Tips to Save Money Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is a necessary evil, and it seems each grocery trip ends up being more expensive. Groceries are a significant expense in every household, but that expense can be trimmed down. Here are some tips to help save on your monthly grocery bill.

Make Wise Choices

Make a list before you go to the store and make a concerted effort to stick to the list. Impulse buying can be so easy at the grocery store. A way to avoid impulse buys is to go the store on a full stomach. Items won’t look as appealing to you if you aren’t hungry. When you make your list, plan your meals for the week and buy just what you need for those meals. It’s best to just shop once a week for everything you need for that week. Making daily trips to the store ends up with you buying more than what you actually need.

Plan Ahead

Planning meals for the week may seem too overwhelming at first, but if you can start with maybe 2-3 meals and work your way up you will be happy you did. Plan meals that will be enough for dinner and provide leftovers for lunch the next day. Packaging your own treats instead of buying in individual packages is a big money saver. You are usually paying extra for the convenience. Another great idea if you buy meat in bulk, is to marinate the meat and then freeze it. Not only is this saving money, but it makes for quick dinners also.

Shop with a Budget

Shopping with a calculator and coupons may seem like too much work, but it does actually help you save money. As you are adding things up, you will see exactly what you’re spending and if you can stay on the budget you set for the trip. Don’t take advantage of 3 for 1 deals if you aren’t going to need all 3. Instead of spending grocery store prices for non-food items (garbage bags, detergents), make a trip to a discount store and get those items there for a cheaper price.

Planning and sticking to your plan is the key to saving money at the grocery store. It may not all happen at once, but once you see the grocery bill go down, you will be motivated to try more ways to save. Need other saving tips? Contact Carolina Money Minders today!