I get my biggest savings by using coupons, but it’s my only trick. This tip will work well for all my non-coupon readers who still want to save.

Every time I go into a grocery store, I always check the reduced racks. There is no telling what you will find—meat, produce, dairy, baked goods. You have to dig through and it’s very hit or miss; still, I almost always find a gem.

Today, I bought Sunny D and Helluva Good dip for $0.50 each. It was set to expire in 3 days, so it was reduced. The green peppers had a single soft spot on one! Wouldn’t you buy 3 peppers for $0.99? Just cut out the bad part and move on.

When I first read about this tip years ago, it really grossed me out. I pictured tons of rotting garbage, especially the meat. I’m happy to report that I’ve never once been poisoned by eating markdowns. Occasionally, I have bought something that turned out to be too far gone, but it’s all part of the adventure!

Give it a try; I’m pretty sure you’ll like it!

Do you ever buy markdowns?