How Supermarkets Trick You Into Spending More Without You Realising

Hey guys - Noah here,

If you’ve ever walked into Tesco for one item and walked out £30 lighter, you're not alone, and it's not your fault.

Supermarkets actually have some clever hacks that get you to spend more than you originally wanted to, without you realising.

Your Trolley Is Lying to You

Modern trolleys are twice the size they were in the 1990s. Some stores angle them downward, creating an optical illusion that makes them look empty even when they're not. Your subconscious sees "empty space" and so you feel like you need to fill it.

Shops also deliberately move products around every few months. While you're looking for milk, you're exposed to hundreds of items you weren't planning to buy.

The Eye-Level Conspiracy

Products placed at eye level are the most profitable. Manufacturers pay thousands for that shelf space. The cheaper alternatives are hidden on lower shelves where you have to bend down.

Because kids' cereals are at their eye level, parents are more likely to buy them.

Numbers That Hijack Your Brain

The £9.99 price tag hacks your brain's processing system. Your mind reads it as "£9 something" rather than "basically £10". This single trick generates millions in extra revenue.

You’ve definitely noticed shrinkflation over the last few years. Your favourite chocolate bar is 10% smaller than last year while cereal boxes got taller but thinner. They're literally selling you less for more, counting on you not noticing.

Breaking Free From Mind Control

The best thing you can do is simply keep these tricks in mind. Once you're conscious of them, they lose their power!

When I learned these tricks, I tested avoiding them for a month, and I saved hundreds on my shopping bill.

I track all my spending with Snoop - a free app that shows patterns in your shopping you'd never notice yourself. It alerts you when you're overspending and helps spot which stores drain your budget most.

Get Snoop free here

All the best, Noah