Grocery shopping is the one expense everyone faces.
You can cut out a lot of other monthly costs, like top of the line cable packages, the fastest internet around, and cell phone plans that are unlimited, but you can’t cut out food. With food costs on the rise each year, it can be difficult to make ends meet financially.
So, what can you do to make your regular trip to the supermarket more budget friendly?
#1: Look at the circular ads
You know those newspaper flyers that you get in your mailbox weekly? Yes, the ones that you promptly throw into the recycle bin.
Well, they actually contain sale items that are designed to save you some cash, so it’s worth it to at least take a look at them before discarding them with your other paper and plastic items.
The key is to not get sucked into buying sale items you don’t actually need or will never use before they expire. Pay attention only to the foods you normally purchase and try to let all of the other “deals” go.
Oonce you find out which items are discounted for the week, you can plan your food menu around them so as to maximize your savings.
#2: Sign up for rewards programs
A lot of supermarkets compensate their loyal customers with rewards programs. Some give you cash off future purchases and some are simply coupon-like savings tied to the card. Either way, it is a great way to save money on your regular food purchases.
Even if you don’t shop at that store exclusively, it’s worth the couple of minutes it takes to sign up for the program. Saving a few dollars on that visit alone opens up a couple of dollars that you can use elsewhere.
#3: Use coupons
Couponing used to consist of sitting down with the local paper or ads and cutting out the ones you think you’ll use. Then you had to organize them by either category or expiration date which took a lot of time! While you can still clip coupons the old-fashioned way, there are several newer ways to get discounts that don’t involve scissors or coupon organizers.
There are many online coupon sites that offer codes or virtual coupons if you shop with them. A couple of the most notable are Coupons.com and The Krazy Coupon Lady. Another great resource is Verified.codes, a coupon site that claims all their coupons are updated & verified every 10 minutes.
Some you still have to print out, but at least you have access to coupons for items that are actually on your grocery list versus brands you’ve never heard of.
#4: Go with a list – and stick to it
One of the worst things you can do to your grocery budget is shop without a list. That leads you to making impulse purchases and spending double or triple what you wanted (or should have).
Therefore, it is extremely important that you go to the grocery store with a list in hand. And don’t look around for anything else you think you may need while you’re there. You’re just opening up yourself (and your checkbook) for buying things you never intended to purchase.
#5: Double check the receipt
How many times have you left the grocery store and not even bothered to look at your receipt? Or, you’re standing there watching the clerk ring your items up, but you’re not paying attention to the amounts reflected on the register? If this is you, you may want to start being a little more alert.
One of the most common errors found on receipts is items that did not register as being on sale. This means that you miss out on the great savings that you intended to get. Either watch the amounts as the foods are passed across the scanner or go through your receipt prior to leaving the store. That way if there is a discrepancy, you can get your money back immediately.
Grocery shopping is a must, but spending top dollar to feed your family is optional. Try these five money-saving tips and you’ll be able to squelch your family’s hunger without breaking the bank to do it.
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