Spending Less on Groceries: Three Ways to Find Success

No matter how much you resolve to cut your budget this year, you will still be faced with the ever-increasing cost of groceries. Let’s face it; everyone needs food. However, you can opt to make choices that help you make the most of your grocery dollars. With planning, some no-frills shopping, and an attention to detail, you can find ways to create great meals for your family on less than you ever imagined.

Buy your staple items on sale. Taking advantage of great sales is one of the most important keys to successfully slashing grocery expenses. I can’t say often enough how much you can save if you time your shopping well. If you’re not sure what is a good price on any particular item, try tracking prices in a notebook for a month or so. After awhile, you’ll learn to recognize a great buy when you see it. Then, when you see a good price, buy as much as you can use before the product expires.

By the way, it’s worth mentioning that staple items aren’t necessarily the same for everyone. If your family loves pasta, then noodles (of all shapes and sizes) and sauce might make your key list. However, if your family really enjoys macaroni and cheese (You know if you have little ones they practically crave the stuff) these little blue boxes are sure to become a key component of your shopping list. There are no right or wrong items to include on your staple list.

Ask for special treatment. Okay, the folks at the grocery store probably aren’t going to give you food for free, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that they can do to help you keep your grocery costs low. Many cashiers will adjust their store’s prices to match competitors’ prices if you show them the competitor’s ad. Other times, you may find that cashiers will allow you to combine a manufacturer’s coupon with a store coupon on an item that’s already on sale. Shoppers who are buying especially large quantities may even find that a department manager can authorize special pricing. Remember that it never hurts to ask for something a little extra; the worst that can happen is being told, “no.”

Get the most out of everything you buy. Common sense dictates that if you buy fewer groceries, you’re likely to spend less money. By stretching your groceries as far as they’ll go you can realize substantial savings. Put leftovers to use as the next day’s lunch. Learn to divide up bulk items so that you can store them in the freezer or airtight containers.