8 Things You Should Never Buy at a Grocery Store

Grocery stores offer great convenience when it comes to buying food, but there are certain items on the shelves that you can find elsewhere much cheaper. You'll be shocked at how much money you can save by doing a bit of homework before opening up your wallet.

If you would like to save a few dollars, here is a list of eight things you should never buy at a grocery store, according to Money Talks News.

1. Greeting cards. You could save $4, or even more, if you pick up your greeting card from the dollar store instead of the local grocer.
2. Magazines. It's tempting to throw a magazine into your shopping basket but if you are an avid reader of a certain publication, it will save you in the long run to purchase a subscription instead. It works out far cheaper than buying a magazine each month.
3. Pet food. You can save big by pre-planning. Retailers like Amazon, Petco, and Chewy offer discounts on automated shipments. You can also look for coupons and specials offered by pet store chains.
4. Bottled water. There is not much difference between drinking bottled and tap water in most places. If you are living in a city where the water is perfectly drinkable, then save yourself the cash and drink from the tap. You will also be doing your part in reducing waste by avoiding the plastic bottles.
5. Baking mixes. These pre-packaged mixes are convenient, but they are also costing you. Basic baking mixes for cookies, muffins, and cakes are not hard to make from scratch and it works out cheaper. Buying the ingredients also means you can make more than one batch.
6. Kitchenware. Why fork out on pots, pans, and appliances from your local grocery store when you can probably find better quality kitchenware at better prices from home retailers? You could also wait for sales on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Black Friday to stock up on these items.
7. Spices. Instead of buying individual overpriced bottles of herbs and spices from the grocery store, head off to a bulk food or spice store where you can pay per ounce.
8. Batteries. Avoid paying hefty prices on batteries and stock up on bulk packages from a warehouse club. You will end up paying much less than if you had to buy a single pack from the store.

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