7 Money-Saving Tricks That Can Make a Higher-Priced Store Cheaper
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
A combination of mental tricks and retail hacks can help you save at high-end stores
Being aware of retail traps designed to make you spend more is half the battle
Buying store brands and using the app are common ways to save anywhere
High prices for groceries and sundries are tough to avoid these days, but there are ways to make your local high-end stores much easier on your wallet.
It’s not just about clipping coupons or chasing sales, either. Here are seven tips for stretching your budget, based on a blend of psychology and awareness of common retail tactics.
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1. Use the ‘Boring Store’ Strategy
One of the best ways to tame soaring prices is to make sure you’re shopping at the correct store for the item you are buying — and to skip buying the item if you aren’t. Heading to a high-end store for toothpaste will likely mean paying more and increasing your odds of “mission creep” — gobbling up items you hadn’t planned on buying and may not need. Many high-end stores are physically designed to encourage browsing and impulse buying.
Try designating a “boring store” for emergency purchases. This is a place you visit only when you need one item and where the layout, product mix and atmosphere discourage browsing.
2. Beware of the Eye-Level Trap
Retailers intentionally place their highest-markup items at eye level. They know busy shoppers will see those items first and are more likely to grab what is easiest to reach.
Try focusing on higher and lower items. Those lower shelves often have generic brands, bulk bags and other budget-friendly alternatives. The outer rim of the store is also worth a look, as it tends to lack snazzy displays and packaged convenience, instead offering produce, bulk staples and other raw ingredients.
3. Use a Smaller Cart or a Basket
Many expensive stores have a fleet of huge shopping carts awaiting you out front. There’s psychology at work here: An empty cart can trick you into thinking you haven’t bought enough.
Try grabbing a smaller cart or a hand basket instead, CNBC recommended. For quick trips, forcing yourself to carry the weight of your items will help you avoid impulse buys of non-essentials.
4. Embrace Those Store Brands
Many premium store-brand items are produced by the exact same major manufacturers as name brands. Because stores don’t have to pay for national advertising or slotting fees, they can pass the savings down.
Focusing on store brands and generics can save you big bucks. A NetCredit study found 50% or more savings on a host of items.
5. Pay Attention to Unit Pricing Math
Expensive stores often hide high prices by using deceptive packaging sizes. A sleek, beautifully designed box might look like a great deal until you look more closely.
Instead of focusing on the main retail price, CNBC recommended looking at the tiny text on the shelf tag that shows the unit price. For example, price per ounce, per pound or per 100 sheets). Compare across sizes. Buying the larger size or the unbranded bulk bin equivalent often gives you a significantly lower unit cost.
6. Skip the ‘Convenience’ Sections
High-end stores (and stores, in general) tend to markup for labor-saving preparation, as reported by Lex18 News. Consider doing the prep yourself instead. Pre-chopped vegetables, washed lettuce, grated cheese and pre-marinated meats can cost up to triple the price of the raw equivalent. Spend 10 minutes at home chopping your own onions or grating your own cheese blocks.
7. Use the App To Find Digital Deals
Flashy stores usually offer the deepest discounts digitally so they can track consumer data. CNBC recommended downloading the store’s official app before stepping inside. High-end chains regularly roll out "clip-to-card" digital manufacturer coupons or personalized category discounts that aren’t available via the physical shelves.
In the end, making a higher‑priced store feel cheaper isn’t just about chasing sales. It’s about outsmarting the subtle cues that push you to overspend. By choosing a “boring” store, watching shelf placement, shrinking your cart, trusting store brands, checking unit prices, skipping convenience markups and mining digital deals, you can turn a pricey store into more neutral ground.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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