I’m Gen X: 4 Retailers I Started Shopping At in Preparation for Retirement
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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More and more Gen Xers, who are now between the ages of 45 and 60, are nearing retirement. And as you get closer to retirement, cutting expenses becomes more important.
One of the easiest ways to do that is by making simple shopping swaps. Switching to lower-cost alternatives for everyday purchases can help keep more money in your pocket without giving up the things you need.
Here are four retailers some Gen Xers started shopping at in preparation for retirement.
Smart & Final
Moti Gamburd, CEO of Raya’s Paradise, a senior care community based in Los Angeles, said he switched from traditional grocery stores to Smart & Final and restaurant supply stores.
“These places do not need a membership, and they sell bulk items at wholesale prices, often beating even Costco,” he said. “They stock high-quality ingredients, often at a fraction of the price you would pay at a typical supermarket.
Shopping here could yield some excellent savings. “For example, a one-pound container of black pepper costs about $8 at Smart & Final, compared to $5 for a tiny 4-ounce jar at a grocery store. Even fresh produce is often cheaper, and the quality is better because these stores cater to restaurants that need top-tier ingredients,” he explained.
Aldi
Cyndi Peters, a proud 52-year-old Gen Xer, said Aldi is her go-to for grocery shopping, and she’s fortunate to have a lot of options in the greater Orlando market.
“I consider myself an expert at pricing and know a deal when I see one,” she said. “I will shop a supermarket sale ad and plan meals around that particularly on meat, poultry and seafood deals.”
Local Ethnic Markets
Another option is local ethnic markets for certain foods and spices, according to Peters.
“As a consumer, I see spices are generally overpriced in our large supermarkets,” Peters said. “Outside of the traditional salt and pepper, rosemary, oregano, etc., which are generally a good value at Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Winn Dixie (particularly when not buying a brand name like McCormick), I buy our spices and seasonings at local ethnic markets. Garam Masala, Za’atar, Gochujang, Bay Leaves and dried peppers of all varieties, are a much better value when purchased at their respective ethnic markets.”
Costco
Gamburd also said that he’s replaced pharmacy chains with warehouse club pharmacies.
“Most people assume you need a Costco membership to use their pharmacy, but that is not true,” he explained. “You can fill prescriptions there even if you are not a member. A 30-day supply of generic medications that costs $15 to $20 at CVS or Walgreens can be as low as $3 to $5 at Costco. Even for name-brand medications, the savings can be 30% to 50%.”
And the savings don’t stop at prescriptions. “On top of that, I found that vision care and hearing aids at Costco are dramatically cheaper than at traditional optical shops or audiologists. A pair of progressive lenses that might cost $300 to $400 at a standard optical shop runs closer to $150 at Costco, and hearing aids that cost thousands can be found there for under $1,500 a pair,” he explained.
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