Hey there! 🙂 There are 7 easy ways to save money at the grocery store. It’s all about changing your mindset towards savings. Just by following these few simple tips, you will be able to reduce your grocery bill dramatically.
7 Easy Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store
Write and stick to a list
If you are shopping for the week, write down everything you will need for that week. Check your recipe books to make sure you have all the necessary ingredients on your list. When I am writing out my list, I always think: “What do I need for breakfast this week?”. Then I write down everything I need. Then I think, “What do I need for lunches?” and so on. While at the store, don’t pick up items that aren’t on your list-just add them to next week’s list.
Try the generic brands
Generics are cheaper than the store brands, and many stores will give you double your money back if you are not satisfied with their brands.
Watch out for the supermarket’s traps
Decoding supermarket sales can help you save a lot of money. If the sale states “10 for $10”, you don’t have to buy 10 items to get the deal. You can buy one item and pay $1 for it. If the sale is a little trickier like 3 for $5, calculate how much one item would be ($1.67) and determine if that is a good price to pay.
It is sometimes better to get the larger item if it’s on sale
Always compare the unit price found on the sticker. It will tell you if purchasing the smaller item is a better deal. (You are sometimes better off buying the smaller item if the smaller item is on sale or if you are using coupons.)
Take only cash to the store
Taking cash to the store will keep you on budget and will stop you from buying items that are not on your list. If you pay with a credit or debit card, you will spend about 12% more than if you paid with cash.
Shop around for the best deals
You will be able to save more money if you can shop at two or more different stores. Certain stores are known for great sales on specific items. If you look at the store’s weekly circular, you can see what items they have on sale. Consider purchasing personal care products at drugstores, Wal-Mart, or Target. Supermarkets have the highest prices for personal care products.
Use coupons
Of course, I wasn’t going to let you off that easy! Using coupons will definitely save you a lot of money on groceries, and by using these mobile apps, it won’t take up much of your time. It’s free money!
As you can see, shopping wisely and following these easy tips can help you save big money when shopping for groceries.
What savings tips do you have to add? 🙂
Great list! Having a list and never go grocery shopping when hungry is at the top of the list. I Also, I would like to add go shopping in the morning if you can to avoid the crowds. I’m working on trying more of the generic brands when it comes to some things. It’s taking time. I really need to coupon. The only couponing I go is BOGO, but I want to learn a bit more about couponing.
Hey there! Going shopping in the morning is definitely a plus. It allows you to shop at your own pace and not be rushed when searching for deals. Most of my purchases are generic, however, there are certain name brands that I prefer. It’s trial and error in that department. Thanks for commenting! ~Leigh
Oh my goodness I had to explain several times to my husband that if it says 10 for $10 you do not have to buy 10 to get the $1 each sale, lol. These are great tips and I so agree that you are asking for trouble if you go food shopping without a list!
Hi Tierney, Yes, there are so many traps at the grocery store and unfortunately, we get caught in them. I hope to educate as many people as possible, so they can pass the info on to others. Glad you were able to “school” your husband! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! ~Leigh
This is a great list! I also save $$ by matching sales with coupons (especially BOGO deals!), not just using coupons on regular price things. Another one is to sign up for reward programs for things you buy, like Nature Made has codes on their vitamin bottles that earn high-value coupons for MORE vitamins when you enter them into their website. 😀
Gotta love the BOGO deals with coupons! I didn’t know about the codes on Nature Made…I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Yeah, it’s really nice! I just earned a $7 off coupon that I used a few days ago on a huge bottle of chewable vitamin C. 😀
Reblogged this on Marina's Kitchen.
Great tips! Another one is to shop the perimeter of the store (your produce, dairy, meats) and stay away from the middle aisles where all the junk food is.
Good idea! I’ll have to keep that in mind on my next trip. Thanks!
I do all of these things too. I’m all about a well organized list and cash in my wallet!
That’s great! Bringing a list and having cash on hand really does make a difference in your bottom line. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Don’t go shopping hungry! ~M.
That’s a good one! It’s definitely gotten me a few times! Thanks for sharing.