BOGO - buy one get one

BOGO sounds like the name of a clown, but it's that buy-on-get-one gimmick that many grocery store chains have implemented. You buy a certain product, and you get the second one free.

Sometimes they have limits, and sometimes they don't. Either way, you save money on groceries to the tune of 50% of what you would have spent if you had bought the same items when they were not on sale.

Gee, I wish they had that offer all the time on everything.

If they did, I know the stores would get more business - right up until they ran themselves out of business by selling things at essentially half the regular price.

Take advantage of BOGO for things that store well. Pasta, canned goods and frozen foods come to mind as a good item to double up on when it's offered two for one. It's a good way to save money on groceries.

I have a friend that likes "backup" and I don't blame her one bit. If you have a small shelf unit somewhere in the house, you can stock up on items that store well, and then you'll have plenty in the event of foul weather, accident or illness that might prevent you from getting out of the house and to the store.

It's always a good idea to have some reserves as well in case you have people stop by for dinner, and some other unforeseen event causes you to be in need of food.

Think of it a little like gasoline in the tank of your car. You don't stop for gas every day, do you? No, generally you have enough in your tank so you can drive many places before filling up again. And, just in case, most people don't let it get too near empty either.

Done with BOGO, back to Frugal Shopping