Frugal Facts: Save Money on Groceries by Planning

Groceries are a large part of the variable expenses in your budget, particularly if you have a family with children. That means you have a lot of leeway when it comes to saving money by making a few changes in your grocery shopping habits.

Make a Plan

Saving money with groceries, as with anything, means taking the time to put a plan into action. The beauty of that is that once you design a plan, you only need to tweak it here and there to keep it working for you.

No doubt you've been taught to make a grocery list, but that takes time, doesn't it? It's up there with flossing your teeth daily and checking the air in your tires every time you get in your car. You mean to do it, but, well...it takes time. And let's face it, we're all busy. And perhaps a little on the lazy side.

If someone gave you the information, you'd use it though, right? When it comes to grocery lists, someone has done the work for you. Try printing out one of the ready-made lists online, putting it on your fridge, so you can check off items you need as you run out of them. A thorough list can be found at www.grocerywiz.com.

Keep that list accessible, near your household calendar or on the kitchen counter so you will use it. If you put it in a drawer, you'll mean to use it, but again, it's work getting to it. You want to cut out the work.

Grocery Store and Department Store Circulars

Most major grocery stores and discount stores will send you their circulars by email so you can build a weekly menu based on what is on sale. If you're a tactile person, you may like the traditional, mailed version of weekly sales. You have to know your personality, then use what works best for you. If having a printout that allows you to mark a big, red X over an item works for you, by all means stick to that method.

Seasonal Foods

Before you make your menu, the item that will drive your shopping list, consider seasonal items. Many communities have Farmers Markets. If you can't take advantage of the deals, if you are shopping for one, for example, go in with a neighbor and split the trip. If you have freezer space, blanch and freeze seasonal items to use when they are out of season.

So what's in season? If you don't know the answer to that, you're not alone, but if you want to save money on groceries, it's something you should learn. Again, someone has done the work for you! In the blog WiseBread, http://www.wisebread.com/fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-by-the-month, you'll find a list of what's in season.

Coupons: One of the biggest mistakes consumers make is buying a grocery item solely because they have a coupon. Coupons are only good if 1)you need the item, 2)you can use the size that's listed in the coupon and 3)it's not overpriced to compensate for the fact that a coupon exists.

Menus

The centerpiece of your grocery list involves the weekly menu. Take the circulars, seasonal items and coupons into account when making your weekly menu. If you want ideas, look online for weekly menus, then adapt your menu given the local deals and coupons. One source (and there are many) of menus is www.moneysavingmom.com.

Stay Unrefined

How often do you hear that? In the case of food, the closer you are to the original form, the better, not just in terms of money, but in terms of nutritional value. Start small. Instead of buying a gallon of sweetened tea, make a pot of your own. You don't have to invest in electronic iced tea makers either. All it takes is your basic sauce pan, a few tea bags, and if you want, sugar and lemon.

Saving for a Rainy Day

To really save money, double a recipe and make your own frozen dinners. Cook once, eat twice. Your family may get tired of eating on that bargain chicken all week, but if you put together a meal for later, it saves you from making a take-out run. A good source of double recipe ideas is http://www.storingandfreezing.co.uk/recipes-double-freeze.html.

Shopping Nuts and Bolts

--Eat before you go shopping. It's absolutely true that you want to buy everything in sight if you're hungry.

--Try to shop alone as if you are on a mission. Extra family members mean extra items in the cart. A pack of gum here, a box of cereal with a special prize there, and your money-savings intentions get shot down quick.

--Look at the price per unit. It was once a standard that the larger the item, the better the value. Manufacturers caught onto this. You'll now find that some smaller items cost less per unit. That compounds even more if you have a coupon on a small item. If you are at a store that doubles coupons, so much the better.

The final point involves follow through. You can make a list, circle your wants and make a menu, but if you ditch the menu for fast food by Tuesday, it's not going to work. Like flossing your teeth every day and checking your tires, it's all about developing a habit. In this case, it's a habit that will save you money, rather than cost you money. And that's a good habit to have.

The final point involves follow through. You can make a list, circle your wants and make a menu, but if you ditch the menu for fast food by Tuesday, it's not going to work. Like flossing your teeth every day and checking your tires, it's all about developing a habit. In this case, it's a habit that will save you money, rather than cost you money. And that's a good habit to have.