Thriftiness Tips From Your Friendly Neighborhood Grocers

The art of home economics which generations of students learned at school to manage a household budget is setting up a return. This time, however, classes are being carried out not in but in nearly every store in the nation.

Though it may appear counterproductive for stores to teach shoppers to control their spending, several store chains decided that offering such knowledge can generate loyalty and keep clients from bringing their business to cheaper competition.

Classes Going On

The Stop & Shop store chain is providing "affordable food summits" where shoppers are instructed how to chop down their grocery costs. Home Depot gives classes on energy conservation to cut down bills. Wal-Mart Stores employed a "family financial expert" who conducts online chats to educate thousands of shoppers how to lay aside money for college or university, burn away debt and sell a house.

There was once a time when schools taught domestic survival skills like how to maintain a growing family on a shoestring budget. But in an era of high profits and full employment, inexpensive credit and evolving social standards, several classes were reprogrammed to teach more timely topics.

"There's an entire generation that is never really had to know how to stretch the value of a dollar, " said Ellie Kay, who gives out financial guidance for Wal-Mart.

Going Back To Basics

Only a few can remember the last serious recession just a quarter of a century ago. During the prosperity years, shopping on a budget was looked down upon. Even average wage-earners enjoyed dining in restaurants. Many small grocery stores went upscale to attract upscale clients.

With the sinking economic climate today, many families are forced to return to basics. People are marching to wholesale stores and discounted marts, settling for more affordable items, choosing store-branded products and shopping trips are quite few.

71% of customers are more often dining at home nowadays and eating out less frequently, according to statistics from the Food Marketing Institute, which made an online survey of more than 2, 000 shoppers. The survey also discovered that 67% of customers bought less luxury items and 58% consumed more leftovers.

Grocery Stores For Classrooms?

Grocery chains started to assume the responsibility of educating customers how to prepare low-budget meals while still maintaining persistent focus on value.

"We're educating people, " said Jim Dwyer, executive vice president of strategy and business development for Stop & Shop. "Even in a tough economic time, there's an opportunity to still put the right food in front of your family. "

To make the public aware of thriftiness, food executives, teachers and economists advice consumers to surf the Internet for discount coupons, stick to shopping budgets, cook larger portions and freeze leftover food, shut off appliances when not in use and motoring tips to conserve fuel. People should also be educated on ways to counter bankruptcy. Techniques like pre pack liquidation, administration and insolvency. These stuff can help out in a big way.

These conservation advises is not specific to any one store but , rather, are pointing to money-saving products that the stores may carry. The purpose is to earn the gratitude and trust of clients and ensure that when they do shop, it will be on the store that provided the useful info. "So what they are attempting to do is provide value and get credit for the value they are providing. " said Willard Bishop, who runs a grocery store consulting firm.

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