2022 Fall Home and Garden

2022 Fall Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Sept. 23, 2022 Page 11 purchase that product in the first place. Millions of dollars are spent annually to market that cute little honey bee or leprechaun, and you pay for that when you buy the product. DO read the information on the shelf tags at the store True story. For several month a store in Lincoln was selling small bottles of Dawn dish soap at a price per ounce that was lower than the jumbo economy-sized bottle. Look at the cost per ounce of each size. We can’t say the how or why of this, but it was to the shopper’s advantage to buy smaller bottles at that point in time. And remember, the price on the shelf is the price you pay. If a product shelf sticker says an item should be $3.49 and at the checkout it rings up $3.99, you have a right to ask for a price check at the shelf and hold the store to their “advertised price.” DO comparison shop between retailers Do this with caution in Logan County. We know that we are limited on the resources for groceries. But do comparison shop. You can purchase food products at Aldi, Lincoln IGA, Wal-Mart, Dollar General and even Dollar Tree. Use caution in doing so. Don’t assume that it is cheaper because the price tag says it costs less. Look at that shelf tag or at the product packaging. Are you comparing apples to apples? Are you comparing packages with the same weight or servings per package? If all are equal, then buy where it is less expensive. Where you want to use caution is the location distance the sale is taking place. If you get a flier from a grocery in Springfield, do the marked down prices in the flier save you more than the gas you will spend to get there? Often times, buying local even at a slightly higher price is still the smartest thing to do. DO shop sales Check out that weekly flyer from Lincoln IGA. What have they got on sale that you can incorporate into your meal plans? Planning your weekly menu utilizing sales is to your advantage. DO take advantage of discount days This is a tip for seniors. If you have acquired that “fine wine” age, you deserve some breaks. If a store offers discounts for you if you shop on Wednesday, then by all means…shop on Wednesday. DO take advantage of cash back cards We are a cashless society today. Many debit and credit cards offer cash back scenarios at specific stores. If you can get those perks while shopping locally that is also to your advantage. CONTINUED u