My Debt Blog

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.

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