Ways to Save Money While Grocery Shopping

If you have noticed that your grocery budget does not stretch as far as it used to, you are probably looking for ways to save a few dollars at the grocery store. These tips can help do just that! And most are quick and easy, too!

Sign up for your grocery store's loyalty card. Most grocery chains offer a loyalty card that you will need to get their sale prices. Some even attach special deals to their loyalty card such as gasoline discounts. Most of the Kroger related stores and Safeways keep track of accumulated purchases on your loyalty card and give discounts at their gas stations for every $100 worth of purchases. The best thing is anyone can get the loyalty card; most do not require a credit check or approval.

Plan your meals and make a list. Planning your meals serves two main purposes-- you plan a meal for each day so you are less likely to eat out and you have a set list of items you need while at the grocery store. Use the grocery ads to help you decide your menu. By seeing what is on sale, you can choose meals utilizing those items.

Shop the sales! If you have several grocery stores close by, be willing to go to several of them to get the good deals (be sure you aren't traveling too far or the money savings will be eaten up by gasoline costs). I have chosen one main grocery store where I do a majority of my shopping. I look at the ads for the other stores in the area and match their sales to coupons to get some good deals, then go to my main grocery store for the remainder of my shopping. I chose my main store because they offer double coupons and a gasoline discount as mentioned above.

Clip coupons. I know you have heard it over and over but coupons can really save you money. The biggest reason I've heard for not using coupons is the time it takes to clip and sort them. My kids have started helping me clip the coupons. They learn about money saving and my youngest son gets some practice using scissors. I carry along my coupons to sort when I am watching the kids at an activity or sporting event. Clip and sort while you are on the phone or watching TV. There is always some time available to get it done if you want to use coupons. Besides the coupons in the newspaper, make sure to watch out for them on displays in the store or in magazines. You can also get some extra coupons by joining a coupon train. Do an internet search and you should find information on coupon trains and how to join one. The basic idea is that you receive an envelope of coupons in the mail, take out what you can use and add in any you have that you can't use, then send it on to the next train rider.

Load coupons onto your loyalty card. Some stores offer clipless coupons you can load onto your loyalty card. You pick the coupons and load them onto your card then they automatically come off at checkout. No clipping and no remembering to take them with you to the store. Check your grocery store's website to see if they offer this deal.

Check the day old bread shelf and the deli in the evening. You can often find great deals on the day old baked goods shelf. Just plan to use it right away or freeze it for later. Some grocery stores will sell some of their deli items, such as rotisserie chickens, cheaply right before closing. It's always worth asking!

Use Upromise. Sign up for Upromise.com and earn some money back on grocery purchases. After you sign up, register your loyalty cards with Upromise. When you make a purchase of certain items with that loyalty card used, you will get a small percentage back into an account which can be used for college education expenses.