Frugal Grocery Shopping

Here are 9 tips for tackling the grocery store. Don’t worry about getting the grocery store blues; these suggestions can help you feel better at checkout.

Shop by Yourself

Now I know that with kids, this is not always feasible, but take the opportunity when your husband is home, and give him some time with the kids. When you are able to shop by yourself you are likely to take less time, have fewer distractions, and not end up at the checkout line with a few more items than you originally put in the cart. You will return home with all your needed items, and not feel like you have been through the war zone with your kids.

Make a Menu

I do my grocery shopping once a week, Monday. I make a menu for what we will eat during the week, and make sure that I have all the necessary ingredients. Make sure to include the “side items” as well. Go over what you will need, and make your grocery list. While going over what you will need, make sure that if one of the ingredients is something that you already have to not include that on your list. I personally like to have a few fun desserts included so I get those ingredients as well. It is easier when you have a plan to stick to it, plus since you are typically thinking the menu’s through, you are more likely to create balanced and healthy meals since you do not have to plan on the spot. I hate the feeling of, “I need to have dinner ready in 30 minutes, what do we have that I can make something from.” You are also going to spend less money because is it usually less expensive to make your from” scratch” meals than the pricey readymade meals. This can help with the stress of making dinner, and put some fun back into it. Having a menu planned out leads to two more shopping tips.

Be willing to be flexible

When you are shopping from those items on your list and you see that one of the items is not on sale and is not a good price, decide if you can substitute that ingredient for something else. Will the store brand soup work just as well as the name brand? Will chicken broth work just as well as the white cooking wine? These are the little differences that will go a long way in helping with the checkout total. That being said, there are certain items that you can and can’t substitute, and there are certain things that you will and won’t substitute. I for example, won’t buy anything but name brand bacon, it is a long story that I won’t bore you with, but that is something I am not flexible on, however, store brand soups, spices, etc. I can substitute. So when you go to the store, go there will a plan, but be willing to adjust if needed.

Impulse Buying

When you go to the store with your shopping list in hand, you are less likely to impulse buy. You know what items          you need and you shop with a plan. It is a bad thing for your checkbook when you go to the store hungry or wander the aisles in search of what to buy for dinner. I find myself getting a lot of unnecessary boxed items when I don’t have a plan.

Shop the Sales

I get the ads every week so that I can see what is on sale. From there, I make my grocery list. Take advantage of the sales. Make sure that while shopping you take advantage of the items on your list that are on sales. You will get to the point where you will know what is and isn’t a good deal.

Use Coupons

Each Monday after I get the coupons, I clip them out, and only clip the coupons that I know I will use. There may be a really good coupon in the paper, but if it is something you will not use, don’t keep it. Even with the savings, you will ultimately spend more because you bought it. Resist the temptation. You can also find online coupons for grocery store items, but also for clothes, books, etc. If it is something that you really need, do a little checking to see if you can get it for less.

Follow a Budget

Make a plan on how much you are willing to spend each week on food, and follow it. Granted you may spend a LITTLE more, but try to stick to it as closely as possible. If I spend less one week, but go over a little more the next week, I don’t feel so bad, but make sure that it all evens out so that you stick to your budget.

Buy Local

If you are located somewhere that you have the opportunity to buy local products – Take advantage of the option. Usually local farmers sell their items for less, but you are able to get fantastic food, that you know more about where it is grown. Plus it helps the economy in your area to grow as well.

Buy in Bulk and Package for Later

Do you have a Sam’s Club, or Costco , or other large membership store by you? If you do, you know that it is usually less expensive in the long run to buy in bulk and keep some for later. That being said, if what you get goes bad before you can use it, it doesn’t do you any good. There are some things such as meat that you can buy in bulk, package in smaller packs and then freeze. This gives you the benefit of buying in bulk, while having the meat in more usable portions. Some items such as produce are hard to buy in bulk and package it in smaller portions for later. So pick and choose what will be a savings in the long run with buying in bulk.

These tips are suggested to help you save money, time and stress while you shop. You can pick and choose what tips work best for you and modify them to best fit you are your family’s needs.