In my experience, food safety is the biggest priority…

In my experience, food safety is the biggest priority…
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…especially when it comes to produce. Employees were required to sterilize cutting boards every four hours; they had to fill out a cleaning log each time the boards were washed. Some employees would try to get out of doing the dirty work, so it was my job to pop into the department throughout the day and check the log. —Linda King, former store and department manager

These are 50 of the unhealthiest foods at the supermarket. 

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Most grocery stores have a budget for supporting local causes…

Most grocery stores have a budget for supporting local causes…
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…and are interested in being a part of the community. So if your school is having a fund-raiser, don’t forget to talk to your nearby store. —Jeff Weidauer

People believe milk is located in the back of the store…

People believe milk is located in the back of the store…
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…so that they have to walk through the aisles to get to it. But the real reason is simple logistics. Milk needs to be refrigerated right away; the trucks unload in the back, so the fridges are there so that we can fill the cases as quickly and easily as possible. —Jeff Weidauer

About 80 percent of what shoppers buy, they buy every week

About 80 percent of what shoppers buy, they buy every week
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Keep your receipt, which shows the item and the price you last paid, so you can tell when something is on sale. That’s when you should stock up. —Phil Lempert

Some of the same cheeses displayed behind the deli counter…

Some of the same cheeses displayed behind the deli counter…
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…are available in the dairy case. The packaging isn’t as fancy, but they’re much cheaper. —Phil Lempert

These six money hacks will save you a fortune off your next grocery bill. 

The mist that’s sprayed on your fruits and veggies…

The mist that’s sprayed on your fruits and veggies…
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…may make them look fresh, but it can make them rot faster. The water also adds to an item’s weight, so make sure you shake off leafy greens. —Martin Lindstrom

In a supermarket, a good sale is anything that’s half price

In a supermarket, a good sale is anything that’s half price
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“Buy one, get the second one 50 percent off” discounts are not good sales—that’s only 25 percent off each. Almost everything is reduced to 50 percent at some point. —Teri Gault

Here are 9 mindful shopping tips that will save you money and make you happier. 

The store I worked at would make some of its sales very specific…

The store I worked at would make some of its sales very specific…
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…and, in my opinion, very deceptive. For example, it would offer 50 percent off a 250g package of deli ham and put the sign right between the 250g packages and the 500g ones. Shoppers would wind up grabbing the wrong one and paying full price. —Jason Swett

Customers think that when they buy in bulk, they end up with a better deal

Customers think that when they buy in bulk, they end up with a better deal
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But that’s not always the case. In the produce department, individual peppers are almost always cheaper than those in the multi-packs, and loose avocados are usually cheaper than the ones grouped in mesh bags. —Teri Gault

Do not assume…

Do not assume…
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…that if something is displayed at the end of an aisle, it is a good deal. Often, it’s not. Those endcaps are sold specifically to companies trying to promote a product. —Paco Underhill

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