BOGO Grocery Traps: 6 Ways Stores Get You to Spend More Than Planned

A woman extends her hand in a stopping motion to decline an offer. Resisting impulse promotions like volume discounts requires shoppers to evaluate whether a sale genuinely lowers household expenses or simply inflates cart totals.

Buy-one-get-one promotions are some of the most tempting deals in a grocery store. Seeing “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Buy One, Get One half Off” can make a purchase feel like an automatic savings opportunity. However, these promotions only save money when the products are actually useful, reasonably priced, and part of your shopping plan. Otherwise, the deal can encourage you to buy something you would not have purchased at all. Before putting a BOGO item in your cart, it helps to look beyond the promotional sign and consider the total cost.

1. You Buy Something You Never Planned to Purchase