Grocery shopping can be frustrating and it can be easy to blow $200 every time you go! There are always special deals going on and flashy items on the front shelves. You may end up getting items you don’t even need, especially if you grocery shop hungry, NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING HUNGRY! So what are the best ways to save money on your groceries?
Keep Record of Prior Grocery Trips
Keep all of your receipts from trips to the grocery for 1-3 months. Depending on how many people you are shopping for in the household and how well you really know your spending habits. We have two in the house and kept our receipts for two months. After you have all your receipts, see what you use every week/every two weeks/every month. You can save money this way by tracking your grocery spending habits.
Buy in Bulk
What do you use a lot of? We go through A LOT of chicken, eggs and green beans/broccoli. These are all things you can comfortably buy in bulk, comfortably meaning; you know you will eat it all before expiration. Other things we like to get in bulk include paper products and toiletries (if these are a better price). At the beginning of the month we get enough of these items in bulk to last us the whole month or more. A lot of times you are going to get a better price on bulk items.
Compare
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Sign up for Rewards Programs
Most stores now have these, offering special promotions on items or VIP coupons.
Don’t be Afraid of Coupons
I used to think it was lame and not worth my time to clip coupons. Now I’m the crazy lady with the coupons at the front of the line. But… This is important… don’t just buy things because you have a coupon. Look for coupons on things you need or will potentially need soon.
Don’t Just Buy Things Because of a Sale
Just like the coupons; don’t buy things because of a sale. Look for sales before you go to the grocery on items you need. Unless it is an absolutely amazing discount, just walk passed the sale! This was one of my problems before… I would just buy random snack food only because it was on sale. Saving $0.50 here and there is not that great of a steal if it is on something that you never really needed in the first place.
Does your idea of saving money at the grocery consist of buying only ramen noodles?
