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 five 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!

Photo Credit

Disclosure: This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Unless otherwise expressly stated, you should assume that NotMadeofMoney.com has an affiliate relationship or other material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned by, recommended, hyperlinked to, or otherwise referenced on NotMadeofMoney.com. Please see the full disclosure statement.

We use water every day for a number of reasons, but the bottom line is that water is a necessity. It can quickly become expensive if not monitored. With today’s economy, we are trying to save money wherever possible. There are a variety of ways to save money around the house that do not require much work and the water bill can be a good place to save a fair amount. I’ve listed a few tips that might be helpful:

In the Bathroom
Everyone likes to unwind in the shower after a hard day at work, but taking long unnecessary showers will definitely rack up that water bill. Instead of taking a twenty minute shower try taking a ten minute one. Changing the shower head to a lower flow is a money saving must. It uses less water, but not less pressure. Talk to your family and make a schedule or put a time limit on showers. For those of us that like to relax in the tub, try only filling the tub half way. A fully filled tub uses up a lot of unnecessary water. The shower is not the only place to save; the toilet can be just as costly. Make sure there are no leaks or that the water doesn’t run constantly in the toilet.

Turn the Water Off
Many of us don’t really pay attention to what we do in the morning after just waking up. When we go into the bathroom to brush our teeth we just let the water run. Try turning it off while you brush your teeth. The same goes for letting the warer run while we wash dishes. Try filling the sink up, wash the dishes, and then rinse them all at one time.

Go to the Car Wash
Many of us like to wash our vehicles at home, but this could be costly. It will be much cheaper in the long run to go to the car wash or even collect rain water to use when washing your vehicle.

Washing Machines and Dish Washers
Only wash full tubs of laundry. Filling up the washing machine for only a few items will definitely keep your bill high. Only run the dishwasher when it’s full too. A dishwasher uses more energy because it only uses hot water so by running it less often not only will you save on your water bill you will also save on the energy bill.

Indoor and Outdoor Gardening
Using recycled water is ideal for plants and gardens. Save cooking water or collect rain water in buckets. You can even use bath water for watering the garden. Instead of letting the kids run through the sprinkler buy a small pool. It will be more fun for the children and helps you save money.

Photo Credit