketing strategy. As Paul Harrison, Professor of Consumer Behaviors and Marketing at Deakin University, explained, 'Familiarity and ease is key. Marketers want you to be on autopilot when shopping so you're not thinking about what you're picking up.'
By starting at the back of the store, you sidestep these psychological traps.
The less inviting sections, like the toilet paper and cleaning products, don't have the same allure as the fresh produce, allowing you to shop with a clearer mind and avoid impulse buys.
When you shop in reverse, you avoid marketing ploys and are likelier to make smarter choices.
For example, the mum who pioneered this method found that by picking up hand soap from the bottom shelf, she saved $1.40 compared to her usual brand, which was placed at eye level—the prime real estate for products with higher markups.
Moreover, by reaching the frozen foods aisle early in her shop, she made better value choices, like opting for frozen berries over fresh ones that might not be consumed before going bad.
She also discovered new, cost-effective products, such as canned potatoes, which she had previously overlooked.
By the end of her reverse shopping experiment, the mum was pleasantly surprised to find her total bill was $173.60, a significant drop from her usual $200-plus spend.
That saves at least $30 per shop, or over $120 a month—a tidy sum that could go towards a nice dinner out, a new book, or tucked away for a rainy day.
Even when shopping in reverse, it's important to stay vigilant.
Supermarkets employ various tactics to encourage spending, such as changing the flooring to create a sense of a new environment or playing music to make you feel comfortable and more likely to take risks with new products.
Bright colours draw our attention to supposed deals but always read the fine print—not all that glitters is gold.
If reverse shopping doesn't appeal to you, there are other ways to save money at the supermarket.
Harrison suggested shopping with a basket instead of a trolley, avoiding shopping when tired, and sticking to a list.
Making a list helps separate your needs from the emotional experience of being in the supermarket, putting psychological distance between deciding what you want and the act of purchasing.
The mum's success with reverse shopping shows that being aware of the subtle psychological devices at play can make a real difference.
By being less on autopilot and more conscious of her choices, she saved money, discovered new products, and spent less time in the store.
Would you try this saving tip on your next grocery trip? What changes will you see in your shopping habits or spending? Let us know in the comments below.
We glide down the aisles, our trolley wheels humming the same tune, as we reach for the products that have become our regulars.
But what if I told you that changing the tempo of your grocery shopping routine could lead to significant savings?
The Psychology Behind Reverse Shopping Supermarkets are designed to encourage us to spend more.
From the moment we step through those automatic doors, we're greeted by a cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables, their vibrant colours beckoning us.
The 'reverse shopping' method was tested by a consumer at Woolworths, resulting in savings of about $30 on her grocery bill. Credit: Shutterstock
But this is no accident; it's a carefully orchestrated marketing strategy. As Paul Harrison, Professor of Consumer Behaviors and Marketing at Deakin University, explained, 'Familiarity and ease is key. Marketers want you to be on autopilot when shopping so you're not thinking about what you're picking up.'
By starting at the back of the store, you sidestep these psychological traps.
The less inviting sections, like the toilet paper and cleaning products, don't have the same allure as the fresh produce, allowing you to shop with a clearer mind and avoid impulse buys.
When you shop in reverse, you avoid marketing ploys and are likelier to make smarter choices.
For example, the mum who pioneered this method found that by picking up hand soap from the bottom shelf, she saved $1.40 compared to her usual brand, which was placed at eye level—the prime real estate for products with higher markups.
Moreover, by reaching the frozen foods aisle early in her shop, she made better value choices, like opting for frozen berries over fresh ones that might not be consumed before going bad.
She also discovered new, cost-effective products, such as canned potatoes, which she had previously overlooked.
By the end of her reverse shopping experiment, the mum was pleasantly surprised to find her total bill was $173.60, a significant drop from her usual $200-plus spend.
That saves at least $30 per shop, or over $120 a month—a tidy sum that could go towards a nice dinner out, a new book, or tucked away for a rainy day.
Even when shopping in reverse, it's important to stay vigilant.
Supermarkets employ various tactics to encourage spending, such as changing the flooring to create a sense of a new environment or playing music to make you feel comfortable and more likely to take risks with new products.
Bright colours draw our attention to supposed deals but always read the fine print—not all that glitters is gold.
If reverse shopping doesn't appeal to you, there are other ways to save money at the supermarket.
Harrison suggested shopping with a basket instead of a trolley, avoiding shopping when tired, and sticking to a list.
Making a list helps separate your needs from the emotional experience of being in the supermarket, putting psychological distance between deciding what you want and the act of purchasing.
The mum's success with reverse shopping shows that being aware of the subtle psychological devices at play can make a real difference.
By being less on autopilot and more conscious of her choices, she saved money, discovered new products, and spent less time in the store.
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