How to Shop for Groceries on a Budget - Eat Right, Stay Well on Yahoo! Health
Here are some easy ways to save on your grocery bill, even before you set foot in a store. Let me know how much you saved!
Plan in advance.
Try to plan out three to four meals for the week, as well as breakfasts and lunches. Remember, you don't have to cook each night; use leftovers in different ways or with different side dishes.
Comparison shop.
Compare fliers from different grocery stores to determine which has the best sales of the items you need. You should also learn which store is generally cheaper — it might not be your local supermarket. And if you have a big family, you may do well to purchase items in bulk from a wholesale club. Limit your trips. You don't need a calculator to figure this out — the less you go to the grocery store, the more you will save — and gas and time are the least of it. Unless you have a large, well-stocked pantry and freezer, though, you will likely have to plan your menus in advance to make this work. You might even be able to get by with a single trip to the grocery store each month if you have a local farmer's market or some other source for produce and perishable items.
Stick to your list — most of the time. Bringing along a list will help you to buy just the items you need, and not a lot of tempting impulse items. However, if something that you use often is on sale, stock up on it. If the item on sale is already sold out, don't forget to ask for a rain check.
Clip, clip, clip.
It may sound time-consuming, but clipping coupons can really save you money. Many grocery stores double the values of coupons. I use the coupons from the Sunday paper, but you can find them online, too.
Plan in advance.
Try to plan out three to four meals for the week, as well as breakfasts and lunches. Remember, you don't have to cook each night; use leftovers in different ways or with different side dishes.
Comparison shop.
Compare fliers from different grocery stores to determine which has the best sales of the items you need. You should also learn which store is generally cheaper — it might not be your local supermarket. And if you have a big family, you may do well to purchase items in bulk from a wholesale club. Limit your trips. You don't need a calculator to figure this out — the less you go to the grocery store, the more you will save — and gas and time are the least of it. Unless you have a large, well-stocked pantry and freezer, though, you will likely have to plan your menus in advance to make this work. You might even be able to get by with a single trip to the grocery store each month if you have a local farmer's market or some other source for produce and perishable items.
Stick to your list — most of the time. Bringing along a list will help you to buy just the items you need, and not a lot of tempting impulse items. However, if something that you use often is on sale, stock up on it. If the item on sale is already sold out, don't forget to ask for a rain check.
Clip, clip, clip.
It may sound time-consuming, but clipping coupons can really save you money. Many grocery stores double the values of coupons. I use the coupons from the Sunday paper, but you can find them online, too.
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