How to Save Money With Smart Grocery Shopping
Get More For Your Food Dollar With These Simple Tips and Guidelines
Jun 6, 2009
At times, many families and individuals find it necessary to trim expenses and keep a close eye on their spending. Perhaps entertainment is curtailed or holding off on a planned home improvement is prudent. What many people don't realize is that it can be simple to save money at the supermarket without even feeling as though one is doing without. Here are some basic guidelines that will facilitate shopping needs and help prevent unnecessary expenditures.
Things to Do Before Shopping
- Clip and use coupons wisely. Sometimes these items are more expensive even with the coupon.
- Don't go shopping on an empty stomach to prevent more purchases than necessary.
- Make a list to prevent impulse buying and stick to it..
- Leave the kids at home whenever possible as they'll encourage the purchase of items that aren't needed.
Things to Pay Attention to While Shopping
- Don't be fooled. Foods displayed at the ends of aisles are seldom good buys.
- Check unit pricing for comparison to other brands and sizes.
- Try store brands and generic products.
- Buy only what will be used to avoid throwing out food and unused household products.
- Buy sale items only when needed and if ample storage space is available.
Things to Do After Shopping
Now that the shopping guidelines have been followed, wrap the seasonal fruits and vegetables and store to preserve freshness. Bone chicken and cut up or grind less expensive cuts of meats to make stews and patties. When preparing meals, make sauces for rice dishes and steam vegetables rather than use pre-packaged, ready-to-eat items, and always create meals utilizing leftovers whenever possible.
Making a Shopping List
The single most effective thing that can be done to create savings is to make a shopping list. It's an easy way to save money by curbing impulse buying and it saves time by speeding up shopping.
To create a list, make a permanent list of the items that are purchased regularly such as milk . Arrange them in order in which they're laid out in the supermarket, beginning in the section where shopping usually begins, then proceeding from aisle to aisle. Be sure to leave some blanks for less frequently purchased items.
Make photocopies of the list and keep a copy on the refrigerator, marking each item as the need arises. Now shopping will be organized and a list created of what exactly was purchased.
It is important to keep in mind that these changes can be affected without any loss in quality or quantity of food. It's simply a means to stop the waste and over spending we have become accustomed to in our supermarkets. Try this system for one month and there will be a noticeable improvement in household finances and will create some extra money for other expenses.
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