More and more Gen Xers, who are now between the ages of 45 and 60, are nearing retirement . And as you get closer to retirement, cutting expenses becomes more important.
One of the easiest ways to do that is by making simple shopping swaps. Switching to lower-cost alternatives for everyday purchases can help keep more money in your pocket without giving up the things you need.
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Here are four retailers some Gen Xers started shopping at in preparation for retirement .
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Moti Gamburd, CEO of Raya’s Paradise , a senior care community based in Los Angeles, said he switched from traditional grocery stores to Smart & Final and restaurant supply stores .
“These places do not need a membership, and they sell bulk items at wholesale prices, often beating even Costco,” he said. “They stock high-quality ingredients, often at a fraction of the price you would pay at a typical supermarket.
Shopping here could yield some excellent savings. “For example, a one-pound container of black pepper costs about $8 at Smart & Final, compared to $5 for a tiny 4-ounce jar at a grocery store. Even fresh produce is often cheaper, and the quality is better because these stores cater to restaurants that need top-tier ingredients,” he explained.
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Cyndi Peters, a proud 52-year-old Gen Xer, said Aldi is her go-to for grocery shopping, and she’s fortunate to have a lot of options in the greater Orlando market.
“I consider myself an expert at pricing and know a deal when I see one,” she said. “I will shop a supermarket sale ad and plan meals around that particularly on meat, poultry and seafood deals.”
Another option is local ethnic markets for certain foods and spices, according to Peters.
“As a consumer, I see spices are generally overpriced in our large supermarkets ,” Peters said. “Outside of the traditional salt and pepper, rosemary, oregano, etc., which are generally a good value at Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Winn Dixie (particularly when not buying a brand name like McCormick), I buy our spices and seasonings at local ethnic markets. Garam Masala, Za’atar, Gochujang, Bay Leaves and dried peppers of all varieties, are a much better value when purchased at their respective ethnic markets.”
Gamburd also said that he’s replaced pharmacy chains with warehouse club pharmacies .
“Most people assume you need a Costco membership to use their pharmacy, but that is not true,” he explained. “You can fill prescriptions there even if you are not a member. A 30-day supply of generic medications that costs $15 to $20 at CVS or Walgreens can be as low as $3 to $5 at Costco. Even for name-brand medications, the savings can be 30% to 50%.”
And the savings don’t stop at prescriptions. “On top of that, I found that vision care and hearing aids at Costco are dramatically cheaper than at traditional optical shops or audiologists. A pair of progressive lenses that might cost $300 to $400 at a standard optical shop runs closer to $150 at Costco, and hearing aids that cost thousands can be found there for under $1,500 a pair,” he explained.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : I’m Gen X: 4 Retailers I Started Shopping At in Preparation for Retirement
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