Nicole Blannard

Those of us with children and busy schedules realize that the most daunting weekly chore is inevitably the grocery store with one or more children along for the ride.

Marketers know this and, to a parent’s dismay, place candy, little toys and even child- sized cans of soda on shelves roughly three feet off the floor – eye level to my children.

Marketing to kid puts pressure on parents to buy brand names and, in my world, is a little out of control. I buy Shrek shampoo for $2.99, when the store-brand equivalent is a dollar less. My kids want string cheese shaped like Mickey Mouse, which, although a popular Disney character, says nothing about the quality of the string cheese.

“If it’s good for a mouse, it’s good for my kids?”

Tater Tots shaped like letters, twice as expensive as classic Tater Tots and, you guessed it – three feet off the ground. Disney toothpaste priced higher than equivalent ‘non-Disney’ brands. Spiderman sandwich bags 44 cents more than plain ones, and, as my eight year old put it, “I’m sure Spiderman keeps my food ‘more fresh’ than plain baggies.”

Hats off to the marketers! Stick with brand names and maybe, just maybe, your kid won’t throw a hissy fit in Aisle 9.

What have I done?

From now on, I go for groceries alone, even if it means late at night. The last trip to the grocery store without the kids saved me $35. I shopped in less time, saved more money and my hair didn’t stand on end.

Have you checked you register receipt lately?

Graphic Credit:
Sabrina Segal