The Best Way to Save Money at the Warehouse
Making a trip to the warehouse grocery store can be intimidating, as it is radically different from your average grocery store. (And by "average," I mean Whole Foods.) Everything is huge and in bulk, which can make you feel like you're going to need a suitcase just to carry all that stuff home.
But with these easy-to-follow tips, you'll be able to save money on everything that you buy! Read on for more info.
This post will teach you how to navigate the aisles at the warehouse grocery store, how to read nutrition labels, and even what kind of produce is worth buying there. (And of course you'll want to read on for the money-saving tips.)
Whether you decide to brave the warehouse experience for yourself or never buy your groceries from a warehouse again, this post will help you save money and be more informed.
How to Navigate the Aisles at the Warehouse
At the warehouse store, everything is in bulk and comes in plastic bags or cardboard boxes. To help you navigate all of those different containers, here are some pointers on how to figure out what goes in which box:
The Box That Contains It All: These items are bulk-size containers that have a variety of produce and other things inside (such as pasta). These come in medley-sized boxes (like the tomato bin).
The Basket That Holds It All : These are big plastic containers in which you can find bulk quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits. You can also find some items with this carton, such as cereal, soup, and other dry goods.
The Plastic Bags With No Labels: These are just standard-size plastic bags that you can fill with produce when you get home. Just look to see if there's the word "fresh" on the bag before you fill it. If there is, then it is fresh. If it doesn't say anything, then it is not fresh and could be rotten. If you find something labeled "organic," then it's safe to buy and eat without worry.
The Plastic Bags With Labels: These are the same as the ones above, just with food item labels on them. These are the most expensive because they cost more to package than ordinary plastic bags, but they are significantly more hygienic than using other kinds of bags. Make sure that you don't throw away the containers before you have a chance to check the expiration date.
The Box That Contains Only One Item: There are some foods that come in neat little bulk containers, such as nuts and grains. They're cheap and easy to store, so it's a good idea to stock up on them if they're staple foods in your diet. Sugar is also found in warehouse stores in big plastic bags. Remember that sugar does not expire for years and is healthy for consumption (as long as you don't go overboard).
How to Read Nutrition Labels at the Warehouse
When it comes to buying food at the warehouse store, it is important to know exactly what you're getting yourself into. So, here are some tips on how to read nutrition labels on the products you'll find there:
When you read the label on a product, it will tell you how much protein, vitamins, and minerals a serving size has. For example, if the label says that one serving of a food item contains 10 grams of protein and 45% of your daily value for calcium, then you know that there is 10 grams of protein in one serving (45% × 10 = 45). There may be other numbers on the nutrition facts sheet as well.
Some items may be listed as "made with...," which means that they're mostly made with sugar or some other processed food product. But if there isn't a food name listed, it's safe to assume that you're getting something healthy.
Under the section of the label called "Serving" will show how many portions/serving sizes the product contains. There are three numbers in this section: 1/2 cup (1 serving), 1 cup (2 servings), and 2 cups (4 servings). In general, one serving is about the size of an open hand. These numbers vary depending on what type of food product it is. For example, if you find rice cakes or cereal in the pasta aisle, there may be two servings in one box because each portion contains two servings.
The first number on the label will tell you how much fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol the foods have per serving. The second number will tell you how much fiber they contain. You can easily calculate the nutrition facts for a product by following these steps: Find the first number (the one that starts with "% Daily Value" or "% DV"). Multiply this number by 2 to get the total amount of calories and nutrients per serving size (in grams). This will give you an average daily value for that item. Multiply this average daily value by 6 to get the calories in one portion (in calories). This will give you the number of calories in one serving. Divide this number by 9 to obtain the grams of carbohydrates, fats, protein, and fiber. Multiply this number by ½ to obtain the percentage of fat in that item (in grams). These are not exact measurements; they are suggestions for what nutritional information you should look for on foods at the warehouse store.
How to Save Money at the Warehouse
One thing that warehouse stores are known for is having deals on stuff. And if you want to save money shopping there, then you need to know exactly how to get these deals. Here are some money-saving tips for the grocery store:
Buy Only What You Need : If there's nothing that you need, don't buy it! This will help keep you from overspending on random things that aren't on your grocery list.
Conclusion
So there you have it — how to shop at the warehouse store and save money. Just remember to be smart, read nutrition labels carefully, and don't buy products with too many ingredients. It really is a wonderful place to spend a day shopping for groceries. Have you ever shopped at the warehouse store? Tell us in the comments what your favorite things to buy were and what you love about their selection!
Image Credit: Flickr / Jürgen Merk, Flickr / fumihitomemitsu, Flickr / China Photos, Wikipedia Licence/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.