Start Here - Episode 1 (Home Economics circa 1973)

January 3, 2024

Hi - Welcome to Optimum Prime coming to you from Mitchz Kitchen.  I'm Mitch and this is Maddie. SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) calls her Monster! I am not sure why. I consider her perfect in every way.

Let's face it.  Businesses use loss leaders to attract customers and boost overall sales.  It's been going on since the first frontier general store opened across the road from another general store. The first step in getting around their plan is to have your plan. It's easy. I use lists and call them NOW, SOON and SOMEDAY.

The NOW list is your normal shopping list.  You might call it your Fridge list. Your running log of things to buy next time you find yourself in the grocery store. Only include items you've completely used or nearly depleted on this list.  We need MILK!  The cereal box is nearly empty!  I have no bread for lunches next week.  Coming home without ... will cause me to get scolded. When driving back from the store, if I notice I forgot something, I will turn around and head back. Pretzels would never be on that list, or tomato soup or ice cream.  Don't worry about meat or veggies, that will take care it itself when your flyers and offers come out.

Now lets' jump over SOON and talk about your third list. The SOMEDAY list.  Steaks for the summer BBQ season, toilet paper, laundry detergent Bounce sheets might be on this list.  Cans of soup, Kraft dinner & all of your cleaning products would be on this list. You should never pay full price for these items. We we seldom pay ANYTHING.  These things should always be in stock. In your cupboards, in your pantry, in your basement.  You will stock these long-term staple items during points redemption weekends at Shoppers.  You will never cash in your points during your weekly shopping.  They will ask you, every time.  Do you want to use your points?  Just say #*%K ... no.

The SOON list is the netherworld between your first and third list.  You manage this list by the weekly review of the flyers and your offers. You delayed certain purchases because the Optimum Program did not motivate those items, and they weren't on sale. Make your shopping list, checking flyers, offers, and supplies. Again, your weekly shop will seldom include non-perishables like laundry detergent or dish soap (unless you are out).

My list right now looks like this:

You complete your normal weekly shopping trips building points two or three times faster than you might have otherwise by playing the BASEBALL GAME (we'll talk next week). Announcing a Points Redemption Event lets you get a free shopping spree by redeeming your points and getting 20, 30 or 40 percent more value from each point. I am usually standing there when they open on a Saturday morning. You save yourself the weekly grind of hauling those larger bulk items.

I'll leave you with one thought. All the large grocery chains are buying their stock from the same companies. They are all getting their fruits and vegetables from the same distribution centers. The giant chains might get slightly better pricing than your local Seven Eleven. One chain might have high school students working for a minimum wage on concrete floors. Down the road, they may have a Bento booth, flower department, deli counter and full-time staff (who know things) who get paid a living wage and have health benefits. It all affects the price you pay for a can of soup, but we are talking pennies. All the major chains are working on about 4 points of profit. Look it up. What car Galen Weston drives or how many mansions the Walton family maintains really has minor effect on your grocery bill. Only you can do that. We are going to show you week by week how you can do that.

Mitch & Maddie