The supermarket is usually seen as a refuge for the on-the-go, where everyone is welcome as long as they are not getting any more food or item than they need. The store provides much-needed conveniences like dairy, produce, personal care items, and is considered to be one of the safest places to shop for young children and the elderly.

One downside of a grocery store is that you may pay more for a product that you can buy for a lower price elsewhere. To avoid this predicament, we’ve put together a list of 10 products that you should never buy from your local grocery store, at least not until you’ve given yourself a little more time to build up more alternatives independent of these products.

Bottled Water

At just one dollar for a bottle of water, this may seem like a great deal until you learn that some companies have been known to put chemicals in the water you drink. Moreover, why buy bottled water if the tap water in your neighborhood is safe to drink?

The benefits of having your own fresh, tap water come down to a matter of hygiene. Buying bottled water to sip at home is wasteful, and it’s also more expensive. You could save a bit of money buying a water filter jug. So, if you can get the same water at a better price at a tap, you should.

Kitchenware

You can find these products at grocery stores all across the country. However, if you choose to make your decision based on how cheap you think it is, then you are going to be sorely disappointed. For improved qualities and competitive prices, your best bets are big retailers, like Amazon, Costco, and Walmart.

Buying from grocery stores or retail stores is more likely to have these products marked up. This isn’t the case when you purchase kitchenware at a big box retailer, as their prices are usually lower due to volume.

With an excellent variety of pots, pans, mixing bowls, and baking pans, a big box retailer like Costco is ideal if you want to save some money but still find the best products available.

Meat

If you want to avoid meat from grocery stores, your best bet is to seek out local farms and slaughterhouses. By buying direct, you also know that you’re getting the meat at the time of the slaughter, which means that you’ll know when it was slaughtered, and you’ll be able to pick it up as soon as it gets to you.

However, if you can’t find local sources for meat, be aware that it’s typically easier to buy your meat from large corporations. However, you should be cautious of the quality of meat you purchase from them, ensuring that it is truly grass-fed.

Pet Food

Consider companies that provide discounts, especially for shipping, when purchasing or restocking pet food. Although you may still get a good bargain at the grocery store, these stores have a well-developed customer-centric structure that not only meets your requirements but also caters to that of your feline buddies.

Petco, Chewy, and Amazon are among these retailers. You could come across loyalty programs and coupons that help you save money on pet food. If you do decide to get a cat food container along, make sure it’s designed to fit your cat and is BPA-free and eco-friendly.

You could also opt to buy a reusable container. These pet food containers are easier on the environment.

Toothbrushes

To preserve oral health, it is advised that you change your toothbrush regularly. But then you are thinking of visiting the grocery store again for a new brush like you did three months ago. Even though this sounds laudable, there is a better approach with which you can save money, regardless of the amount.

No individual has many toothbrushes in their custody as a dentist; this is based on the nature of their profession. So, why visit a grocery store for a new toothbrush when you can see a dentist? As a part of your routine dental visits, the dentist may have given you a new set of toothbrushes.

Spices

The local supermarket is an expensive place to shop for spices. You will pay much more for spices in supermarkets than you would in specialty food stores and supermarkets. Plus, the spices sold there may not have the best price and quality.

It is generally much cheaper to buy spices and herbs directly from sources and avoid paying a premium at the supermarket.

You can save money buying spices at specialty food stores because prices are lower than in the supermarkets. Look for brands that you know and trust because buying spices and herbs in bulk will be cost-effective, and you’ll be able to choose your personal favorites.

Alcoholic Beverages

There are several reasons you should go to a wine shop rather than a grocery store for a quick fix on your thirst. While you get the best deals and the most suitable wines in a wine shop, you also have the chance to taste a wide variety of wines.

At a grocery store, you are limited to the brands and types of wine that they have.

At the wine shop, they have an excellent selection, and you can ask for more if you need it. This is the reason why you can get a few recommendations from them. If you are not sure about a particular wine, they have a good tasting board in their wine shop where you can sample.

Special Occasion Cakes

Many of the most popular cakes in the United States are made from store-bought cakes. However, when it comes to cake-making, grocery stores do not have to be your only option. From making your own cake to adding decorations to store-bought cakes, you can easily add to the special occasion.

Not only are you going to save money by making a cake, but you’ll also save time. Cake decorating is an art, and it can take hours to make a perfect masterpiece. If you want to add to store-bought cakes, you can do so in a flash. Many cakes come with decorations already attached, but to take things to the next level, you can go to town on the cake.

Coffee

Finding quality coffee at a reasonable price can be challenging sometimes. Most people turn to what’s available at gas stations and supermarkets, but is that the best you can do? In my experience, buying from supermarkets or gas stations is not the best solution for coffee. Why?

Gas stations and supermarkets are notorious for roasting their beans quickly, using cheap methods like gas or convection ovens, as well as using a low setting on the grinder to preserve their low price. What you get is basically coffee powder, which is the exact opposite of what most of us want to have in our coffee.

Coffee should be a smooth, rich, and flavorful beverage, not a gritty tasteless powdered drink.

Giftcards

Many shoppers think that they have to go to a brick-and-mortar store to purchase gift cards for use at their local grocery store. This is usually not the case. Gift card options are just as easy to purchase online as anywhere else. Many online vendors specialize in offering gift cards to online stores.

These are typically branded as online gift cards, which are accepted at most brick-and-mortar stores nationwide.

Some online vendors will even offer free shipping on purchases as they can deliver their products directly to you. This means that you never have to worry about driving across town to get your gift card. The best part is that the transaction will be a simple one-step process that generally includes a secure payment option.

Conclusion

Although your local supermarket is a great place to buy produce and basic supplies, it can also be a daunting place to buy specialty items. Some items may be available in limited supply, which makes them hard to find. You can improve the odds by reading the labels and product reviews of items before buying them.

Likewise, purchase in-season, preferably organically grown produce. It’s not just a matter of taste or aesthetics, but good nutrition and value as well. There are many specialty stores out there to visit. They may be a little more expensive, but you will get vast options and quality goods.

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