Paying Attention to Prices and Coupons!

by Emma
(Chicago, IL)

One of the best ways to save money is to buy food at the grocery story instead of going out to eat. Even this can get very expensive though. There are ways to make it cheaper and I use them every week. Several of them were passed on down to me from my parents and many of them I figured out on my own.

The number one way to save on groceries is to use coupons. Look through newspapers and your local mail. Grocery stores frequently send out good coupons. You may also notice that a lot of stores are printing out coupons whenever you make a purchase. I think these are the best coupons and I use these the most.

Another way to save is by shopping at different locations. Learn where the best sales are and take a little extra time to stop at 2 or 3 places. I’ve noticed that some stores sell exactly the same product for very different prices. This may seem a little inconvenient but in the end it will help you save a lot of money.

Try to buy healthy food. If you buy healthy food you won’t be as hungry as often. Healthy food gives your body exactly what it needs so you don’t keep craving food. You get hungry more frequently if you don’t eat what your body wants.

Also, drink plenty of water. Sometimes when you are hungry water will fill you up just fine. If you would rather have filtered water don’t buy bottled water. This is no better than tap water and costs more. Buy a pitcher that comes with refillable filters. This is less wasteful and less costly.

Most grocery stores offer their own brand of food. These brands usually taste as good if not better than name brand food; and they are cheaper. I have saved the most money on cereal by doing this. Buying giant bags of cereal may not be the easiest way to buy cereal, but it’s the cheapest!

I’m hoping to keep learning more about saving on groceries. I always pay attention to prices because you never know when they might decide to change the price on the item. Every year I make a point to go down to the Farmer’s Market and buy organic food. I can’t usually afford it unless I do this. I also like to support the local farmers.