Five Tips to Save Money at the Grocery Store

When the economy starts to slow, everyone starts to look for ways to make or save a little extra cash. One of the easiest places to make a small difference in your monthly budget is at the grocery store. Careful shopping can easily save ten dollars or more weekly with a little planning. Plan to shop and shop with a plan.

Here are some ways to save a little money at the grocery store.

1) Do the math. We have been conditioned to believe that buying in bulk is always cheaper. Not necessarily so! Take laundry detergent for example. At our local store, the middle sized container actually works out to be less expensive per load than the large box. Many stores have a per unit cost on the shelf price tag, if not, take a calculator and figure the price yourself. Also, be aware that concentrates (or double rolls in the case of toilet tissue) may be less expensive when you factor in the smaller amount required.

2) Plan your meals. This does take a little time and practice. If you family is not good at leftovers, plan your menu accordingly. Tuesdays roast could easily be Thursdays stew, beef and vegetable soup or burritos. Lowering waste also lowers overall cost.

3) Check for family size discounts on meats. You can often get a 10-30 cent per pound discount on packages of meat that are 3 pounds or more. We often make larger amounts (lasagna for example) and freeze meal sized quanities for a quicker dinner.

4) Stay away from boxes and bags. Prepared entrees and sides are always a temptation due to their ease of preparation, however on a serving by serving basis they are almost always more costly to say nothing of nutritional values (or lack thereof). Preparing meals always takes longer when you don't use a box, but a little planning should overcome this issue. Crockpot meals are a great way to save time. Pre-cooking certain items at a more convienient time for incorporating into later dishes or meal may also be a big time saver, For example, a few extra baked potatoes cooked with Sundays meal could make great and quick mashed potatoes later in the week.

5) Check the paper. Shop for the best price at you local stores. Watch for coupons on your favorites and do not forget online offers. Many stores also offer price matching programs. Gas is expensive too, and running all over town will not save you money, however if there are multiple stores on your way hope, shopping around is a proven way of saving money. Often hamburger will be on sale at one store, but not buns. The store across the street might be the better place to find the buns to complete that meal.

The very best way to save money at the grocery store is a factor in each of the preceeding tips - budget your time as well as your money for shopping. If you take the time to plan your menu and your shopping, it is not difficult to save $10-15 on a families shopping. Plan to shop and shop with a plan and you will save money. May not sound like much but that adds up to $500-750 per year, a nice little raise for other expenses. .