The pennies add up
Meredith has a great post on why pennies count. Though it might seem ridiculous or a "hassle" to many, this is one reason I stand there religiously watching the prices being scanned in the checkout at the grocery store. I'm amazed at how many times something is rung up wrong. Sure, it might only be $0.50 or so each time I shop, but multiply $0.50 by shopping at least 52 weeks a year and those pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters start adding up. It's often the little things which can really make a difference. Just like little savings on necessities add up, so do little unnecessary purchases on your credit card that you don't have the money for.
posted by Crystal Paine at 8:25 AM
6 Comments:
I also TRY to do this but I have a question: How do you do it? In most grocery stores, you have to unload your own cart and the cashier begins ringing things up once the first item is on the belt. How can we watch as things are rung up? This has been an issue for me for a while. I hope that someone can offer a solution!
Johanna
I run into this problem quite a bit. It is amazing how those incorrect scans never come out in my favor! Sure it takes time and sometimes I feel petty going back for a correction of a few cents. But it is the only way my store will correct how an item scans.
Another area is couponing: I checked with the corporate offices of my grocery store to make sure they will accept a coupon on a buy one get one free item (which they happily do) but many times the cashiers do not want to accept one. Once I mention (very nicely) that I spoke with so and so from corporate, they aplogize and accept the coupon.
Every little penny does count. It is our jobs to be wise stewards of the money God gives us. Just think, we could overspend a small amount on every little thing and then when it comes time to give an offering for missions-- have nothing left to help spread God's word!
My mom taught me this, check your receipt ALWAYS! Sometimes those small penny mistakes happen, but sometimes they make big ones too!
Also, I go to the ones with the longest lines so I have time to unload everything before they start ringing it up, or it is something good that my boys have started helping me finish unloading while I go up and watch!
Johanna,
Here's how I monitor prices at checkout...
First, I shop alone (no kids, no husband) early Saturday morning. I used to do this on a weeknight after the kids were in bed, but Saturdays seem to be working out better. It is much easier to concentrate when you are by yourself.
I have a pretty good idea how much things cost because I usually base my shopping list on what's on sale. I also write down prices from the store flyers on my shopping list. With other items I can usually remember how much they cost if I just make an effort to be alert and ask myself whether I'm getting a good deal or not.
When I get to checkout I try to get behind someone else so that I can unload my cart as that person's items are being scanned. Hopefully by the time the person in front of me has paid, all of my things are on the counter. I also group like things together (canned goods, produce, etc.) and identical items right next to eachother. This is really important for BuyOneGetOneFree deals so you can keep track of whether that second item was free.
As the checker scans my items I keep an eye on the digital readout. I make a mental note of any overcharges. When I have my receipt, I get out of the way of the next customer and double check the receipt. I take my receipt to customer service and show them where I was overcharged.
By going to customer service instead of having the cashier make the correction I have more time to go over my receipt and I am not holding up the line. Also, at the stores where I shop (Publix and Albertsons) if an item rings up higher than the advertised or shelf price, you get the item free. Customer service usually handles this better than the cashiers who often try to adjust the price rather than giving it to me for free. The Walmart here has a similar policy but an item is free up to $3. For items over that amount, you get the price adjusted plus $3 back.
With the price accuracy guarantee policies at the stores where I shop, keeping track of the pennies has added up to free tortillas, apples, grapes, lightbulbs and my very best-- a free box of 144 diapers.
Lori
You got that right Crystal! The amount of credit card debt in the US is almost incomprehensible. Each year, I get my free credit report copy and there is a debt average for people living in my area. The average here is $75,000 per person! That is in unsecured debt too I believe. Mindblowing isn't it?
Check out this blog for a story about saving while shopping.
http://courtneyscontemplations.blogspot.com/index.html
On Saturday we received $55.00 when we went to Coin Star to turn in outr change.it cost $4.00 for the machine to count but by the tiem I got the coin rolls and all of the tiem spent counting mannually the cost was worth it.
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