Have you ever noticed that the most expensive items on the grocery shelves are usually at your eye level? That’s no coincidence. Grocery stores are smart. They want you to reach for the splurge items!

Instead of falling for those marketing tricks, look up and down as you shop. The more affordable brands tend to be higher or lower on the shelves. Think of it as a treasure hunt for the best price.

How do you know when bulk purchasing will actually save you money? If you can answer yes to all these questions, buy that bulk item!

1. Can I eat it before it’ll go bad?
2. Is the price per ounce cheaper?
3. Do I have space for this larger quantity?
4. Will I really use it?

Often, the off-brand and name-brand items aren’t that different when it comes to actual ingredients or even quality. That isn’t always true—and you can decide which things to pay more for. Just remember, you might be drawn to a certain brand just because the company spent more on marketing and design. You might actually be paying more for that fancy logo, not for better quality.

When meat’s about to spoil, it gets marked down. When the bakery bakes too much French bread, you can get an awesome deal. Just keep this in mind when getting those almost-expired manager specials. Only get stuff you’ll actually eat (or freeze) in time!