Photo credit: scaredy_kat
Everything is getting more expensive today. From gas to groceries, our hard-earned dollars are challenged to stretch further. Now, we may be able to ride a bicycle around town if we can’t put gas in our cars. But, we have to eat. There’s no getting around that. So, we have to find ways to spend less on groceries while still getting the things that we need to feed ourselves and our families. Here are six money saving tips to try the next time you go grocery shopping.
Take a grocery list with you.
This is another protection against picking up things that are too costly. Check your cabinets and the fridge to see what you need and write them down. Remember, the goal is to stick to the list as much as possible.
Clip coupons.
They put those in the newspaper for a reason. If there are new items you want to try, use a coupon to get it at a discount. If you like it, you have saved some money. On the other hand, if you don’t take a liking to it, you didn’t pay full price. For me, coupons save an average of ten or more dollars per visit. That’s money in my pocket that I can put towards gas for the car.
Buy in bulk. Consider the food items that you use most often. Cereals, meats, vegetables, condiments, juices, and paper products can be bought in bulk usually at a lower price at food warehouses like Costco, BJ’s, and Wal-Mart. If you have a coupon, you’ll save even more money.
Don’t shop when you are hungry.
This is a definite no-no. Shopping on an empty stomach means that you will pick up more things than you need. You are more likely to pick up that bag of chocolate chip cookies or that box of donuts when the growling gets underway.
Buy more staples than prepared foods.
It is easier to buy a box of macaroni and cheese, but is it more economical? A large box of macaroni and a block of cheese will make more servings for your family than one box of prepared macaroni and cheese. The next time you go shopping and pick up a box or bag of an already prepared item, ask yourself if you can make that at home for less. If you can, then put that item back in favor of less expensive staples.
Shop at the same stores.
This is more of a frustration reliever. In a new store, you spend most of your time looking for things and walking up and down every aisle, which oftentimes leads to forgetting an item or two. Going to the same store each time makes you more familiar with the prices so you can estimate your bill as you write your grocery list.
Rising prices don’t have to mean a lean dinner table. There are ways to make your food dollar go further and if you take the time to implement the ideas listed above as well as others of your own, you’ll see savings each and every time you shop.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Well I do follow some of those tips but the rest of your tips are really useful. Specially the the point you made about noting things before going out on shopping. I will definitely use this method neat time when I go out on shopping.
Great tips. My wife is our grocery shopper extraordinaire. Two tips she would add:
1.Prepare a multi-week menu before shopping in order to know exactly what you are buying and why.
2. Use coupons only when you are buying an item you would be buying anyway. Sometimes a savings isn’t a savings if you don’t use the product.
Thanks for the great tips.l
I do all of the above, and over time I’ve been able to streamline my trips. I’ve also taken advantage of the shop-at-home service on occasion, especially if I can find a coupon code online to cancel out the $10 price. Shopping from home means I’m not tempted by the cookies in the aisle, and I’m less likely to forget something on my list. Plus, I can compare prices/unit prices easily by sorting the categories.