Tips To Avoid Falling Prey To Impulse Buying

September 26, 2007 · Filed Under , ·  

Checkout LaneDoes that Snickers bar call your name while you are waiting in line at your local grocery store? Turns out grocery shopping when you are hungry can not only be expensive, but can make you fat. Not exactly a surprise, but the actual calorie intake numbers are quite remarkable. According to a study by IHL Consulting Group, “The average woman in the study claimed to purchase and consume over 14,300 calories from calorie impulse items over the period of a year.” Calorie impulse items are defined as “chocolate candies, chips, and soda” found in the checkout line. At 3,500 calories per pound, that adds up to 4.1 lbs of extra weight every year! For men, the number was a little less at 11,100 calories consumed per year which translates into 3.2 pounds.

What Does 14,300 Calories Look Like?

  • 52 Snickers Bars = 14,300 Calories
  • 95 Cans of Pepsi (12 oz) = 14,300 Calories
  • 102 Bags of Doritos (Small Bag) = 14,300 Calories
  • 53 Butterfinger Bars = 14,300 Calories
  • 65 Almond Joy Bars = 14,300 Calories
  • 68 Nestle Crunch Bars = 14,300 Calories
  • 7,526 Tic Tacs = 14,300 Calories

At first I thought no way, that is way too many calories to possibly be true. But when I broke it down, it would only take approximately one candy bar per week to add up to 14,300 calories for the entire year. Then I could see that maybe this study was not a crock. Candy bars cost what, around .75 cents each, so that is around $40 bucks a year, obviously more for soft drinks. So if you could cut out the impulse buying you could save some money but it seems the health benefits would outweigh the dollars saved.

Healthy and Cheaper Alternatives

  • If your grocery store has ‘Self-Checkout’, use it! They always have less candy and soda on those aisles. Avoid the temptation if at all possible.
  • Shop on a full stomach. This is pretty obvious but needs to be mentioned. For example, try to shop right after lunch instead of on your way home from school with the kids. When everybody wants a snack!
  • Take a snack with you. I have seen people do this, they bring in a piece of fruit or crackers and munch on them while they do their shopping.
  • Move to the middle of Montana and live off the land! :-)

Any other tips? I would love to hear them, please leave a comment!

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Comments

7 Responses to “Tips To Avoid Falling Prey To Impulse Buying”

  1. Tina on September 26th, 2007 4:15 am

    Avoiding impulse buying has been a main theme in teaching my kids to shop. We implemented “grocery day” every 2 weeks, where we do the bulk of our shopping. To prepare, I sit down with the kids and tell them what our budget is for this shopping day. The budget includes everything we do that day, from groceries and household supplies, to lunch, and even gas in the car for the trip. The first time we did this they thought my budget was outlandish and that we would never spend all of the money. (I think the budget was $300 for our family of 4 for 2 weeks). The kids help me make up the list in advance, using the sales flyers from that week. Then on grocery day we plan to eat lunch out, taking turns choosing a restaurant off of a pre-approved list. After lunch we do our shopping, letting each child be responsible for part of the list. Everyone carries a calculator so we can figure cost per oz or pound, etc. Everyone has to decide which size of an item is the best deal. The kids are finding out that the item that is on sale is not always the size that is the cheapest per unit. This fact blew their mind, and provided a real good lesson in marketing and advertising. After the first time, when they realized that $300 for groceries, supplies, gas and lunch out did not go very far, they have become experts at finding bargains. At 15 and 11, they are becoming pros at avoiding impulse buying, and an added bonus is they keep me from impulse buying as well!

  2. Andrew on September 26th, 2007 7:44 am

    Kyle, sorry I haven’t read your actual post yet. All I know is I am now craving a Nestle Crunch bar like never before… Be right back…

  3. Kyle on September 26th, 2007 10:35 am

    @ Tina - Wow, those are some great learning tools for your kids. I agree, it does not take long to rack up a big grocery bill. I paid $4.30 for a gallon of milk the other day, I was mad because I can usually find a sale for 2 gallons for $5. Must be a shortage of cows or something!

    @ Andrew, LOL, just don’t eat 68 of them!

  4. Mrs. Micah on September 27th, 2007 4:54 am

    I’m glad I go shopping with Mr. Micah. I think it cuts down on the desire to snack. 1. because he’ll know and 2. because I have company to keep me occupied.

  5. Kyle on September 27th, 2007 7:44 am

    I can see that would really help, you can keep each other honest that way. Good Tip!

  6. Jennifer on October 1st, 2007 7:41 pm

    LOL. My DH and I have a running joke about moving to Montana to live off the fat of the land.

  7. Kyle on October 2nd, 2007 7:47 am

    Jennifer, sounds really good sometimes huh?

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