(dynamic music) - [Julia] Supermarkets.

It's hard to avoid these modern temples of convenience and consumerism.

And, like the fictitious temples from adventure stories, they are filled with pitfalls and booby traps designed to make you spend more than you planned.

- [Philip] As any good treasure hunter will tell you, you can never let your guard down.

- [Satipo] There's nothing to fear here.

- That's what scares me.

- But, with a little preparation and discipline, you can safely swing past every metaphorical snake pit, rolling boulder, and alien space ship.

- Let's pretend that one didn't happen.

- Okay.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - [Philip] From the moment you walk through the front door, your senses are getting played.

Bright, colorful flowers, the smell of fresh baked bread, soft, comfortable music.

All these things are designed to put you in a relaxed, suggestive state of mind so that you'll take your time and be more open-minded about what you came to buy.

- If you're like most people, you probably start in the produce section and that's no accident.

Stores have found that when people stock their cart with healthy things early on, they're more likely to reward themselves with junk food later.

- It may be tempting to grab some of those pre-chopped fruits and vegetables, but take a second to compare the price by weight.

You could be paying two to 300% more to not have to wield the knife yourself.

- Plus they often have a shorter shelf life and you're creating more packaging waste.

That's why I chop my own vegetables five days a week.

(dramatic music) - Oh, and by the way, (upbeat music) that mist that makes everything seem fresh and crisp, it's pretty much just there for show.

Constantly spraying water on produce can increase the health risks of bacteria and make certain fruits and veggies rot faster.

- It also makes some produce weigh just a bit more at checkout.

So, make sure you shake 'em out before you bag 'em.

- As you walk the aisles, remember to look up and down not just side to side.

Stores put their most expensive items at eye level hoping you won't notice the cheaper alternatives above and below.

And, yes, that applies to kid's stuff too.

- Excuse me, would you like a free sample?

- Uh, sure, I guess.

Free samples are more about your emotions than your taste buds.

They create a feeling of personal obligation like you're already in too deep to back out.

So, if you're gonna partake, be prepared to make a clean break and move on.

- You're just gonna walk away?

After everything we've been through?

- Supermarkets don't just want you to buy expensive stuff.

They want you to buy more stuff in general.

Take this so-called bargain.

Most people assume then have to purchase all 10 to get some perceived discount.

But, if you read the fine print, you'll usually find that the unit price is the same no matter how many you buy.

- It's also why shopping carts have been getting bigger over the years.

Marketing tests show that shoppers spend up to 40% more with a double-sized cart.

Those supersize carts also make it difficult to do a u-turn in a narrow aisle so you're more likely to take the long way round.

A longer path means more temptations.

Which is why stores will periodically rearrange the merchandise to keep even experienced shoppers searching.

- Some people think that's why essentials like milk and eggs are always at the back of the store.

But, store managers insist on a more innocent reason.

By law, these items can't be unrefrigerated for very long and since the delivery trucks unload at the back, it makes sense to put the fridges there.

I guess making shoppers walk the whole store is just a happy accident.

Once you've finally found everything you need, there's one more trial to overcome, the checkstand.

This is where stores traditionally keep impulse purchases like candy and magazines and gum because they know that by now, you're experiencing what psychologists call decision fatigue.

We get tired of being sensible and weighing cost benefits.

It weighs us down and it makes us more open to suggestion.

So, it's best to not even look at that stuff.

- Don't look at it.

Shut your eyes, Marion, don't at it no matter what happens.

- These strategies have been refined over decades to make shoppers spend more than they have to and buy more than they need.

Unfortunately, people who buy more tend to consume more and waste more.

Kind of a lose, lose, lose situation.

- But, shopping for groceries and cooking at home is still cheaper and healthier than eating out all the time.

Which is a major reason why millennials are having trouble saving money.

So, by all means go to the supermarket.

Just be prepared.

- First off, and most importantly, make a list.

Even if you have to write it on a napkin in the parking lot.

Don't go through those doors without it.

The fewer choices you have to make in the store, means less fatigue and less temptation.

- If your store has them, use smaller carts to discourage over-buying.

Although those hand baskets may not be a good idea.

Studies found that the physical act of lifting and carrying hand baskets made shoppers feel like they deserved junk food rewards.

The brain's a funny thing, isn't it.

- Bring headphones and listen to upbeat music.

This will keep you fast and focused.

And, make sure you don't go grocery shopping hungry.

That's just asking your reptile brain to take the driver's seat.

(tires screeching) - And, if you still have trouble sticking to the plan, leave your credit cards at home and bring only what you want to spend in cash.

Julia and I have been doing that for years and it keeps temptation in check.

- Remember, these stores aren't evil organizations getting away with highway robbery.

In fact, as an industry, supermarkets have one of the lowest profit margins in the US.

So, they rely on these mind games just to stay in the black.

- But, you have a right to defend yourself.

And the best defense is understanding how your brain works.

- [Both] And, that's our two cents.