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These days, rising inflation which causes a higher cost of living means more households are looking for cheaper grocery prices to ensure that they can still buy the same quantity of goods with a similar-sized budget. Therefore, it has become even more important to learn how to shop smart when we are on our grocery runs. Let me share with you 7 ways to become a smart grocery shopper.

1. Fill your grocery basket with discounted items displayed at the front

To ensure shoppers never miss out on more savings, do you know that items on promotion are almost always displayed prominently at the store entrance instead of being tucked away at the back? Alternatively, head straight for items marked with the Price Drop Buy Now icon where great bargains are released on a weekly basis every Thursday. Grocery shoppers are thus able to commence their shopping journeys by filling out their grocery baskets with heavily discounted items first.

I adhere to this rule strictly to ensure that I am off to a good start as I gradually navigate my way through the store while I keep an eagle eye on more hidden gems.

2. Buy only essentials that are competitively priced

Here is a quick and easy way to ensure that we are buying essentials that are the lowest priced in the market without having to do the comparison ourselves. At FairPrice, simply look out for the Everyday Low Price icon where 500 daily essential items are competitively priced in the market at any time.

To provide greater savings, FairPrice will freeze the prices of 50 items, out of a pool of over 500 popular daily essential items, every month. The list of 50 items will be announced every last Thursday of the month through its print, online and social media advertisements so remember to keep a lookout!

3. Take advantage of limited-time promotions

Supermarkets tend to run limited-time promotions, especially if the fresh produce are in season during that period. At FairPrice, simply look out for the Price Drop Buy Now icon to snag weekly specials or items that are on limited-time offers.

For myself, I take advantage of these periodic discounts to buy in bulk and stock up on items such as non-perishables which have longer shelf life. Such opportunistic purchases are a smart way to save massively on my grocery bill!

4. Shop strategically on the “right” weekday

When visiting the supermarket, who you shop with may make a difference to your grocery bill! Let me explain how FairPrice provides discounts to various shoppers on all weekdays with Save Even More.

On Mondays, Pioneer Generation cardholders enjoy a further 3% discount on their groceries in recognition of their contribution to nation-building. On Tuesdays, Senior Citizen (≥ 60 years old) enjoys 2% discount. If members of the Pioneer Generation are not free on Mondays, they get a second chance in the week to enjoy 3% discount on Wednesdays at FairPrice, which is also extended to Merdeka Generation cardholders. On Thursdays, it will be CHAS Blue cardholders who get to knock 3% off their grocery bills.

Therefore, I sometimes get my parents to come along during my weekly shopping trips to FairPrice! Not only do I get to enjoy additional discount, I also get to bond with them and learn nifty tips on how to pick the best quality produce! Perfect for killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

5. Join the supermarket’s loyalty programme

It pays to be loyal to a supermarket chain. Simply find one supermarket near your neighbourhood and stick religiously to it to accumulate loyalty points. For example, at FairPrice, NTUC Union and Link members earn Linkpoints and enjoy 50% deals daily! After amassing a substantial amount of Linkpoints, shoppers can use it to offset the bill of their next grocery bill.

Wine lovers should not miss out on substantial savings as a Just Wine Club member. Simply pay a membership fee of $20 for 1 year or $35 for 2 years to enjoy an additional 8% off on regular and promotional wines!

6. Pay with Mobile app to get free discount voucher

Do you know that first-time users of the FairPrice App get up to $5 off when they pay with the app in-stores? Don’t sniff at this little incentive to get you started on this payment mode! Eventually, you will come to appreciate the convenience of skipping long queues and having all your Linkpoints tracked seamlessly on the FairPrice mobile app. If you are still not a Link member, simply download the FairPrice app to be one. Be notified of promotions instantly pushed to your mobile phone so you don’t miss out on great deals.

7. Pay with a cashback credit card

Finally, always pay with a cashback credit card if you have one! That is an additional saving that you might not benefit from if you are paying with cash instead. For myself, I pay with the NTUC Link Credit Card by Trust when shopping at FairPrice that allows NTUC Union members to save up to 21% savings. For non-NTUC union members, you can get up to 15% savings if you sign up for the Trust Link Credit Card.

Here are my 7 tips on how to become a smart grocery shopper! At times like this, every cent saved is indeed every cent earned. Do share this article along so that more households can benefit from shopping smarter and their wallets will definitely be thankful for it.

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Majority of grocery shoppers want cheap grocery prices, quality produce and a pleasant shopping experience. Is this an impossible trinity that cannot be achieved during a grocery trip? I attempt to solve this mystery by making a visit to the supermarket at my neighbourhood.

Moreover, it is hard not to notice that amongst daily essentials, prices of eggs have already gone up from $5 to $6.50 for a tray of 30 eggs. Given the backdrop of rising costs of living, would prices of daily essentials also spiral out of reach? It turns out that it is actually possible to score cheap grocery prices with absolutely no compromise on the product quality and shopping experience!

I made my way to FairPrice supermarket located in my hood. For a start, I realise that it always pays to be observant by looking out for these icons in-store. Here are some examples on how I stack up for more savings and rewards while shopping at FairPrice.

Most households would have a list of essential items that go into their grocery baskets during every trip. Likewise, I am no different. I make sure to only grab essentials that come with the Everyday Low Price icon since these are competitively priced to be amongst the lowest in the market. Since there are more than 500 most popular essential items, I am not short of varieties to keep my grocery bill affordable. These items comprise popular grocery items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, staples, dairy, household cleaners etc. For example, I purchased FairPrice Thai Fragrant White Rice (5KG) at only $6.50. A similar branded product would have cost upwards of $10 at other places!

If you are FOMO-ing now, don’t worry as you can also score this bargain since this is one of the 50 items on the Everyday Low Price list that would have its price frozen for the month!

For shoppers who can’t decide on what to cook tonight, I recommend that they check out items under the Price Drop Buy Now icon for some inspiration. These are weekly specials or items on limited-time promotions guaranteed to ensure shoppers go home bagging a bargain of up to 50%. Even a meticulous homemaker who plans the dinner menu in advance can look forward to nutritious meals and incredible savings at the same time.

While I am out and about fishing for the best deals in FairPrice, I get to shop in comfort all the time. I appreciate the wide entrances, improved interiors and comfortable aisles that can accommodate multiple shopping trolleys. No more banging into each other’s elbows! After ticking off everything on my shopping list, I flash out my mobile phone and pay via the FairPrice App at the checkout counter. If you are a new user just as I was not too long ago, you get to enjoy up to $5 ($3 FairPrice e-voucher, and NTUC Union members, can earn additional 200 Linkpoints ($2 worth) off your first in-store transaction.

Important information such as Link membership and credit card details can be securely stored on the FairPrice app with my authorisation. This is an amazing digital improvement as I no longer need to carry multiple cards which bulk up my wallet unnecessarily!

Moreover, this makes it extremely convenient to stack my savings since Linkpoints are now earned through the FairPrice app. Coupled with daily discount schemes under store promotions as well as Save Even More and exclusive deals where NTUC Union/Link Members enjoy 50% off, these savings can add up to a substantial amount. For instance, under Save Even More, Pioneer Generation enjoy a further 3% discount on their groceries on Mondays and Wednesdays while Senior Citizen aged 60 and above enjoy 2% discount on Tuesdays. These all savings that can be stacked on top of all the aforementioned promotions. Therefore, if you are still not a FairPrice member, do sign up online simply by downloading the FairPrice app.

Alternatively, shoppers can breeze through the queues by paying conveniently via Scan & Go on the FairPrice App. All in all, it is a seamless shopping experience from entry to checkout for myself and FairPrice customers alike.

With quality products, affordable prices and a pleasant shopping experience, every trip to FairPrice results in all-round better value for my household. As FairPrice has shown, it is a myth that one has to trade down on the shopping experience or product quality to score better grocery prices. Therefore, next time someone tells you that you need to compromise on the quality of your groceries due to inflation, you know that it need not be true!

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