Going to the grocery store can be an expensive affair. We all have the story of the time we went in to spend $10 and ended up spending $100. However, with a little planning and good decision making, any grocery shopper can keep his or her bill low. Here are 5 mistakes every shopper should avoid to save money at the grocery store.
Buying Name Brands
These days almost every name brand item has a generic substitute. In most cases these generics have the same level of quality as the name brand. Sometimes they are even made at the same facility, but with different packaging! Make sure and go for the generic items unless you have some reason not to do so.
Buying Too Many Perishable Items
It is easy to overestimate how much you will use before another trip to the store. Be careful not to buy to much of any perishable items at the store. For example, it can sometimes save you money to buy the half-gallon of milk instead of the gallon if you will only use half a gallon before it goes bad, even if the gallon is cheaper per ounce.
Going to the Store When Hungry
Everything looks good at the grocery store when you are hungry. If you go to the store before eating you may find that you stuff your cart with more than you need, and with several unhealthy items as well! Try to go right after a meal to avoid impulse buys and to avoid getting more than what you need.
Not Making a List/Not Sticking to the List
It can be easy to think that you know everything that you need before going to the store and can figure it out when you get there. However, if you don’t make a list, you will find that you might make a bunch of impulse buys and come home with several things you don’t need. You will probably also waste time by wandering around the store trying to remember exactly what you need. Also, keep in mind that you need to stick to that list when you get to the store!
Ignoring Sales and Coupons
If you do not pay attention to sales and coupons, you can miss out on some serious deals. Make sure and check the local paper before you go to the store and see what coupons you can find. Clip those and take them with you. Also, see what stores are having sales. You may have to visit 2 or 3 stores to get everything you need, but it can be worth the effort.
Saving money at the grocery store can take some work. However, if you avoid the mistakes listed above, you can get the same groceries you get every month for much less!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
You hit my family’s top two ways to save money at the grocery store: watching coupons and sales, and buying generic brands. There’s actually a new grocery chain in my area called Aldi. They sell very few national brands, as a result they have very cheap prices on about everything. Some people view this as a store for “poor people”, but I view it as a store for smart people!
I try to be consist with all of the above tips. I did have a hard time with perishables this summer — everything looked so yummy! However, generally I don’t go from store to store looking for sale items. I don’t want to spend the time and it drives me nuts. I drive to a discount grocer twice a month and augment with local stores in between visits. And yes, I do look at their ads and plan meals with sale items.
Oh, I absolutely agree. In our family Mr. Not Made of Money is definitely the more frugal spouse and he makes the weekly grocery store run because he actually sticks to the list! Thanks for sharing!
May I add 2 more?
6) Letting the nonfrugal person in the spousal team do the shopping. – My Jane can drop $100 and not even have enough stuff for me to make a meal. (FYI- I am the cook) $5 for 8oz fresh pasta? $4.99 for 6oz raspberries? I can eat for the whole week on that $100.
7) Taking the 11yr old shopping with you. J2 is as good a shopper as mom. And yes, I need to learn to say no more (in both senses).
I do pretty good at gauging how much perishable food to buy. However, last weekend I was out of state, staying at a suites hotel where I had my own kitchen. I am on a special diet so I didn’t eat out even once. But I made the mistake of 1) not making a list for meals for the upcoming days and 2) not making a list and 3) shopping while starving hungry! I bought way too much food, but I did track down the maid for my floor at the hotel and asked if she would be able to use the food. She said she would be happy to use it. That made me feel a little better about over shopping.
What a great list.
You could also add “not paying attention”.
I am in such a routine sometimes that every now and then I’ll find myself just walking right by a great sael.
Do all of the above, but open your eyes too for those sale prices. If you buy generics, keep in mind that sometimes a name brand will be on sale for less than the generic.
We’ve battled that too. Thankfully with 4 kids in the household most food gets eaten pretty quickly! LOL!
I have a hard time with buying the right amount of fruit. We either have too much and have to throw some out or I run out by Wednesday.
I’m starting to get better!
Adding to
“Buying Too Many Perishable Items”
Please note that this truly included Deli items and meats. I know this may seem obvious, but people tend to think “The meat can stay in freezer” or ” I can eat Deli meat/salad in a few days”. Then we (notice, I include myself because I am so guilty) proceed to forget what is in the freezer until freezer burn sets in and we don’t use the items because we are too busy ordering out. We end up with a frig full of expensive items to be tossed. Or worse, if seriously forgotten and pushed aside, a new life form.
Since I started reading these blogs, I have started to notice that I can match coupons to weekly sales. And I have really cut back on wasteful selections.
Thanks!!!
I go through the sales flyers and make a list of all the best deals. I keep the list in my car so when I happen to be near different stores I can pop in to pick up the sales items.