by Tim Barlow
WHAT’S HAPPENING
From frozen meats to breakfast cereal, cost-conscious shoppers are bidding on heavily discounted items at grocery auctions, with average savings of between 50-90% (ABCnews.com 4.2.09).
Sprouting up at auction halls across the country, the gatherings put leftover and slightly damaged groceries on the auction block. Arriving from supermarkets, distribution centers and restaurant suppliers, [...]
by Charlotte Beal
A colleague recently alerted me to Real Simple’s online series, “Time-Saving Tips for Busy Parents,” specifically the Supermarket Strategies story.
It’s a mix of fairly “duh” tips like digging back in the produce and dairy sections for the freshest items and stooping to notice that the cheaper items are shelved on the bottom [...]
by Derek Reveron
WHAT’S HAPPENING
A study shows that people who are both bicultural and bilingual may change their personality unconsciously when they switch languages.
Bicultural Latinos who speak English and Spanish change their cultural self-perception faster and easier than bilingual people who live in one culture, according to a study by researchers from Baruch College and the [...]
by Stefania Revelli
Coupon clipping: a new American pastime for a new America? With deal-hunting a newfound hobby for many consumers, bragging about bargains has not only become cool, it’s practically a new consumer sport.
Deal seekers, coupon clippers, bargain hunters: By any name, consumers are busily BeehivingSM in the name of helping one another find savings. [...]
by Nina Elder
WHAT’S HAPPENING
There are online bar/bat mitzvah registries, divorce registries and even eco-travel registries. Why not a meal registry? Enter MealBaby.com, a free online service that lets consumers coordinate meals for new parents, people recovering from surgery or anyone else who needs some good home cooking.
Here’s how it works: Log on to the site [...]
OBSERVATION
by Nissa Hanna
WHAT’S HAPPENING
With rising food prices and a sinking economy, grocery stores are battling for budget shoppers by showcasing their sweet money saving skills.
At Stop & Shop’s “Affordable Food Summits,” local politicians and economists enlighten shoppers with insights on edible savings. Consumers have been responding well, so the program is expanding to more stores [...]
