Outlet Grocery Stores Can Save You a Lot of Money
Food is one of those undeniable things in life. When food prices rise (due to inflation, supply chain issues, or any other reason), people get nervous, and food prices have risen significantly over the past few years. Even fast food isn’t cheap anymore, and grocery bills are causing shock among people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
This makes saving money on groceries a priority for many people. Cutting back on this budget line may include shopping less, switching to brand name stores, or the age-old art of couponing. But there’s a way to instantly cut your monthly grocery bill: shop at the grocery store.
Food liquidators
Grocery stores, sometimes called “salvage” or “bent and dent” stores, are stores that buy unwanted or unneeded products from regular stores and sell them at deep discounts. These “food liquidators” offer what the industry calls “unsellables”—items such as:
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Expired or expired food items
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Products with damaged packaging (crumpled cans, torn boxes)
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Overstocked goods
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Imperfect food
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Seasonal items (such as Halloween candy) that were not on sale.
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Products discontinued (including non-food products)
Supermarkets facing losses are usually happy to sell the product to the outlet at a huge discount – at least they make some profit on their inventory. These savings are then passed on to you—and can be significant. Discounts can be as much as 70% off regular prices, and even if you don’t get such a great deal, the savings can still add up to a significant amount.
Bent and dented grocery stores run by religious groups like the Amish or Mennonites have been around for decades, but there are also large national chains like Grocery Outlet and Sharp Shopper . You can find salvaged food in your area on sites like Buy Salvaged Food or Extreme Bargains .
Considerations
There are a few things to consider before you decide to cut your grocery spending in half:
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Safety. When we talk about expired or damaged food, you may be concerned about safety, but you really shouldn’t be. Recycled products are inspected and regulated by the government in the same way as regular stores, and expiration dates are merely suggestions about the quality of the products, not the safety of their consumption. In general, you can eat most foods after the date printed on their packaging without any health risks if you use common sense (for example, avoid bulging or bulging cans or visibly rotten foods).
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Payment. Keep in mind that many scrap grocery stores do not accept credit cards or personal checks, and many do not accept manufacturer coupons. Some accept debit cards, but you may have to come with cash to take advantage of the sweet discounts.
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Choice. Due to the chaotic nature of inventory acquisition, you can’t always predict what you’ll find at the grocery store. Coming with a very specific list is probably not the best strategy. The best approach is to be flexible (sometimes called “adventure shopping”).
Salvaged foods are a legitimate option that can save you significant money on your food bills if you can overlook imperfections and expiration dates. As prices continue to rise, this hump seems to get easier and easier to get over.