Coupons
Coupons can be found anywhere, from your local Sunday paper to direct mail envelopes and even online. Get in the habit of scouring these sources for coupons that your family can use. Clip these coupons and keep them organized either by date or by product. This may seem like a lot of work but collecting coupons is like getting free money. Just beware; sometimes coupons offer what seems like a great deal but when comparing the name brand product to the store brand, it often turns out that the store brand is still a better deal. In addition, sometimes a coupon seems like a great deal but it's only a good deal if you actually need the product. Don't get in the habit of buying products you don't really need.
Weekly Store Flyer
Usually once a week your local grocery store distributes via mail its weekly sales or specials flyer. Get in the habit of reading this and comparing the prices between grocery stores if you have more than one in your area. Store A will often advertise a product at a price that is beaten by Store B the very next week. Once you've developed a sense of what is or isn't a good deal, you can then go to the store with the very best prices.
Coupons & Flyers: The Best Bargain
Before heading out to the grocery store take a few moments to match your coupons to what is on sale at the supermarket. Using a coupon on a product that is already on sale will often result in paying very little for that product, and if your grocery store will double or triple coupons then you can end up getting that product for free, or nearly free.
Buying Bulk
Take advantage of great supermarket sales to stock up on items that are being offered at unbelievable discounts. When you have a sense of prices from studying the weekly fliers, then you can determine what is and isn't a good bargain. When a product is being offered at a great deal, stock up on it! It may mean a little bit more expense right now, but it'll save you big bucks down the road when you pay $0.99 for chicken breast on sale versus $3.99 regular price. Just remember that perishable goods do have specific shelf lives even when in the deep freeze so don't buy more than you're going to realistically use, or that'll just be wasted money.
Weekly Menu Planning
Unplanned trips to the grocery store are a likely culprit for blowing the grocery budget. When you plan out in advance exactly what each meal will be and what you need to purchase for it, then the impulse buys are drastically reduced. Stick to your list, and limit your trips to the supermarket to just once a week.
The key to keeping your grocery budget under control is organization and planning ahead; a little bit of preparedness will go a long way to stretching your dollar. Oh, and don't forget to eat before going to the grocery store!
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