Ways to Save on Groceries

Living paycheck to paycheck is no fun, but sometimes we have no choice when it comes to how we spend our money. Gas, utilities, rent, the list goes on. Groceries are, of course, a necessity and yet you never seem to have enough - money or food. Have you found that you walk out of the store with enough food to last maybe two days and already spent over $100??

Being the main shopper in my house, I've done what I can to cut the grocery bill down and have actually found myself to be somewhat successful. I thought that I would share here some of the things that I do to save my family money, along with some tips I've found from various magazines and websites.

My personal tips:

1. Shop around. In the town where I live, within a 10 mile radius there is a Meijer (big grocery store), Costco, Dollar General, Aldi, and Big Lots. Each place has cheaper prices than the other on certain things. Here is my shopping itinerary:

Meijer: baby wipes and see if there are any good sales anywhere
Costco: diapers, deodorant, bulk chicken breasts/ground turkey/etc
Dollar General: things like spices, shampoo, soaps, lunch snacks
Aldi: Fruit/veggies, canned goods, garbage bags, TP, etc.
Big Lots: Energy Drinks (.60 a can!!)

And while I know that this is a pain, especially with a 2 year old, we've made it work because even with the small amount of driving, we are still saving a ton of money.

2. Make a menu. We get paid twice a month, so I make a menu that goes from the first day we get paid to the next day we get paid. Then I make a list of the ingredients that we'll need for those meals. That way, I know I'll have enough ingredients, and am usually so overwhelmed with the amount I already have in the cart I rarely go beyond the list. (And don't worry, I usually don't make what's on the menu - but at least I know if I'm lost, I've got the stuff for something!)

3. Buy store brand. There are some things that I will not buy unless it's name brand (Busch's Baked Beans!), but 9 times out of 10, I'm willing to at least try the store brand, and 9 times out of 10 I've been pleased with the outcome (and the savings!). Plus, a lot of the time the store brand is made by the same manufacturer of the name brand!

4. Get a grocery card. Not a credit card, but the little one for your keychain that helps you save a ton. Definitely worth the 20 seconds it takes to fill out the form.

5. Print or clip coupons. I've signed up to get emails from Eversave, Coolsavings, and Valpack. They email me when new coupons are ready, I choose the ones I want, and they print. Easy as pie. I also get coupons from the websites of my favorite brands (i.e. Huggies, Proctor & Gamble, etc.), along with clipping from the Sunday paper. Again, it takes some time, but not enough to ignore the savings.

Most magazines and websites give the same tips as I have just mentioned. Some that I never thought about are here:

According to Real Simple magazine, the more expensive products are at eye level, so picking products on the top and bottom shelves will save you money. Real Simple also says:

~ Avoid buying prepared and packaged goods. You'll pay a premium for convenience.

~ Getting a grocery card could shave up to 18% off your total grocery bill.

~ Join a warehouse club. Bulk items can be cheaper by up to 50%!

~ Purchase oranges, onions, etc. in bags rather than individually. You'll pay about ½ the price.

~ Opt for frozen seafood over fresh. It can save you up to 40%, and "fresh" fish has been previously frozen anyway.

Some more tips I've found that are helpful include:

~ Don't go when you're hungry.

~ Have a budget. Know exactly how much you can spend and don't go over it.

~ Keep a pricelist. Use your receipts and enter into a spreadsheet. It helps for comparison shopping.

~ Shop online. Amazon.com has a great new grocery section, and often on sites like these you can get free shipping.

~ Buy frozen veggies. They're just as good as fresh and rarely go bad.

~ Look for sales.

~ Don't waste leftovers. Have a list on your fridge of what leftovers are in there, so you don't forget about them. (and you won't need groceries as soon!)

** Watch the register. Scanners aren't always updated constantly, so make sure you're getting the sale price you're expecting to pay. Also, don't assume that regular-price items are being entered correctly.

** Collect your payoff if there's a mistake. "Many people don't know it, but big chains like Giant, Safeway, and Kroger will often give you an item for free if the scan shows a higher price than what's advertised. (Tobacco, alcohol, pharmacy items, and dairy are excluded.)"

** Don't be fooled by deals like two for $1. You don't have to buy two. If the ad says "Buy two for $5" and you want only one, you can still get it for $2.50. If the item doesn't automatically scan that way, point out the sale price to the cashier.

~ Always look behind labels. Many companies hide valuable coupons behind their labels or inside their products!

~ Shop at the stores that double coupons. You will find that you save the most at these kinds of stores. Also, some stores give extra savings for every product you buy. Look for the best store near you!

~ Some people are able to save a lot of money by using coupons on 2 for 1 deals. You can use one coupon on 1 of the products, and a coupon on the free product, and get money back!

References

(Bargainist 20070712 23 Ways to Save on Groceries)The Bargainist. (2007, July 12). 23 Ways to save on groceries. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from http://www.bargainist.com/deals/2007/07/23-ways-to-save-on-groceries/

(Barnes R 20070309 Great Ways to Save on Groceries)Barnes, R. (2007, March 9). Great ways to save on groceries. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/money/budget-living/great-ways-save-groceries

(Michelle S n.d. Living on a tight budget: How to save on your food bill)Michelle, S. (n.d.). Living on a tight budget: How to save on your food bill. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from http://www.committment.com/michelle.html

(Real Simple n.d. 6 Ways to save on groceriReal Simple. (n.d.). 6 Ways to save on groceries. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1735307,00.html