Lesson 35: Supermarkets vs. Supercenters: Where Can Shoppers Save More?
In my Super-Couponing classes, I’m often asked whether it’s easier just to shop at a supercenter, large grocery-discount store combinations that offer “every-day low prices,” or shop at a traditional, “more expensive” supermarket using coupons to achieve greater savings. If you’ve used coupons for any length of time, you know that it’s possible to achieve much better savings at the supermarket by following the sales and matching them with coupons. The reason? Believe it or not, the “every-day low price” strategy is the culprit. Supercenters maintain low prices, avoiding the traditional cycle of sales and price cuts common at supermarket chains. At a supercenter, a $2.50 box of cereal will sell for $2.50 this week, next week and three weeks from now. Meanwhile, over at the supermarket, the price of the same brand of cereal is fluctuating from high to low. It may be $2.99 one week, $2.49 the next and $1.99 the next. Many shoppers find comfort and a sense of confidence in knowing what pri
