Saving Money at the Grocery Store

It is very easy to overspend at the grocery store if you do not make a budget and stick to it. As you walk up and down the aisles of the grocery store you find items that you "just have to have" and before long, those items have put you way over budget. Sound familiar? Follow these easy guidelines to save money on your next grocery trip.

COUPONS
Coupons can be a shopper's best friend. Clip coupons from your Sunday newspaper, print manufacturer coupons from the internet or join a coupon train/club. Find out ahead of time what your local grocery stores are having on sale for the week and find the coupons that go with those items. Sometimes you can get products for free or nearly free by using coupons when items are already on sale. Take full advantage of grocery stores that double or triple the face value on manufacturer coupons. A coupon with a face value of .50 can easily become 1.50 off when grocers offer these deals!

STORE SALES
Pay attention to your local grocery stores circulars each week. Grocery stores have weekly sales on certain items and you should purchase these items as the sales come in. Even if it means visitng several stores in your area to get the best deals, you will still save money. Pay special attention to sales on produce and meats because these are the items that are generally reduced the most. Some grocery stores are more expensive to begin with, so what seems like a "good deal" may actually just be an average price.

DO NOT SHOP HUNGRY
Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. If you are hungry when you go grocery shopping, you will be more likely to add unecessary items into your cart. When you are hungry, everything sounds good so try to avoid shopping if your tummy is growling!

SHOP SOLO
Taking kids, friends or a spouse to the grocery store with you can cause you to spend more money. If friends are over, you want to purchase items that they like. If you take your children shopping, they always will find items they want. These extra items can quickly throw your budget off.

SHOP BY THE LIST
Make a list at home of things that you will need for the week. Pre-plan your meals so that you know exactly which ingredients you will need. Try to write down everything so that you do not have to make grocery store stops throughout the week, in which you will likely spend more money than needed.