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15 Supermarket Myths That Keep Wasting Your Money

Should you buy your groceries in bulk? Are organic foods actually healthier? For the sake of your budget (and your waistline!), it's time to set the record straight.

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A Whole Foods Market customer prepares to remove her purchases from a shopping basket outside the Jackson, Miss., store, . Amazon is buying Whole Foods Market in a deal valued at $13.7 billion, uniting the on-line giant with the grocery store chain that touts fresh organic foods
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Myth: Buy everything in bulk

Think bigger is always better? You might want to think again. Check the unit prices before you buy: Items like cereal or frozen foods are sometimes cheaper in smaller quantities, according to Natasha Rachel Smith, a consumer affairs expert at TopCashback.com. Plus, you could waste a lot of food (and money!) if you don’t finish items before they spoil. To get the most bang for your buck, stick to healthy pantry staples or frozen goods that you often use, and make sure you can eat everything before it goes bad.

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MODEL RELEASED Woman purchasing frozen vegetables in the frozen food section of a self-service grocery department, supermarket, Germany
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Myth: Fresh vegetables are more nutritious than frozen

Believe it or not, frozen vegetables can actually be healthier than some of the fresh produce sold in grocery stores. Why? “Produce is flash frozen at peak ripeness, meaning flavor and nutrients remain intact,” Andrea Woroch, a consumer finance expert, told Reader’s Digest. Same goes for seafood, too. So go ahead and stock up on those frozen goods—especially produce that is out of season—for a fraction of the cost. Learn 10 surprisingly simple ways to save money at the supermarket.

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A shopper removes grocery store bags from their shopping cart at a Kroger store in Flowood, Miss. The Kroger Co. reports earnings Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017
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Myth: It doesn’t matter which day of the week you shop

Kudos to those who go to the grocery store on the weekend and do all of their shopping in one go. But if you’re looking to save money, you might want to reconsider your timing. Products with short shelf lives (like meat and dairy) usually go on sale in the mid-week; plus, you’ll find more discounts later in the day because the stores need to get rid of perishables. For the best bargain, Lifehacker recommends shopping on Wednesday nights.

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Young african man buying vegetables in grocery section at supermarket. Black man choose vegetables in the supermarket while holding grocery basket. Man shopping veggies at supermarket.
Rido/Shutterstock

Myth: Always pick the bag of spinach at the back of the produce case

Not necessarily true. In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, spinach that was continuously exposed to light for just three days contained higher levels of vitamin C and preserved levels of vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. The scientists believe light boosts nutrient levels by aiding photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert energy from the sun into food. In other words, the package of spinach at the front of the case—where it receives the most light—could actually be more nutritious than the one sitting in the dark at the back.

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Organic fruit and veg at Unicorn Grocery Workers Co-operative
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Myth: “Organic” means healthy

It’s no secret that organic foods contain fewer pesticides, but that doesn’t always mean they are more nutritious. In fact, when researchers at Stanford University compared organic and non-organic foods, they found very little difference in nutritional content between the two. Still, you can’t go wrong with buying organic apples, peaches, and spinach, which tend to have the most pesticide residue when grown conventionally. Organic fruits and veggies with a skin you don’t eat, like bananas and avocados, aren’t worth the money unless your goal is to support organic farming methods.

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Alameda, CA - July 21, 2017: Grocery store shelf with many loaves of bread. Home Pride wheat, Nature's Won butter bread and honey wheat, Sara Lee Whole Wheat and honey wheat.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

Myth: Wheat bread is always made with whole-wheat

Shoppers, beware: Bread or crackers claiming to be “wheat” might seem like guilt-free carbs. But food with labels like “multi-grain” or “cracked wheat” can still contain high levels of refined white flour. To make sure your selection is truly whole grain, look for the terms “whole,” “whole-grain,” or “whole wheat” on the ingredients list.

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MODEL RELEASED Family shopping with a shopping trolley in the packed meat department of a supermarket, Germany
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Myth: Leave the kids at home

Most parents worry that bringing their kiddos to the grocery store will lead to requests for unnecessary items like candy and cookies. But it could also be a great opportunity to get kids interested in the food they eat. If they can choose their own healthy lunches and snacks, they will be more likely to eat them, which means you’ll waste less—and save money in the long run. Giving everyone a snack before you go can help to avoid those impulse buys.

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PENANG, Malaysia - January 1st 2018 : Skippy brand chunky peanut butter on a shelf in local supermarket.
Hafiz Soyuz/Shutterstock

Myth: Stick to the store’s outer aisles

To protect your budget and waistline, most experts recommend shopping around the perimeter of the supermarket, where you’ll find most staple goods like produce, dairy, and poultry. But if you avoid the middle aisles, you’ll miss healthy (and budget-friendly!) items like beans, peanut butter, and tomato sauces. Just keep the cookies and chips out of your cart.

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24 eggs in tray photo in top view
Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock

Myth: Brown eggs are healthier than white ones

Wrong again! While it’s true that not all eggs are created equal, the difference has nothing to do with their nutritional value. White eggs actually come from white hens with white earlobes, while brown eggs come from red hens with red earlobes. Because red hens are larger and their feed costs more, brown eggs are more expensive. So no need to waste the extra bucks on brown eggs; stick to the white eggs, and you can save money without missing out on nutrition. Try these 10 secrets for healthier grocery shopping, instead.

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Bangkok, Thailand - September 24, 2017: Shelf of fresh vegetables in packaging for sale at Makro supermarket. Makro supermarket is a big supermarket in Thailand.
Bai-Bua's Dad/Shutterstock

Myth: Bagged salad is too expensive

Sure, a head of lettuce or spinach costs less per ounce than the bagged kind. But if you’re more likely to eat bagged salad for the convenience, it might be worth a little extra money in order to waste less. You can keep your greens fresh even longer by choosing a bag with the latest “buy by” date and keeping your fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. To save even more, don’t miss these 20 shopping secrets from America’s top grocery stores.

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KLANG, MALAYSIA - MARCH 17, 2018 : Hand holding a cup of Marigold Low Fat Yogurt in hypermarket.
Ismail Sadiron/Shutterstock

Myth: Low-fat foods are healthier

“Low-fat” has a long-standing reputation as a diet-friendly term. But in reality, many processed foods claiming to be low-fat often contain a lot of sugar and other undesirable ingredients. Before they go into your cart, take a close look at their Nutrition Facts panel, and avoid purchasing foods that are high in sugar, sodium, and calories.

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Alameda, CA - July 21, 2017: Grocery store shelf with boxes of generic brand Market Pantry pasta next to name brand Barilla pasta.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

Myth: Name-brand goods are better quality

Odds are, you won’t even taste the difference between your favorite brand-name chips and the generic kind. “Many supermarkets have store brands/generic brands that are significantly less expensive and can be as good or even better than brand name products,” Claudia Sidoti, head chef for HelloFresh, told Reader’s Digest. Household cleaning products are great off-brand buys, as well. Here are 29 more things your grocer doesn’t want you to know.

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Woman with notebook in grocery store choosing vegetables, holding shopping list.
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Myth: Only buy the items on your shopping list

When it comes to saving money at the supermarket, making a list is the oldest trick in the book. Doing so can keep you focused on foods you need to buy and steer clear of impulsive purchases. However, a list isn’t a guaranteed money-saver. Many stores have weekly deals that can help you save money in the long run. While you should use your shopping list for the basics, you can always take advantage of a great sale if you see one. Check out more tricks frugal shoppers use to spend less on groceries.

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Woman grocery shopping in a supermarket
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Myth: Limit your grocery trips to once per week

Getting all of your groceries in one trip is admirable, but if you buy large quantities of perishable items, some of those goods may go bad before you have the chance to finish them. It can actually be less expensive and wasteful to make multiple trips to the supermarket throughout the week. On the other hand, limiting your shopping trips to once or twice per month can encourage you to buy staple items in bulk—and reduce impulse purchases. Find a happy medium that fits your diet and lifestyle.

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Fake coupon background with Scissors. All coupons were created by the photographer. Images in the coupons are the photographers work and are included in the release.
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Myth: Coupons will save you money

Beware of the famous “10 for $10” offer. “This is a classic marketing strategy meant to clear out inventory,” and you won’t save any money if you wouldn’t have bought them in the first place, Jamie Logie, a nutritionist and health and wellness coach told Reader’s Digest. Plus, store brand products and unadvertised specials are sometimes cheaper than the coupon “deals.” Use coupons for items you use a lot, and compare prices before you toss them in your cart. Also, make sure to avoid 50 more supermarket tricks everyone still falls for.

Brooke Nelson Alexander
Brooke is a tech and consumer products writer covering the latest in digital trends, product reviews, security and privacy, and other news and features for Reader's Digest. She's a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter with nearly 10 years of publishing experience, and her work has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.