You probably compare your grocery bill from today to one you may have done 6 months to a year ago. It’s incredible how prices have jumped sky high, just like everything else. Families nowadays have to tighten their belts and find ways to budget their grocery bill along with all the other bills they have.
One thing many families do is buy bulk in such places as Costco, Sam’s, etc. Is it really less expensive than going to a grocery store? Not if your family is of four or less. Bulk shopping is good for large families and even then, they will end up spending more than they need.
Grocery shopping has become a task that causes a great amount of stress. When you go shopping, you try to get the most you can within a budget and at times it just doesn’t seem enough. Each time it gets harder and harder, what to do.
The way to survive is to find a way to lower your grocery bills but still purchase what you need and maybe a little more. Here are a few tips to help you out.
LIST
Before you go shopping, you should make a list. Note down what you need, make sure to go through your pantry, cupboards and refrigerator thoroughly. You want to make sure you don’t purchase items you have plenty of at this time. If visiting more than one store, make sure to make your list for each store that way you don’t buy the same items.
DON’T GO HUNGRY
Have you ever gone shopping when you are hungry? It’s the worst thing you can ever do. When you start shopping you are so hungry you can’t even think straight. You choose things that are either processed or quick snacks more than foods that are truly healthier for you and the family. You will tend to spend more money this way. Make sure you have already eaten, you will see the difference.
GO ALONE
Don’t go shopping with the family, especially the children. Everything they see they want and don’t understand when you tell them you can’t get that item. Everyone will start adding items to the cart that were not on the list and when you get to the cashier, you will have spent twice as much then you needed to spend.
COUPONS
Coupons, coupons and more coupons, this is what you need. Buy the Sunday newspaper, there you will find over a hundred coupons you can use. These coupons have a long expiration date so if you don’t need that item now, you can save it for later. There are people who actually save over $35 or more on their grocery bills by using coupons. It’s time to go along with the crowd and do the same.
STORE BRANDS
Don’t be afraid to purchase store brand items. Believe it or not they are the same, just a different label, nothing else. If the item you usually purchase is not on sale, look at the store brands, you can save more than .25 cents and up on these items, making your grocery bill a lot less.
GROCERY STORE ADS/WEBSITE
You definitely need to check the grocery store ads or website before you head out. You want to see what they have on sale. Many stores nowadays have buy one get one free sales. They also place certain items that we purchase constantly, like water and beverages on special sales that you may want to take advantage of. These are items that do not go bad quickly; they actually have a longer life shelf.
PLAN YOUR TRIPS
Try to make fewer trips to the grocery stores. Try to do all of your shopping in one or two trips if possible. This will help you avoid spending more than you need to on items that honestly are not needed. This is what ruins our budgets, impulse buying. Cut your traveling time also, try to purchase as close to home as possible.
PROCESSED FOODS
Try to cut these out as much as possible. These processed foods are more expensive, unhealthy (due to all the preservatives) and quicker to disappear. It is best to stick to home cooked meals. Sometimes you have to buy more of these frozen meals to make one meal for the family and not everyone likes them so you have to make something else.
IN SEASON
We all need our fruits and vegetables, purchase those that are in season. When these are in season they tend to be a lot less expensive allowing you to buy more for your family. You can also visit local farmer’s market. They tend to sell at a lower price plus their fruits and vegetables are much fresher than those you find at the grocery stores. The prices at the grocery store are all about the middle man, whereas the farmer’s market, they are the actual growers.
PLAN YOUR MEALS
Another way to save a little money is to make your meal plans for the week. Sit down and take the time to write down your menu for each day. Once you have this written down, you can check what you have at home and just purchase what you need.
DEVIATE/STOCK UP
There are times that you may want to deviate from the list for certain items. For instance, you go to the store and you find that their tomato sauce is $1.00 when it’s usually $3.00. At this point you should stock up as much as you can, without going over board and the next time you go shopping you don’t have to add this to your list. This is something you should consider always with canned or dried goods.
MEATS
One of the most expensive items on the list will be meat. Maybe you can cut down on the meat and add more vegetables to your meals. When purchasing meat, maybe you may want to purchase larger pieces or bulkier than just for one meal. It can actually save you some money. When you get home just cut it up, divide it into smaller quart bags and store it. Make sure to write the date on the bags. Just don’t purchase too much, still keep within a budget.
RAIN CHECKS
How many times have you gone to the grocery store and found that the item you were looking, which was on sale, is not available. Well, not to worry, ask for the rain check. On your next trip, make sure to purchase this item and use the rain check. You will still get the item at a lower cost.
SERVINGS
Don’t cook too much food that later on goes to waste. Not everyone eats the meals the next day. That is money wasted and it’s a shame, it’s also wasted food. With the way things are, we can’t afford to do this for many reasons. In some cases we cook items like roasts or turkeys, well that does not have to be thrown away. Just slice it up and serve it on sandwiches, make salads, etc. You will find ways to use up this food.
CALCULATORS/PRICES
It doesn’t hurt to carry a calculator with you, remember you are on a budget. Calculating what you have so far will help you see how well your budget is doing. Also, prices, try to observe the prices at the stores. Sometimes, you will see that they go up instead of down. You might want to figure what else to purchase instead of the usual item.
COMPARING
You definitely want to compare the items. For instance, a can of beans cost $0.99 and a bag of dried beans cost $1.10. You figure the can is better, no it’s not. The can of beans gives you 1 ½ cups of cooked beans while the dried beans gives you 7 cups of cooked beans. They both give you protein but the dried beans give you more food. Cooking dried beans is not hard, each bags has the instructions. A little time you take to make these gives your family a little more to eat.
COOK
Best way to save money is to cook. I know there are times we don’t want to, we are so tired and just want to throw something in the microwave and hit the start button. It’s easier, that is very true but very expensive and unhealthy. There are many meals you can make in 30 minutes or less and everyone in the family can enjoy. This is why it’s good to plan your meals, keep these recipes handy for those days you just don’t feel like standing over stove for too long.