Tips for Frugal Grocery Shopping

As grocery prices continue to rise, families are looking for effective ways to save money at the grocery store each week. Use these tips to cut back on the expense without cutting back on the food that you need to feed your family.

Become a Frugal Grocery Shopper, but Don't Use Coupons

Most frugal gurus will tell you to shop with coupons. Not only is coupon shopping time consuming, but you can also end up spending more money than usual. Most coupons are for prepackaged, processed foods that are not all that healthy. These foods tend to be expensive anyway. A coupon that offers a fifty cents savings on an expensive item that you wouldn't normally buy is not saving you money.

Coupons also frequently require the purchaser to buy three or more of a particular item in order to get the meager savings. Unless this is a product that you use frequently already, the coupon doesn't make it worthwhile.

Save Money on Groceries by Eating Vegetarian

Even if you are not a full-time vegetarian, planning a few meatless meals a week will save money at the grocery store. Bean-based meals, such as vegetarian chili, are delicious, healthy and inexpensive. Be careful to avoid falling into a cheese habit if you give up meat a few nights a week. While cheese is a good substitute for meat, dairy prices are higher than ever and cheese-based meals will not save much money.

To Save Money on Groceries, Spend Less Time at the Grocery Store

The more often you go to the grocery store, the more you spend. Many people shop weekly and make a few impulse buys each time they are at the store. Cutting back on shopping to once every other week will save money over the course of the month.

Be a Frugal Shopper by Menu Planning

Make a detailed weekly or bi-weekly menu plan before you go shopping. This way, you will have all the ingredients on hand for each meal and will be able to avoid extra trips to the grocery store. Be sure to plan for snacks, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Save Money on Groceries by Cutting Back on Packaging

Some grocery store items, like crackers, are less-expensive when bought in a regular box instead of individual serving sizes. If you are buying things to put in a child's lunch, buy some sandwich bags and dole out individual servings from the box. Likewise, juice is more economical when bought in a large container rather than in juice boxes. Invest in a good thermos or sippy cup that can be refilled.

For tips on how to shop with your children read Shopping with Older Children: Avoid the Whining and Pleading for New Toys.