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The FIFO rule can save you money on groceries

Posted Jul 01 2009, 11:05 AM by Karen Datko
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Grocery stockers, unless they're slackers, live by the FIFO rule -- first in, first out. What does that mean to you?

When new inventory comes in and it's time to refill the grocery displays, the new product is placed in the back. Thus, the grocery store has less waste because most people grab the item that's closest to them. (Smart shoppers sometimes dig a little deeper.)

Why not apply FIFO at home and do as the professionals do? It's a good way to save money on groceries, says Charlie at Pay Less for Food.

Here's how this works:

Charlie says, "The other day I realized that after grocery shopping I tend to shove items in my refrigerator to the back to make room for newly purchased groceries."

We all know what happens. The leftovers get moldy. The parsley wilts. The broccoli turns yellow and sags. Some items are no longer recognizable, and they stink.

Rotate, Charlie says. (That's another grocery store term.) Bring the older items to the front and put the new food in back. Do the same with your canned and boxed goods in the pantry.

The same practice works for your coupons, if you collect them. Put the new ones in the back of your envelope or coupon box, and use the older ones first. These efforts take little time and will save you money.

Related reading:

Can you eat that 7-year-old can of soup?

The leftover calendar: Getting more from food dollars

Are you new to bakery outlets?

Got leftovers? Here's what to do

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Comments

 

I agree with most of this article, however, I take issue with the comment that "smart shoppers sometimes dig a little deeper" for newer items.  I think smart shoppers should estimate how long it will take them to use the product and buy an item with a date that matches.  If everyone reaches to the back, stores will waste more and thus raise prices for us all.  Or they'll stop ordering as much of a product and risk running out of it altogether, which means two trips to the store to get what you need.  Milk with an expiration date of 10 days from now is not somehow better than one expiring seven days from now, especially if you have a big family and will use the whole container in 5 days anyway.  We need to get rid of this idea that newer always implies better.  

Laura (Posted 07.01.09 12:15 PM ) Report Abuse

That happens all the time at my house   Thanks for the tip  Or I buy something that I already have a shopping list helps me and a list of the fridge to write when we are low or out of something.  

Spaz (Posted 07.01.09 12:16 PM ) Report Abuse

Better run businesses have updated from FIFO to the smarter FEFO, First Expired, First Out. Food companies occasionally make errors and send food that's expiring SOON after it had already sent food that has a more future expiration date. THAT'S what you should pay attention to, expiration dates, not simply when you purchased the items.

Anonymous (Posted 07.01.09 12:18 PM ) Report Abuse

Just make sure you don't use LIFO (Last In, First Out) by accident

Anonymous (Posted 07.01.09 1:33 PM ) Report Abuse

Who the heck has time to rotate?

With the labor cutbacks wi I have no extra time to rotate product.

We barley finish.

32 year Albertsons employe

B (Posted 07.01.09 1:38 PM ) Report Abuse

Who the heck has grocery money?

Mad Hatter (Posted 07.01.09 6:03 PM ) Report Abuse

If you have the time and are able too, it's also a good idea to date stamp the items that you have purchased or prepared. This will help you in your FIFO undertakings and ensure that you don't consume any spoiled goods. Keep a Sharpie in your junk drawer as well as some masking tape to make easily removable labels for the containers that you are planning on reusing. We all have been in the situation where we are left wondering when we bought something, or when we opened it, or even when we made it. To reduce the risk of food poisoning, try to discard prepared or opened items after 7 days. This will stop your fridge from getting cluttered and you from getting lysterosis. - www.smokinghotchef.com

James Moore (Posted 07.06.09 7:26 AM ) Report Abuse

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