Supermarket shoppers urged to curb waste and use simple keys for cart locks

Consumers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are encouraged to reduce unnecessary spending in supermarkets by planning purchases, using shopping lists, choosing private‑label brands, comparing price per kilogram, buying loose produce and re‑using food scraps for homemade broth. These habits can save thousands of crowns per year.

A separate tip highlighted that an ordinary household key can sometimes replace the coin or token required to release a shopping‑cart lock, though it does not work on all models and may damage the mechanism. The article also recounts the invention of modern shopping carts by American retailer Sylvan Goldman in 1937 and explains the common deposit system that motivates customers to return carts.

Together, the advice targets both financial savings for shoppers and practical shortcuts for handling cart locks.