How to Save Money at the Grocery Store
Tips to Cut Your Shopping Bill During Tough Times
Dec 14, 2008
Groceries are one way people spend a large portion of their income, so it pays to spend a little time to try to save money at the supermarket. These tips can help the average customer save money.
Coupon Clipping
Every day there seems to be a show on television about how someone buys $300 worth of groceries but pays $20 or some other ridiculously small amount. However, these purchases often include lots of processed name brand foods, and plenty of things that don't belong in a balanced diet. Healthy foods such as milk and beans are rarely on sale, and never have coupons.
Coupons tend to be for name brand products only. Saving a small amount can still be more expensive than buying a store brand or generic product. To save the most money, make sure to closely compare prices. Generics are often the same quality as name brands.
The products that cost the least are the most natural, unprocessed foods. Items such as milk, rice, eggs, and flour are usually cheap, and can be cooked into a lot of different meals. Even when prices of these products rise, they still tend to be cheaper than ready-made, packaged meals. Meat is expensive, and should be purchased in limited quantities. By reducing the amount used in recipes, like using more vegetables and less meat in a stir-fry, can reduce costs as well.
Many supermarkets will give you a refund if the customer brings her own shopping bags. While a few cents per bag may not seem like much, it can add up over time. Not to mention the fact that reusing bags helps reduce waste.
How to Shop in the Store
Learn about how stores employ the practice of "loss leaders." These are products that are advertised on sale, and are so cheap that the store must be losing money on them. The store might, but they take the chance that they will bring in customers who will buy more expensive products. If customers are smart and shop sales well, they can save a lot of money by paying attention to loss leaders but making sure not to spend a lot on other things that aren't necessary
Buy products in bulk when they are on sale. Large quantities of meat can be frozen, canned goods can be stored, and bread products can also be frozen.
When in the store, keep your shopping to the outside aisles. These products tend to be the cheaper, healthier options. Fresh produce, meats, and frozen foods (vegetables, baked goods, etc) are all elements of a healthy diet. The aisles in the middle of the store tend to have the more expensive processed foods. In addition, look to the tops and bottoms of shelves for the best deals. Expensive, name-brand items pay money to be located at eye level. Cheaper brands, and store brands, are usually at the very tops or bottoms where they are less likely to be seen.
Learn the art of slow cooking. Using a slow cooker, or Crock Pot, can make cheaper, tougher cuts of meat tender and juicier. These cuts of meat tend to be cheaper, but can taste just as good when prepared correctly in a slow cooker. Slow cookers are also convenient so that people can come home to a warm dinner without doing much work.
By taking a little time to research purchase, people can save money at the store. Coupons might help, but always be sure to compare the price with generics. Stick to unprocessed foods, which are not only cheaper but healthier. Follow these tips and you should notice a significant decrease in your grocery bills.
