Saving Money on Groceries

by Janet
(Chicago, Illinois, USA)

It might be practical to think of motivation to save on groceries as the “normal” way while acknowledging it probably isn’t “always” the way. Depending on the starting point, one can expect to save a few hundred dollars per year per adult household member.

1. Shop at local grocery stores or at stores conveniently on your way home. Avoid traveling too far unless there is a need that a more convenient store cannot meet. You can save time and costs involved with travel.

2. Shop every week. (An exception would be if there won’t be anybody home during the week.) By shopping weekly you can buy fresh goods and take advantage of each week’s bargains. Keeping the refrigerator and shelves stocked at home can also avoid some of the temptation and higher cost of eating out or ordering out.

3. Determine approximately how much is spent per week at the grocery store(s), set a realistic budget for an average week and don’t go over it unless there is a special reason. The motivation to have and stick with a budget prevents compulsive buying and, if the budget is realistic, one can occasionally experience the satisfaction of spending less than budget.

4. Read the sale ads for each store. Look for sales on items routinely purchased each week and on other goods that will have to be replenished sometime soon. When there are options of where to shop, this will determine which store(s) to go to that week. Think about sound nutrition, items already on-hand, and the amount of storage capacity, then align your taste buds around the contents of these sale ads and set meal plans accordingly. Also, stay current with prices in order to notice the difference between high markdown sales and those offering little off the regular price.

5. Junk food and sweets aren’t everybody’s problem, but if the issue applies there may be potential to cut-down consumption and save big by doing so. One approach is to be more selective about these purchases, buy when on sale, and buy a few healthier substitutes. An example, for those who like popcorn and don’t mind the extra clean-up, is to buy an off-brand of plain popcorn seeds sold in a plain bag. The price is a fraction of what most prepared popcorn, microwave popcorn, and name brand seeds cost. When made the old fashioned way, the popcorn also tastes better.

6. Become familiar with different brands, especially the store brands and off-brands. Eliminate whatever isn’t acceptable, then among the rest buy whichever is the most economical.

7. Avoid clever and convenience packaging; it usually costs more. Go for the plain bottle of catsup, the plain jar of jelly, etc.

8. Convenience foods and frozen prepared foods usually cost more than buying the ingredients and preparing the same thing at home.