Five Tips to Survive Box-Store Shopping

If you have shopped at a box-store, you probably have overspent, in an effort to save money. The box-stores are a shopping phenomena. Where else can you go to buy the latest in high speed power tools and, a couple of aisles over, pick up a cardboard tray of twelve huge muffins? The box store provides the shopper with that and much, much more. Here are five tips to help you survive the experience, with as little post shopping trauma as possible:

• Ask yourself: “where am I going to store 288 rolls of toilet paper?“. Yes, the toilet tissues is at a bargain price. You won’t be able to find this price at the local grocery store where you usually shop. However, you have to buy the full box, which holds twenty four units. Each unit of toilet tissue has twelve rolls. The box does not look all that large in the huge warehouse store, but wait until you go home and start wondering where to store all this toilet tissue.
• Make a list of what you really need. These stores are designed with attractive bargains on every aisle. The point is to catch the shopper in spending mode and rely on impulse buying. And it is guaranteed that you will find bargains in every aisle. It is not a coincidence. There are evil people who work on product placement.
• You don’t want to buy that barrel of peanut butter. Really, you don’t want to do it. You may have the intention of sharing this major bargain with your friends. The game plan may sound good but you don’t have that many friends.
• This is a hint for the guys. - No matter how much you can save with the “two for the price of one” engagement rings, don’t do it. Resist the temptation no matter how much money you can save. Trust me on this one; let’s just move onto the hardware aisle quickly.
• Don’t go there in a truck. The reason why should be self evident.

You may have other hints for surviving the box-store shopping experience. Leave a comment - I’ll check later. I need to go and try to drink this quart and a half fountain drink from the local convenience store.

Catherine