A modern pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens is much more than just a place to get a prescription filled. These stores have evolved into a unique hybrid of a pharmacy, a convenience store, and a small-scale department store. This means that their aisles are filled with a surprisingly diverse and often strange collection of products…
We think of our kitchen pantry as a safe, stable place to store our food. However, this dark and quiet space can be home to several hidden dangers that go beyond a simple expired can of soup. From invisible chemical contaminants to tiny insect pests, your pantry can harbor a variety of surprising health risks.…
For decades, we were trained to believe that the brand name was a guarantee of quality. We now know that this is not always true. In many cases, a retailer’s store-brand, or private-label, product is just as good, if not better, than its more expensive, brand-name counterpart. In a series of blind taste tests and…
Some restaurant menu items are more than just food; they are an addiction. These are the craveable, iconic dishes that we think about for days. They are what keep us coming back to our favorite chains again and again. These recipes are often a carefully guarded secret. They are a perfect storm of salt,…
The restaurant landscape is in the middle of a major transformation. Traditional fast-food and casual dining chains are struggling. At the same time, a new generation of “fast-casual” brands is in the middle of an explosive growth phase. These brands offer a higher-quality product than fast food, but with the same speed and convenience. They…
In the competitive world of fast food, a good loyalty program can be a game-changer. No brand has mastered this better than Chick-fil-A. Their “Chick-fil-A One” rewards program is a masterclass in how to build a devoted and engaged customer base. The program goes beyond just offering simple discounts. It uses a sophisticated, tiered system…
Your grocery receipt is more than just a piece of paper; it is a potential source of free cash. A new wave of popular smartphone apps has created a simple way to earn money back on the purchases you are already making. The most popular of these is Ibotta. This powerful app has partnered with…
The old retail saying is that “eye level is buy level.” Grocery stores use this principle to place their most profitable, brand-name products right in your line of sight. But for the savvy shopper, the real secret to saving money is to look down. The bottom shelf is where retailers almost always place their own…
You have just finished a long and successful couponing trip. You feel great about all the money you have saved. However, your job as a savvy shopper is not over yet. A grocery store receipt is a complex document, and errors are surprisingly common. The use of coupons can actually make it more likely that…
The American bakery scene is in the middle of an exciting and delicious revolution. A new wave of bakery chains, many with roots in Asian baking traditions, is rapidly expanding across the country. These brands are winning over a new generation of customers with their unique, innovative, and highly photogenic treats. From the chewy texture…
The dollar store was once the fastest-growing sector in American retail. Its simple, low-price business model was a huge success. However, the economic landscape of 2025 has created a perfect storm of challenges that has destroyed that model. Major chains like 99 Cents Only have filed for bankruptcy. Dollar Tree has been forced to raise…
A “sale” sign in a grocery store creates a powerful illusion of a good deal. However, for certain product categories, the markup is so incredibly high that even a “discounted” price is still a rip-off. These are the items that have the highest profit margins in the entire store. Retailers know that customers will often…
Every savvy shopper knows to check the clearance aisle for deals. However, there is another, often overlooked, section of the grocery store that is a goldmine for hidden discounts. The dairy aisle is a place of constant turnover. Its products have a short and strict shelf life. This means that employees must constantly mark down…
Most savvy shoppers are familiar with the standard ways to get a coupon. You can clip them from the newspaper, print them online, or download them from a store’s app. However, there is a hidden world of obscure and lesser-known coupons that most people have no idea exist. These discounts are not widely advertised. They…
The canned goods aisle is a treasure trove for any adventurous home cook. Beyond the familiar cans of corn and green beans, there is a whole world of obscure and underrated ingredients that can instantly elevate your meals. These shelf-stable items can add a burst of complex, global flavor to your cooking. They can also…
The gas station mini-mart has a well-deserved reputation for being overpriced. Most of the items on its shelves are marked up to a shocking degree. However, not everything in a convenience store is a bad deal. Due to their unique business model, there are a few specific items that are often a surprisingly good value.…