Ways to Save Money on your Groceries
How about not going grocery shopping hungry? That is always one to think about. I remember one time I went to the supermarket dying of thirst and I ended up buying milk, water, lemonade, beer, orange juice, coke and fruit punch. I really could have been very happy with just the milk, beer and water.
She also suggests buying store brands. I have very mixed feeling about this. For example, I know Clorox makes the Publix brand bleach. It is safe to buy Publix bleach. I think most canned beans taste similar. I’ve also had terrible luck buying store brand dishwashing liquid. If it takes eight times as much soap to wash your three pans, you aren’t really saving money in the long run. What are your money saving tips at the grocery store?
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We plan our meals religiously, which helps us save time and money. We are also fortunate to have three grocery stores within a reasonable distance, so it’s not a big deal to hit all three stores to get everything on the list depending on what’s on sale where and who is offering triple coupons or whatever.
In summer, we go insane at the farmer’s markets. We’re thinking about joining a co-op where, for $500 a year or similar, we’ll get a weekly delivery of whatever comes off the farm. I figure we spend at least that much in a given year on produce.
Of course, that may mean six kinds of lettuce one week and fourteen cantaloupes another week, but that will just force me to actually use the 35 cookbooks I own.
P.S. If I don’t know the cost per unit, then I find a calculator in the store and put it to use. Fortunately the calculators are near the diapers at Target. LOL I do have a calulator on my cell phone (I think), but this thing is too complicated to figure out. I want my simple phone back. Too bad it got wet.
Karen
Thrifty Mommy
There are some things I don’t sacrifice on. I don’t buy the Dollar Tree brand dish detergent. You’re right. That’s just wasteful. You live and learn and try different products. You soon figure out what works for you.
Thanks for linking to me!
Karen
Thrifty Mommy
Buy in bulk. By this, I don’t necessarily mean shop at Costco, since you can walk out of there spending over $200 without even realizing it.
But go to stores that have a bulk section – buy pasta, grains, flour, sugar, etc in this section. Bulk spices have HUGE savings to offer. I have gotten more than a container’s worth of oregano or cinnamon, etc for 25 cents, rather than the $5-6 dollars that would be spent on a store bought container.
Also, prepare as much at home as possible. Buy whole potatoes and cut them for oven fries rather than buying the frozen cut ones.
On the other hand, if you don’t always use produce right away, frozen cut veggies might be a better option for you so you don’t waste.
Plan. Your. Meals.
I cannot stress this enough.
Also, her tip about checking unit prices? Very good when deciding whether to buy the big jug or the small, or which brand is cheapest when they’re all different sizes. If your store doesn’t break down the per ounce cost for you, make with the nerdiness and bring a pocket calculator.
For example, this is how I learned that if pre-grated cheese is on sale, it costs the same as buying it by the block, plus I save time and energy by not having to grate it. Win-win-win.
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