A great way to help your bottom line each month is to make cuts in your grocery bill. Here are some easy tips to help you get started.
Meal Plan Each Week Based On Sales
One of the easiest ways to trim your grocery budget is to meal plan around the sales for that week. Take a look at the store flyer to see what is on sale before deciding what you will eat that week. Breakfast, lunch and dinner meals should come from as many sale items as possible.
Stockpile Frequently Used Items When They Are On Sale
If there are certain food items you use often, chances are these items will not be on sale every week. When the item is on sale, purchase extra to save you money in the future. For example if chicken is on sale, purchase several packages and freeze it for meals in the upcoming weeks.
Cut Out Prepared Meals
While prepared meals can make your life easier they are usually not healthy and will cost you a great deal more. Instead, choose simple easy dishes and purchase all the ingredients separately to make them.
Choose Fruits and Vegetables That Are In Season
When you shop by what is in season you not only go easier on your budget but also get tastier and fresher produce. During the summer and fall months your best bet may be to visit a local farmer’s market.
Grow Your Own Food
You don’t necessarily have to have a green thumb to grow some of your own food. Even if you can just plant a pot of tomatoes and a few pots of herbs, you will see a savings. Of course, the more you can grow on your own the more you will save.
Buy Generic
Most generic brands will save you close to 25% over name brands of the same item and many have the same taste and quality.
Make Your Own
Make your own items when you can. Making your own bread each week will add up to a cost savings.
Cut Coupons
Clipping coupons can save you money. Just be careful that you are not buying items just because you have a coupon. Use your coupons wisely on the foods you were planning to buy even without a coupon.
Look For Reduced Meat
Very often grocery stores will reduce the price of meat as it nears its expiration date. Early morning shopping very often will give you the best deals in this area.
Buy Outside The Grocery Store
Other stores besides the supermarket sell food and you should definitely take the time to price compare. Very often you can find deals at superstores, warehouse stores, the local butcher, and even on line.
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These are great tips! I know so many people who grocery shop by just simply going to the store, grabbing a card and wondering up and down the isles grabbing what looks good. I don’t understand how they ever end up with a week’s worth of meals that way, or stick to a budget. I start by making a list of meals I want to have for the week, and then making a list of what I need to make those meals. My goal is to have consumed as much of the purchased as possible by the next grocery shopping trip.
Thanks for the great article!
Great ideas, I already use a lot of those that were listed. Coupon sites are fantastic, and a real money saver. I try to use my coupons in conjunction with a BOGO promotion. I also know the way my store works on the things that I purchase, so if something I buy usually goes on sale once every month or month and a half, so I stock up then, and wait until the next sale.
This is a great article with practical advice. I’ve started using coupons and shopping the sales. I’m amazed at what a difference it’s made in our grocery budget! Stockpiling items is a great idea too. I’ll have to try this.
Thank you for the informative information, it has been one of my resolutions this year to cut down on costs and i found this article very helpful in completing that task.
I agree with your stockpiling food suggestion. I am a college student right now and I periodically go to costco to stock up on food I usually eat, such as ramen and non-perishables.
These are all great suggestions. In fact there are a ton of grocery coupon related sites (do a google search) that will not only show you where the best deals are but how to get them. Many of the sites even include links to coupons you can print out on your computer. The trick is to get carried away and start buying things that you are not going to use or don’t need simply because they are a good deal.
Good commonsense suggestions for saving money on groceries. Stocking up on sale items is something I love to do. Occasionally I see boxes of crackers that normally are $2.99/box on sale for $5/5 boxes. Yes, it feels ridiculous to buy five boxes of crackers, but the savings are real (as long as one doesn’t eat the crackers five times faster than usual!)
Very Helpful Article. Thanks! I heard about a new site at Church. http://www.mygroceryspy.com It compares prices at the top stores here in Atlanta. From what I’ve read, it updates twice a week and shows where the lowest prices are on a few hundred items. You can print out your shopping list or have it sent to your phone. (I’m not savvy enough for that though). I email them since their not up yet, and they told me they will be up on January 20th in Atlanta and Birmingham AL. then other cities. It will be great for diary keepers like me.
I completely agree with buy in season since fruits and vegetables are most expensive at the beginning and end of production. Also i strongly encourage people to buy local products, they are much healthier, you sustain local economy and you pay less.