Post by Loupy on Sept 26, 2014 22:06:26 GMT -7
6 Tips for More Effective Grocery Shopping
by Jenn K on www.5dollardinners.com/
Most people don’t get overly excited about their weekly trip to the grocery store, but instead of trudging through the task, learn to make it better. Use these tips to speed up the experience and save some cash. You might actually learn to enjoy shopping for groceries.
1. Take an Inventory
Before you leave the house, go through your fridge and pantry and write down exactly what you’re missing. By writing out a list, you’re more likely to purchase only the items you need, rather than spending on food you already have.
2. Stick to Your List
Once you have your list, stick to it. If you see a deal on food you don’t normally eat, keep walking. Avoid aisles that don’t have food items you need. Take a quick peek at the listed categories above each aisle, and if nothing there is on your list, move on to the next one.
3. Take Advantage of Coupons
You can save money by using coupons from the Sunday paper, as well as grocery saving smartphone apps. One of the newer apps you might want to investigate is Checkout 51. It doesn’t feature digital coupons, but offers weekly deals. After you purchase an item from the list of deals, you upload your receipt, and get credit for the deal. Once you accumulate more than $20 in your account, you can cash out and receive a check in the mail.
4. Load Up on Sale Items
If you see a sale on rice, pasta, ketchup, or any other household staple, stock up and save. Just make sure you don’t purchase more than you can consume before the “best by” dates.
5. Shop Farmers Markets
Do a quick Internet search to see if there’s a farm or farmers market in your area. Even if it’s 30 minutes away, it can pay off. I discovered one near my home, and have cut my produce costs by roughly 20%. The food quality is as good as your traditional grocer, and there may be a larger selection.
6. Avoid Impulse Buys
Impulse buying can occur whenever you browse the grocery aisles, but the pressure really gets tight when you hit the checkout line. Commit to making the checkout line a “no buy zone” – if it’s not in your basket by the time you checkout, it shouldn’t land there as you wait to make your purchases.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the average family of four spends as much as $1,293* per month on groceries. This cost can easily make food your highest monthly expense. If your grocery bill is taking a toll, it’s time to carve out a new strategy for grocery shopping. Come up with a method to increase your shopping effectiveness while simultaneously cutting costs.
*I raised 6 children (4 growing boys and 2 girls) and we never spent close to $1293 on groceries. (We didn't even make that much a month.) We never wasted anything because we had left-over night or my hubby took left-overs for lunch. We used fresh meat and fresh vegetables. We had a garden every summer. But, my best advice was that I never went shopping with any of the children and always had a list. I planned my menu's out and followed them each week. It really helps. Of course, that was about 20 years ago, but everything is relevant.
by Jenn K on www.5dollardinners.com/
Most people don’t get overly excited about their weekly trip to the grocery store, but instead of trudging through the task, learn to make it better. Use these tips to speed up the experience and save some cash. You might actually learn to enjoy shopping for groceries.
1. Take an Inventory
Before you leave the house, go through your fridge and pantry and write down exactly what you’re missing. By writing out a list, you’re more likely to purchase only the items you need, rather than spending on food you already have.
2. Stick to Your List
Once you have your list, stick to it. If you see a deal on food you don’t normally eat, keep walking. Avoid aisles that don’t have food items you need. Take a quick peek at the listed categories above each aisle, and if nothing there is on your list, move on to the next one.
3. Take Advantage of Coupons
You can save money by using coupons from the Sunday paper, as well as grocery saving smartphone apps. One of the newer apps you might want to investigate is Checkout 51. It doesn’t feature digital coupons, but offers weekly deals. After you purchase an item from the list of deals, you upload your receipt, and get credit for the deal. Once you accumulate more than $20 in your account, you can cash out and receive a check in the mail.
4. Load Up on Sale Items
If you see a sale on rice, pasta, ketchup, or any other household staple, stock up and save. Just make sure you don’t purchase more than you can consume before the “best by” dates.
5. Shop Farmers Markets
Do a quick Internet search to see if there’s a farm or farmers market in your area. Even if it’s 30 minutes away, it can pay off. I discovered one near my home, and have cut my produce costs by roughly 20%. The food quality is as good as your traditional grocer, and there may be a larger selection.
6. Avoid Impulse Buys
Impulse buying can occur whenever you browse the grocery aisles, but the pressure really gets tight when you hit the checkout line. Commit to making the checkout line a “no buy zone” – if it’s not in your basket by the time you checkout, it shouldn’t land there as you wait to make your purchases.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the average family of four spends as much as $1,293* per month on groceries. This cost can easily make food your highest monthly expense. If your grocery bill is taking a toll, it’s time to carve out a new strategy for grocery shopping. Come up with a method to increase your shopping effectiveness while simultaneously cutting costs.
*I raised 6 children (4 growing boys and 2 girls) and we never spent close to $1293 on groceries. (We didn't even make that much a month.) We never wasted anything because we had left-over night or my hubby took left-overs for lunch. We used fresh meat and fresh vegetables. We had a garden every summer. But, my best advice was that I never went shopping with any of the children and always had a list. I planned my menu's out and followed them each week. It really helps. Of course, that was about 20 years ago, but everything is relevant.
