Salvage grocery shopping is on the rise, as food prices are going through the roof. More people are shopping at salvage grocery stores. You can save 25 to 60 percent off of your groceries if you practice this method of frugality.
Salvage grocery shopping is buying goods, usually brand name, that for one reason or another can not be sold in regular grocery stores or on the regular shelves. These goods consist of products with damaged packaging, products that are seasonal, products that are near or past their sell by dates and products that might be test items that didn’t sell well. They are made available to the public at a reduced rate as opposed to the normal retail price.
To practice salvage grocery shopping, you’ll need a source of salvage groceries. There are currently three main sources:
Salvage Grocery Stores: These stores contract with distributors for goods. Look online to find the closest salvage grocery store close to you. Remember they go by many names and do not always say “salvage grocery store” in the name. Refer to the links below to find a salvage store in your area.
Banana Box Stores: These stores literally get banana boxes full of mixed goods. You’ll never know what you are going to get here, but the prices are probably the lowest of the three sources.
Clearance Racks: These are clearance or discount racks at your local grocery store.
Check out www.gnivas.com which is cleverly “saving” spelled backwards.
This site offers a free, up-to-date nationwide directory of salvage and bulk food stores. The guide has maps, store hours, methods of payment, reviews when possible and website listings when available. Click on the link to Salvage and Bulk Food Stores Savings Havens.
Here’s some other links to check out: http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyID=2206
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97055
There are sure to be more salvage grocery stores popping up now that many people need to save as much money as possible. When shopping at these types of stores remember that you are going to see damaged goods. You will want to make sure that you take the time to check the expiration date on items found. Don’t just assume that the item is not expired. You should also make sure that you know what is on the recall list. In the past some of these types of stores have sold items that were re-called. That does not mean that shopping at a salvage grocery store is not a good find. You can definitely save plenty of money just for buying something that is dented or damaged.
Shopping at a salvage grocery store is just another frugal way to save money on food purchases and it can save you a lot. Imagine purchasing a can of soup for .50 cents, rather than the regular $1.29 or a box of cereal for .99 cents rather than $3.99. The savings can be huge, just remember to be careful to check dates and make sure the product is not re-called. Shopping at a salvage grocery store, along with regular grocery stores can save you money on many grocery items. A good idea is to purchase any items that you cannot find at a salvage store at your regular grocery store or items that you are not comfortable buying at a salvage store. Remember to check your local grocery store’s clearance aisles or racks too, as they have many dented cans or salvage type items that they want to get rid of and will cut the price drastically. I have found that Kroger usually has bins or racks full of different stuff they have on clearance and want to dispose of.
