10 Things to Always Check on Your Grocery Bill & 10 on Your Restaurant Bill Before Paying
10 Things to Always Check on Your Grocery Bill & 10 on Your Restaurant Bill Before Paying
Are You Paying More Than You Should?
If you're like most, you're probably a grab-and-go person. You get what you need, and you get out. But whether you're dining in or doing your weekly grocery haul, how can you be absolutely sure you're paying what you should be? Heck, when was the last time you actually looked at your receipts? If you don't double-check these 20 things, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.
1. Sale Prices
Broccoli on sale? Well, just because it was advertised as such doesn't mean the discount always magically appears at checkout. If you don't check to make sure you were actually given the sale price, you might end up with very expensive groceries.
2. BOGO Deals
Another promotion that sometimes doesn't show up automatically? Buy one, get one free discounts. Plus, some can be pretty strict, meaning you'll need to buy certain brands, flavors, or package sizes to qualify. Always ask that you've purchased eligible items and the BOGO was applied correctly.
3. Double-Scanned Items
Ever gotten home and wondered why your grocery total was higher than expected? Well, unless you did it yourself at a self-checkout, cashiers are human, too, which means they can make mistakes and accidentally scan the same product twice. Be careful when you're buying duplicates!
4. Produce Weights
The price displayed under the produce you bought might have used pounds, but at checkout, it might be in kilograms. We know—math can be hard to do off the top of your head sometimes, but you should still make sure the calculations are correct. Who knows? Your cashier could've accidentally punched in the wrong produce code!
5. Loyalty Card Points
Got a loyalty card? Well, there's no point in having one if you're not getting the discounts or points you were supposed to gain. Even if you scanned your membership, the machine might not have registered it or applied relevant perks correctly!
6. Purchase Limits
A good deal may often have limits, meaning you're only allowed to buy two or four in total in a single transaction. Buy more than the limit? You'll be charged regular price! If you're stocking up on something because it's on sale, kindly ask your cashier to split up your purchases or bring a grocery buddy.
7. Minimum Purchase Requirements
Not every advertised discount applies when you've only purchased one item! It's a reminder to always read the price tags correctly—some promotions may require you to buy two or more qualifying products to get the lower price.
8. Missing Items
We've all been there: you get home and unpack your groceries, only to realize something is missing. It's the worst feeling ever! So, before driving off, take a moment in your car (not at the checkout lane; you'll back up the line) to make sure you've got everything you paid for.
9. Clearance Markdowns
Those clearance items may be irresistible, but you should know that they often feature products that are either approaching their best-by dates or are non-returnable. Plus, the barcode might still ring up the regular price if a markdown wasn't entered in the system properly!
10. Change
Paying with cash? You probably don't need us to tell you to double-check that you got the right amount back. Paying with credit might be mindless, but anything that involves bills and coins means some calculations could be done incorrectly.
Your grocery receipts aren't the only ones that deserve a closer look, though! If you frequently dine out, you might also want to make sure you're double-checking these things on your bill:
1. Items You Never Ordered
Just like grocery items that can get double-scanned, your server may accidentally charge you twice for the same dish. Give them some slack—they're often juggling several tables at once! Just be sure to quickly scan through your bill before paying.
2. Incorrect Menu Prices
Your dish says it's $18 on the menu, but on your bill it's actually $20? Well, this might happen when restaurants update their prices but forget to have them reflected on all their menus. As a result, the amount on your bill might differ from what you ordered!
3. Automatic Gratuity
Dining with a party of eight or more? Well, you should know that some restaurants automatically add a gratuity for larger groups or special events, so don't be alarmed if you see a hefty gratuity on the final bill. If you overlook this charge, you could unintentionally leave an extra full tip on top of what's already included!
4. Combo Prices
Let's face it: we get combos because they save us money. But they're not really saving you money if you find out later on that you were actually charged for all the items individually! Instead of only checking at the end of your meal, it might be smarter to let your server know you're ordering a certain deal beforehand.
5. Charged Refills
Your server came around to give you a second round of coffee? Sure, it might have seemed complimentary, but not every restaurant offers free refills. It's probably best to clarify with your server before simply saying "Yes, please," or you could end up with a pretty hefty bill.
6. Substitution Fees
Nothing is free, especially when you're dining out. That means if you're swapping your salad for fries, that'll often hike up the cost. Of course, good servers will warn you beforehand, but you should still review any modification charges on your bill if no extra fees were mentioned.
7. Happy Hour Discounts
Happy Hour isn't happy at all if you're not getting the advertised promotion! Occasionally, your eligible drink or appetizer might accidentally get punched in at its regular price, especially if you're ordering near the tail end of the hour, so keep that in mind!
8. Split Bills
Eating out with friends? When that split bill comes, you'll definitely want to double-check you're being charged for what you ate, not what your buddies got. Unsurprisingly, these split items and costs can get pretty complicated when everyone's sharing different appetizers or ordering different drinks, so help your server out!
9. Credit Card Surcharges
Paying by card might be acceptable in most places, but small mom-and-pop shops or hole-in-the-walls may prefer cash. That means if you pull out a credit card, you could be charged a small fee. Keep an eye out for this on your bills!
10. Suggested Tip Calculations
Believe it or not, those convenient suggested tip amounts printed at the bottom of your restaurant bill aren't always calculated the way you expect. Some places might calculate the total after tax; others may slip in service fees or use an amount before discounts. Prefer tipping on the pre-tax subtotal? Do the math yourself!
