10 Tips for Saving Money on Groceries
Even when money isn’t tight who wouldn’t want to stick to a set amount for food each month? I personally like to get the best buy for the money. Here are some things I do to save money on groceries:
- Eat before going - It is never a good idea to go to a grocery store hungry. At least have a snack or eat something to calm your stomach yourself down and focus on the task on hand.
- Have a shopping list - When you write down exactly what you’re after, it makes it easier to shop for just those items. No list usually ends up costing you a lot more before you even know it because of impluses.
- Coupons - I am a coupon clipper and only have a newspaper subscription so I can get these things. It costs me a $1 a week to save a lot of money on groceries. Coupons also give you a bonus by reducing the amount you would normally spend.
- Bigger not always better - Grocery stores are really crafty in putting the larger item on sale while the smaller one isn’t. They want you to buy the larger item, but depending on the price per ounce it may not be a good deal. I use the calculator on my cell phone all the time in the grocery store to make decisions like this.
- Same goes for buying in bulk - Do you really need the baseball team family size of an item? I think stores like CosCo and Sams Club are great, but not everything in there is a great deal just because it’s bulk.
- Create a menu for the week - This goes along the same line as having a shopping list prior to going grocery shopping. If you develop a menu prior to making the list, you can assess your pantry to see what you need to put down on your list.
- Fewer trips - I have found through personal experience that it is better to go grocery shopping once or twice a month instead of going every week. As long as you have the space in the fridge and pantry, reducing the trips can actually reduce the monthly spending.
- Wish/forget list - Sometimes we get cravings, forget, or just run out of something between shopping trips, it’s better to write that thing down for the next trip rather than running to the store for it.
- Organic food - I feel that organic food is overpriced and there isn’t a whole lot of benefit from paying more. Some people feel the need to buy organic produce and such, just be sure to pad the budget to handle it.
- Overpriced items - There are some stores I know that I can buy particular items cheaper than at just one store. Sometimes getting caught up in convenience of shopping at one store can actually cost more than shopping at multiple places.
This is just a short list of ideas that have been working for me. I’m always looking for ways to save money, and simple things like the ones I mention have really helped me out.
Excellent tips! I know if I eat before going shopping I spend way less and tend to only buy stuff on the list.
I love coupons myself. I also love how now you can print them out online. I don’t have a Target store near where I live but there’s a great site (can’t remember the name right now) that has great printable Target coupon deals.
Those are some good tips. I can relate to a lot of them. Not shopping while hungry is a good one. Making a menu is also something my wife and I do. Having a planned meal helps prevent taking the easy route and ordering fast food.
My wife and I need to be careful with coupons. We tend to buy things we don’t need just because there is a coupon for it.
One other tip that helps me cut down on grocery expenses and time is to organize the list according to store layout. I always shop at the same one or two stores so that I know exactly where everything is placed, and this way I can get through the store quickly and efficiently; items that aren’t on the list rarely make it into the cart because I don’t turn down those aisles or find something else while searching for an item. I generally ask my husband for input on the grocery list but try to shop alone at least 75% of the time; he tends to add extra items.
I never thought about eating before I go to the grocery store, but it totally makes sense!! This way I wont buy that half rottiserre chicken that I usually get to eat for when I get home from grocery shopping! Great list! Great blog! New blogger and new reader!
Great tips ever, By trying out even just a few of these tips, we likely to reduce the amount of money we spend on groceries each month.
Good tips except for the organic foods. They are most definitely worth it, unless ingesting a lot of chemicals doesn’t bother you. Some things are more worth it (strawberries) than others (bananas), though.