Shopping savings start with tough love when it comes to lists

Want to save money at the supermarket? Start by setting strict rules with your shopping list, and punish those who disobey you.

I’m the only male in my household and am clearly not the boss at home.

However, there’s one area where I instil fear into the hearts of my loved ones: shopping lists.

Sadly, I’m a shopping list Nazi, in the mould of Seinfeld’s infamous television Soup Nazi (no soup for you!), and there’s probably more of us around than you might think.

As the household’s main supermarket shopper, I have strict rules that must be followed:

• If it’s not on the list, it doesn’t get bought. No fruit for you!

• When you use the last of any item, add it to the list – I’m not a mind reader.

• Shopping will be done just twice a week – and one is mainly a fresh food top-up.

• When writing on the list, items must be written in the order that I will pass them in the supermarket, otherwise you can’t blame me for missing stuff.

If this was my kid, it wouldn’t be smiling at the shopping list

This last rule is a controversial one, especially for family members who don’t shop regularly and have no idea that Twisties should be below shampoo but above bread on the list.

However, shopping with a list is one of the best ways to save money at the supermarket.

Otherwise people wander aimlessly through the aisles impulse buying, grabbing stuff they already have, and forgetting stuff they need so they need to go back a day or two later and repeat the process.

Your list doesn’t have to be in supermarket aisle order, or alphabetical order, but it will give you purpose and focus to stop wasting money. Saving $20 or $30 a week might not sound like much but over a year it’s $1000-$1500.

Years of speaking with consumer, finance and budgeting specialists has helped shape my success – some say weirdness – as a supermarket shopper, and you too can save money by following these suggestions.

INFREQUENT SHOPPING

Those who pick up a few items daily are often wasting time, money and petrol, and put tempting impulse purchases in front of them way too often. Why else do you think they put lollies and chocolates at the check-outs?

Seinfeld’s infamous Soup Nazi became a global symbol for tough treatment.

BUY IN BULK, BUT WISELY

Expensive things come in small packages, so you’ll usually get the best deal buying bulk goods or larger packaging.

But it’s only a good deal if you actually use the stuff. Buying in bulk then throwing wasted perishables in the bin is pointless.

USE UNIT PRICING

This is the price per unit, such as per 100g or per litre, and is listed on the shelves. Use it to work out what size packaging delivers the most value.

It’s usually the largest packages but not always, especially when some smaller sizes are on special or with some loose items such as carrots.

MAXIMISE REWARD PROGRAMS

My eye starts twitching at the checkout when the sales assistant asks fellow customers if they’re a loyalty program member and they say “no”. Don’t these people realise it’s free money?

Whether it’s frequent flyer points or discounts off future shops, the benefits gained by swiping a store card are real.

KNOW HOW MARKETERS THINK

Retailers’ marketing teams want you to spend more. That’s why they usually put milk in the back corner – so you’ll walk past more temptation on the way there and back – and why the most expensive items are often at eye level on the shelves.

If you have a list, you’re better placed to ignore these tricks.

Originally published as Shopping savings start with tough love when it comes to lists