If you see them in the aisle and they pick up and put down similar products and are carefully looking at prices and quantity for comparison shopping. Perhaps carrying coupons. Adding up items in their cart and possibly setting things aside (even if just in the top basket) to see what they can afford before committing. Buying a number of inexpensive basics - lentils, cheap ramen, items from the “we’re ugly” vegetable bin (that’s what they call it at my store). Perhaps someone who is clearly juggling kids, and is stressed and overloaded while trying to focus on figuring out what to buy.
None of these are “guarantees,” but just some ideas.
It’s hard to explain, but there’s a different vibe / rhythm to it than educating yourself. Like maybe it’s more pained because I’m trying to find the absolute cheapest, and figuring out if I can afford the larger quantity that’s actually cheaper by weight, but will eat up more of my immediate budget, but will last me longer. So maybe it’s more like picking up the same type of pasta but in two different sizes and looking at other items in my cart and trying to figure out what else I desperately need to determine if I can afford the $0.75 more for the better value.
If you see them in the aisle and they pick up and put down similar products and are carefully looking at prices and quantity for comparison shopping. Perhaps carrying coupons. Adding up items in their cart and possibly setting things aside (even if just in the top basket) to see what they can afford before committing. Buying a number of inexpensive basics - lentils, cheap ramen, items from the “we’re ugly” vegetable bin (that’s what they call it at my store). Perhaps someone who is clearly juggling kids, and is stressed and overloaded while trying to focus on figuring out what to buy.
None of these are “guarantees,” but just some ideas.
I look closely at labels and quantities, etc…but I also look at quality, made-in-my-country-ness, etc.
I don’t need anybody to buy my groceries. I might even politely decline because someone could use it more.
The other signs sound spot-on, though.
It’s hard to explain, but there’s a different vibe / rhythm to it than educating yourself. Like maybe it’s more pained because I’m trying to find the absolute cheapest, and figuring out if I can afford the larger quantity that’s actually cheaper by weight, but will eat up more of my immediate budget, but will last me longer. So maybe it’s more like picking up the same type of pasta but in two different sizes and looking at other items in my cart and trying to figure out what else I desperately need to determine if I can afford the $0.75 more for the better value.