Saving Money at The Grocery Store

1. Coupons often push impulse items and processed foods, which are ordinarily more expensive than their generic or made from scratch equivalents.  Don’t purchase an item with a coupon unless you really need it. House brands may still be less expensive than an item purchased with a coupon.
2. Buy generic or house brands whenever possible.  Salt, for example, is still salt.
3. Cut back on processed and pre-prepared foods. Home cooking and freezing, for instance, with appropriate portion control can duplicate frozen food marketed to dieters.  Plan ahead and prepared casseroles on Saturday morning for the coming week.  Make stews with inexpensive selections of meat in a slow cooking crock pot.
4. Don’t assume that prominently displayed items marked on sale are less expensive than less prominently displayed similar items.
5. Always look both above and below eye level.  Retailers are pushing the items displayed at eye level; however, bargain-minded shoppers will most probably find their equivalents nearby at above or below eye level.
6. Make a monthly budget and stick to it.  If necessary, take a small calculator along to have a running total of items purchased, although most of the time, I usually can estimate how much money I’ve spent during a weekly trip to the grocery within a dollar or two.  Don’t be afraid to return already picked out items to the shelf or even to tell the check-out clerk that you don’t want to purchase a certain item.
7. Bring a list.  Don’t buy impulse items. Accordingly, leave young children and perhaps a spouse who seldom buys groceries at home.
8. If you prefer organic foods, shop local farmer’s markets within season and store extra vegetables and fruits in the freezer for the winter months.
9. Ordinarily, don’t buy in bulk unless the price is really right. Comparison shop to determine whether a bulk item is really less expensive.
10. Plan at least one meatless day every week.
11. Cut back on quit buying these non-essentials: store-bought ice, flowers, magazines, gum, candy, sack goods, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages.  Put the money you would spend on these items in a savings account for a vacation or weekend get-away.
12. Take advantage of consumer loyalty programs and buying clubs.  Wednesday, check the local newspaper for specials.

Image by redjar via Flickr