One of the easiest ways to save money is by shopping smarter at the grocery store. How many times have you gone to the grocery store for milk and bread and walk out with a few extra items you were not planning on buying? With a little planning you can reduce your grocery bill.
1. Compare Local Ads for Sale Items
It takes just a few minutes to compare ads for sale items from your local grocers. It may make sense to buy meat and fish at one store and bread and dairy at another.
2. Research Store Coupon Plans
Most grocery stores have coupon plans like double coupons every Wednesday or they might match competitor coupons. It literally pays to ask! Check with your store’s Customer Service Desk for details.
3. Use Coupons
Use coupons when you shop. This may sound silly but how many times have you pulled that coupon out of your pocket in the parking lot of the grocery store after you finished shopping? Not funny! Most Grocery Stores have shopper cards that you can load with electronic coupons and have websites that you can print coupons from. Don’t forget to ask your neighbor if you can have his Sunday paper when he’s finished. Chances are he is not smart like you and did not see this article about using coupons! The internet is full of sites for coupons. Coupons.com is a great site with coupons for just about anything you are looking for.
4. Buy What is on Sale
If salmon is on sale this week and your family likes it buy it. Don’t buy the expensive cut of meat just because that is what you want for dinner that night. If you are following my advice you would have that steak in the freezer anyway!
5. Make a Weekly Menu
Build your weekly menu around sale items and be sure to check the pantry and fridge as you are making your menu. Nobody needs six bottles of ketchup!
6. Make a Grocery List and Stick to it
This is where your planning will pay off if you stick to purchasing only those items on your list. Another tip is to be aware of impulse purchases. You know those pizza cutters hanging on the door in front of the frozen pizzas? Leave them alone!
7. Buy in Bulk When on Sale
If your budget allows buy extra sale items. You can always divide meat and poultry and freeze for later use. Be sure to use quality freezer bags and label bags with purchase date.
8. Do Not Shop When You Are Hungry
When you shop when you are hungry you are more apt to grab that five gallon container of Hagen Daz Ice Cream or that candy bar at the checkout. Stick to your list!
9. Leave the Kids with a Babysitter
Do I really need to explain this one?
10. Form a Shoppers Club
Buying a side of beef from a butcher can be expensive but you can get some great deals if you find a few other neighbors to split the cost with you.
Saving money on groceries is not difficult to do. You just need to commit a little planning time each week and stick to your list.
Great info! I like the idea of the weekly menu to help plan grocery list
Terrific list. I need to refer to this to make my grocery shopping more efficient. Do you shop at Costco? I do a chunk of my shopping there so some tips don’t apply. But buying in bulk sure does!
We do some of our shopping at the corner grocery store now that we only have one freezer. We used to have a huge freezer in the garage that we would use. We are spending less now but shopping more frequently. Not sure if that is a good thing though.