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Shrinkflation: What it is and how to avoid it at the grocery store

Here are some savvy shopping strategies to save money.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The word, "shrinkflation" was recently added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 

It’s defined as "the practice of reducing a product's amount or volume per unit while continuing to offer it at the same price."

The Associated Press described shrinkflation as "the inflation you're not supposed to see’ savvy shoppers can certainly spot it - especially at the grocery store."

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Here are four ways to fight shrinkflation at the grocery store, according to AARP:

Know how to spot it

Pay attention to the net weight or net count of a product and then figure out how much it costs per unit, not per package. 

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Unit price is the total price divided by the total number of units. 

Buy in bulk

Focusing on the unit price means there's a chance to pay a higher up-front cost than when buying in bulk, but buying in bulk likely means shoppers will pay less per unit. 

Ditch brand loyalty

When trying to save money, AARP said the best bet is to simply buy the less expensive option, no matter the brand. 

Switch to generic

According to AARP, generic brand products can cost up to 25% less than name-brand versions, so it pays to make the switch.

Contact Carolyn Bruck at cbruck@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.

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