Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Plan ahead. Before you go shopping, plan your menu for the week. Doing this will limit the trips you need to make to the grocery store, as well as reduce your urge to make frequent impulse buys.

 

Use what you have. This goes right along with planning ahead. If you are better able to use what you have without letting food go to waste additional money will be saved and you won’t waste gas on an avoidable trip to the grocery store.

 

Find alternatives. The next time you go to the grocery store, hang on to your receipt and circle the most expensive items. Then, consider lower-cost alternatives for those items in your planning for your next shopping trip.

 

Skip prepared and convenience foods. Save money by making your own food. For example, premade salads and sandwiches are much more expensive than buying ingredients for salads or sandwiches and making them yourself. Making your own fresh foods generally doesn’t take much time either.

 

Look up and down. Items which tend to be more expensive usually are commonly placed at eye-level. When you're shopping, look down or up for cheaper items such as generic brand items. Most generic brand items, especially in canned goods are cheaper than the name-brand equivalents.

 

Skip buying personal-care products at the grocery store. Unless you do your grocery shopping at a supercenter, you're better off buying shampoo, toothpaste, cotton balls and other personal-care products at a drugstore or dollar store, where they're cheaper.

 

Stock up. It is recommended to stock up on items which you would regularly buy when they go on sale. If the item has a long shelf life (or if you have room to freeze it), buy several and score big savings.

 

Check unit prices. Most stores often display a unit price for items. This price typically shows how much you're paying per ounce and can point you to the better deal. For some items, you'll get a better deal buying several smaller packages rather than one large package. This is why you should always look at unit price to get the best deal.

 

Buy in season or frozen. Save by buying fruits and vegetables when they're in season. When they are out of season they can cost twice as much. Buying frozen veggies also can be a big money saver, especially considering they won't go bad if you don't eat them within a week.