The average family’s grocery bill can be one of the larger expenses in the family budget. It also has the most flexibility. There can be an enormous difference in what each family spends on their groceries, depending on many factors, such as whether they buy name brand, more meat, etc.
The good news is that this allows for a large amount of savings if we decide to be frugal with our shopping. Following a few simple tips will have you well on your way to saving a few bucks.
1.) Plan your meals ahead of time. Preferably a week in advance. You’ll know exactly what you need from the store before you go. It can also be a great time saver.
2.) Watch for specials and coupons in weekly flyers. Try to plan your meals around them.
3.) Make a list and stick to it. Only exception being an item you buy in bulk that is on sale and you know your current supply is low.
4.) Don’t shop when you’re hungry. This lowers the temptation to buy things that you don’t need.
5.) Shop alone. It’s much harder to stick to your list with your spouse and children bringing you items they desire.
6.) Only buy things you know you’ll use. If you you know your family doesn’t like broccoli, don’t buy it in the hopes that they’ll eat healthier this week.
7.) The more expensive items tend to be on the shelves at eye level. Be sure to check the lower and upper ones.
8.) Buy store brands when possible. The quility is comparable and quite often the same as brand named products. In fact, it’s often the same product in a different package.
9.) You may find that a lot of products have a pattern of when they go on sale. By recognizing these patterns you can buy enough to last until the next time the item goes on sale.
It’s pretty easy to be frugal buying groceries and once you realize how much money you’re actually saving with these simple steps it will be much easier to follow these tips. Keeping a log of your grocery bills helps a lot and can also be used to track when items go on sale. Spending a few minutes each week on your groceries budget and tracking can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Photo Credit: Visentico / Sento