by Worried about having enough money for groceries? Groceries are a necessity but can be costly. Here are some ideas as to how to reduce the grocery budget.
Groceries are a major expense in most family budgets. Whether it is during a time of recession or a time of plenty, families are usually attempting to get the most for their money. There is no way to completely remove grocery costs, but there are several ways to reduce them. Budget-minded grocery shopping, although it is not easy, can be done with some planning.
Things to Do Before You Go to Buy Groceries
Make a grocery list. This suggestion sounds simple; however, it can truly make a positive difference. Figure out the things that you need. Also, look at the newspaper to find out which items you should put on your grocery list.
Use coupons. Keep in mind that shoppers who use coupons can save 10% or more per year on their grocery purchases. It could be useful to look at websites such as SmartSource.com or CoolSavings.com to find coupons.
Look at manufacturers’ websites. Companies that produce grocery products sometimes offer coupons at the company website.
Upon Arrival at the Grocery Store
Do not try the free food samples. Free food samples can lead to impulsive grocery purchases. Impulse spending can drive up your grocery bill.
Do not go to the grocery store when you are hungry. Eat a meal before going. Going to the grocery store when hungry may actually lead to purchasing more food than usual.
Purchase generic or store brands. Sometimes, store brands can be a lot less expensive than brand name products.
Read the prices carefully. For example, it could be more expensive to purchase cheese from a deli counter as opposed to in the dairy section dairy case.
Keep an eye on the scanner. Sometimes, the supermarket scanner makes errors. It may assign a higher price to an item. Or, in some cases, the scanner may fail to take into consideration that an item is on sale for that particular day.
Don’t buy non-water drinks. If your family typically drinks soda, iced tea, or other drinks, remove those drinks from the diet and consume water. It costs less and it is good for health.
Go vegetarian. Preparing vegetarian casserole during the week could potentially save a family $3 or more per meal. Also, there are health benefits of consuming more vegetables. Non-spicy vegetarian casserole, soup, or rice dishes can be delicious substitutions for meat-heavy meals.
