7. Snack-Sized Packages

The aisles are filled with them: tiny bags of chips, miniature boxes of raisins, and single-serving packs of cookies. These are marketed for convenience, lunch boxes, and portion control. But just like other pre-portioned items, you are paying a huge premium for the extra packaging. The markup can easily be double or triple the price of buying a standard-sized bag and portioning it out yourself.

Check the unit price. A large 15-ounce bag of pretzels might cost $3.50, making the unit price about 23 cents per ounce. A multipack containing ten 1-ounce bags of the same pretzels might cost $6.00, which is 60 cents per ounce. You are paying more than twice as much for the exact same product, just because it is in a smaller bag. This is a classic example of what not to buy at the grocery store if you are watching your budget.

The Money-Saving Move: Buy Big and Divide at Home

The solution is simple and effective. Buy the large, family-sized bag of crackers, chips, nuts, or cookies. Then, invest in a set of small, reusable containers or snack-sized resealable bags. Take five minutes after you get home from the store to portion out the snacks for the week. This puts you in control of the portion size, saves a remarkable amount of money, and is much better for the environment than throwing away dozens of tiny plastic bags.

This strategy works for more than just salty snacks. You can buy a large tub of yogurt and portion it into smaller containers, or buy a block of cheese and cut it into cubes. It requires a tiny bit of upfront effort but pays off with big savings on overpriced grocery items.