I recall back in 1994, a woman was thinking of buying a 25-lb bag of sugar. She asked if I could check the price, which I did. Much to my you’ve-got-to-kidding-me thoughts, she said, “It’s a cent cheaper than the price at Food 4 Less [which has since ceased to exist]. I’ll get it.” I got the impression that she was from the Provo area–the store I worked at was in the Orem area–and had probably spent 50 cents in gasoline just traveling up from Food 4 Less.

One particular thing I observed not in my line of cashiering, but just as I have looked at coupons myself is that coupons are often for name brand items. If I have been buying the store or off- brand of a similar product and the quality is there, then what is the advantage to using a coupon for a name brand if the net result is that the store of off- brand is still less than the brand name with the coupon.

My mother always found a nearby grocery store and shopped at it consistently. She didn’t drive around looking for the best deals. She didn’t have the time. People who do that seem to forget that their time and gasoline are worth a lot more than “saving” a few cents. Just like a business, households have overhead costs, too.

On a bit different topic, when pricing in the stores, check to make sure that the store of off- brand is less expensive than the name brand sitting next to it. Sometimes because of sales, the name brand is a better buy. But I would recommend not wasting too much time with that either.

I agree completely that “saving” money is more of a natural high than anything else. I think I would be save to say that 90% or more of advertising is psychology.
.-= Brent´s last blog ..Review of “*batteries not included” VHS =-.

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