Save Money on Groceries
Page Updated on
November 24, 2007 Avoid Shopping -
Grow it yourself. Having a garden is a great way to cut back on the expenses of buying produce and herbs. Plus, it's a great hobby and educational project for kids, and it tends to make your yard a bit more inviting. If you prefer a landscaped look instead of the big, rectangular plot in your yard, you can incorporate your crops right into your landscaping by using fruit and trees and bushes, vines, edible flowers (or flower seeds), and even colorful leafy vegetables. If you live in an apartment or condo, have a container garden.
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Make it from scratch. A good cookbook can be a valuable investment. If you already have the ingredients to make pancakes from scratch, why bother going to the store to buy the "just add water" mix or frozen pancakes. Food made from scratch is also often healthier because you control what goes into it (no preservatives or artificial colors/flavors, the ability to substitute non-fat milk for whole milk, etc.), and it usually tastes better. Cooking skills are important to have anyhow.
Shopping Lists - Make menu for every day of the week, and use this menu to make your shopping list.
By doing this you know exactly what and how much you need. Plan your menu around the sales, product that's in season, and your coupons as well as what you already have on hand to get the best deals.
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Promise yourself you will only buy items that are on your shopping list.
If you see something that you want that isn't on your shopping list, write it down, and wait until your next shopping trip to decide if you really want to put it on your shopping list. The only time it is okay to purchase items that are not on your shopping list is when you see an incredible deal for something you absolutely know you would have purchased within several weeks anyhow.
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Don't shop while you're hungry. Shopping after a meal (like dinner) will make impulse buying less appealing. Shopping on a full stomach helps you stick to your shopping list. (Just don't try to shop after too big of a meal when you may feel groggy and pay less attention to details.)
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Place symbols next to listed items that are on sale or that you are using a coupon for.
(e.g. a star for sale items, a C for coupon items, etc.) This way you'll instantly know to pay attention to brand names and sizes to get the discount, so you won't accidentally buy the wrong item. Plus, it makes creating a price book much easier.
Compare Prices - Compare unit prices, not total prices.
This is why you need a calculator when you go shopping. Divide the total price by the number of units (ounces, pounds, grams, etc.) in the package. This is the unit price. Unit prices often vary depending on the size of the package. (A bigger box does not mean that it is cheaper.) Many stores print the regular unit price right on the price tag to save you the hassle of making calculations.
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Make a price book for products you commonly purchase and compare.
At the end of your shopping trip, look at your receipt. Write down the regular prices for items that you frequently purchase or commonly use along with the name of the store and where you found the item, the brand name of the product, and its unit price. Doing this at multiple stores and with multiple brand names will help you figure out which stores are usually cheaper and whether a sale is really a bargain.
Sales - Don't buy sale items that you don't use or isn't on your shopping list (and probably won't be on future shopping lists) just because they're on sale.
There may be an incredible sale on hot mustard, but if you don't eat hot mustard you're just throwing your money away.
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Compare sale prices with regular prices and sale prices at various stores.
Use your price book to determine whether a "sale" price is really a bargain. I've seen sale prices at Store A that were higher than regular prices at Store B. I've even seen "sale" prices that were exactly the same as the regular price!
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When you find a really good sale on a non-perishable product, buy as many items as you can.
If you see an amazing sale, such as 2-liter bottles of soda for $0.50, and you know that you would buy 2-liter bottles of soda within the next few months even if there wasn't a sale, buy the maximum number you can buy, and in the long run you'll save money.
Coupons - Always be on the lookout for coupons.
- Sunday Newspapers
It may cost $2.00 for a Sunday newspaper, but if you find at least $2.00 in coupons, then the newspaper will pay for itself. If you're concerned about wasting the $2.00, just go to the store early Sunday morning (or late Saturday night if you're lucky), before the paper sells out, and look through the coupons before you buy the paper.
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Magazines You just need to keep your eyes open. Beauty magazines will have coupons for beauty products. Parenting magazines will have coupons for children's products.
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Store Displays Usually you'll find these near the products they're for.
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Product Labels Always look at the labels for the products you buy for coupons. These coupons are usually for future purchases of the product or another product created by the same company.
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Your Mailbox Not all junk mail is bad. Once in awhile you'll find some great coupons for local stores and services. Most store coupons are found in the mailbox.
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Coupon Clubs Clip coupons that you know you won't even use. Just gather together some friends who are also coupon clippers and trade with them.
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On the Internet Some of the coupons that you find online are only good for online purchases, but you can also find coupons that you can print out.
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Use manufacturer coupons along with store coupons.
Most stores will let you use both coupons at the same time on one product, increasing the total amount that will be deducted from the price.
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Use coupons for products that are already on sale.
If the regular price is $1.00 and you have a coupon for $0.25 off, you'll end up paying $0.75. If the product is on sale for $0.75, and you use your coupon, you'll only pay $0.50.
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Look for stores that offer double or triple coupons.
This alone could double your savings. Just make sure to compare the discounted price with your price book to make sure it's a good deal. Some stores offering double or triple coupons charge double or triple the price.
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Look for stores that will let you use store coupons from other stores.
Some stores will let you use coupons issued by other stores. This is especially nice because you don't have to waste gas driving from store to store.
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Don't purchase an item you wouldn't normally use or don't plan to have on your shopping list just because you have a coupon for it.
A $0.25 discount on a $1.00 item that you don't use is a waste of $0.75. The exception to this rule is when the coupon would make the product free or nearly free.
Where to Shop - Avoid small, corner markets (in general).
Smaller markets tend to be more expensive. There are exceptions, of course, so don't neglect your small corner market if it has really good deals.
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Shop at your local warehouse store. Warehouse stores usually charge a membership fee, but most of them will let you walk around to check out their prices and products without a membership. Bring your price book with you and compare prices on items that you typically buy. If there is a significant difference, you might be better off paying the membership fee and saving money in the long run.
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Shop at thrift stores. There are thrift stores for all sorts of products, from canned goods to bakery items. The items they sell are often discontinued, getting close to their expiration date, or just not selling very well at more traditional stores. You almost always find a good deal at these stores.
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Check online grocery sites. Sometimes, online grocery sites will have excellent deals on their products, but you have to pay shipping and handling, which can really add up. Keep your eyes open for "free shipping" offers. Don't forget to compare online product prices, including the cost of shipping the products, with your price book.
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Buy produce at a farmer's market. Cut out the middle-man and go straight to the source. You get a better quality product at a lower price. You may need to wake up early and do some research to find out when and where a farmer's market will pop up near you, but it's worth it.
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Buy produce directly from the farm. It's often even less than a farmer's market because the farmer doesn't need to rent space at the market. If there are farms in your area, you can drive by and look for a sales stand or look up a local farming association for a list of farms, and you can just call around. Some places will let you pick your own produce right out of the orchards or fields for even less money.
What to Buy - Don't be afraid to buy generic or store brands.
You save money on these products because they don't have fancy labels or get advertised often. Most of the time these products are just as good as the brand names. They're at least worth a try.
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Shop for food that's in season. If you try to buy watermelon in winter, you're going to pay more for it than you would in the summer.
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Buy perishable items with the latest expiration date.
Even if you plan on using the item within the next few days, you never know when you may have to unexpectedly rearrange your menu. If you can't use the item before the expiration date, you've just wasted your money, so buy products with later expiration dates to give you some extra time.
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Don't buy prepared foods. It's cheaper and healthier to make the foods from scratch. Cook extra and freeze it to make homemade meals you can quickly heat up in your microwave.
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Don't buy disposable items. Not only are disposable items bad for the environments, but they're also bad for your budget. Spend a little extra on items that can be reused. (e.g. bar towels instead of paper towels, cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, inexpensive plastic plates instead of paper plates, inexpensive flatware instead of plastic eating utensils, etc.)
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Consider less expensive (and often healthier) alternatives.
Use evaporated milk instead of cream. Use margarine instead of butter (margarine made from natural shortening is much healthier than those that use hydrogenated oils). Use an inexpensive shampoo, conditioner, or lotion instead of shaving cream.
How Much to Buy - Buy staple items and frequently used non-perishable items in bulk.
You obviously will be using soap throughout the entire year, so feel free to buy it in bulk. Also, things like spices, grains, etc. are much cheaper when bought in bulk rather than in smaller packages.
Refunds - Always ask for a refund on food that was spoiled when you bought it.
Every time you just decide to throw it away, you're throwing money in the trash. Most stores will give you a refund if you bring it back with a receipt and let them know that it was spoiled before you even opened it. Of course, you can't purchase the item before the expiration date and then use it after the expiration date and expect any sympathy if it went bad. Check those dates before you buy.
- Always ask for a refund on items you are dissatisfied with.
Some stores will say "tough luck," but others will give you a refund if you bring back the unused portion of the product. (Don't use the entire product, bring back an empty container, and expect a refund.)
Rebates - Don't buy a product you wouldn't normally use or put on your grocery list just because you have a rebate form for it.
The exception to this rule is if the item is free (or nearly free) after you receive your rebate.
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Read the rebate form carefully and follow all directions.
You may need to cut pieces from the packaging, turn in original sales receipts, buy a specific quantity, etc. Follow the directions exactly and make sure you mail out the requested items well in advance to ensure that everything reaches the manufacturer/retailer before the expiration date.
Storing Your Groceries -
Always keep your staples bug free. Store your grains, cereals, pasta, etc. in plastic re-sealable bags or in glass or plastic re-sealable containers. If your food gets infested, you'll have to throw it out and head back to the store.
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Always put leftovers in the same place in your refrigerator.
If your leftovers get lost in the refrigerator, they're likely to go bad. By keeping them in plain view, you'll remember to use them, saving you the cost and the hassle of making another meal.
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