Groceries are often cited as people’s largest weekly expenditures, particularly for those with entire families to feed. Supermarkets seem to be continually raising their prices and tax hikes haven’t made groceries any cheaper.
However, if the Recession has taught us anything – it’s that where there’s a will there’s a way! Since the economic downtown there’s been an influx of savvy shoppers across the nation, using various shrewd and savvy methods to cut down on their grocery bills and get an abundance of food each week for much less.
To tap into this trend, here are 10 top tips for saving money on groceries:
- Use Reward Cards
Don’t ignore those requests from the grocery clerk to sign up for a rewards card – they can save you a small fortune! Most major supermarkets offer reward cards for free and which allow you to save a ton on foods as well as earn rewards as you shop. Never leave the house without them, as they’ll save you an insane amount of money over the years.
- Make a List
Make a list for all of your weekly grocery needs before you head out for the store. Sure this may be a tedious process but it will provide you with a budget that you can stick to. This way you’ll know exactly what you need for the upcoming week and will be less likely to overspend or indulge in non-necessities.
- Plan to Cook More from Scratch
By Paul Swansen under CC BY-ND 2.0
The most expensive grocery items tend to be ready made or premade dishes and food items. Avoid this unnecessary expenditure by aiming to make more meals from scratch. This will require you to invest more time in cooking, but it will also allow you to save a huge amount each week. You could even expand your savings further by freezing leftovers for a rainy day.
- Use Coupons
Coupons aren’t just for “extreme couponers” or “coupon queens” everyday folk like you and me can save with them as well. Look for coupons in the mail and in newspaper pull outs and spend a bit of time each month collecting coupons for grocery items you intend on buying. Coupons can add up to big savings – so don’t be shy when it comes to couponing!
- Buy Less Meat
Meat tends to be very expensive virtually wherever you shop, but you can reduce this cost by buying less meat each week. You don’t have to go vegetarian, but you could save a decent amount by reducing the amount of meat you use by making more vegetable based dishes instead.
- Buy in Bulk
Head over to stores like Costco and Sam’s Club to buy items in bulk. Buying in bulk for items you regularly use can lead to massive savings, especially in gas as you may only need one major shop per month as opposed to weekly outings to the local grocery store.
- Buy Freezable Foods
Do you often end up throwing away perishable foods at the end of the week? Avoid this waste by buying frozen meats, vegetables and fruits instead. These are often a little bit cheaper than the fresh versions and can last months in the freezer.
- Buy Store Brands
Store or “generic” brands may not have the glamorous packaging of popular brands, but they typically taste exactly the same and are offered at substantially lower rates. Try to buy the generic or store version of products whenever you can as this should equal huge savings over time.
- Stock Up on Sale Items
If you come across a great deal on non perishable sale items, stock up! These products may not be on sale again for months, so make the most of it by buying as many as your budget will allow.
- Shop at the Drugstore
Foods sold at the drugstore are often much cheaper than found at the grocery store, and many drug stores also offer reward programs that provide huge savings. Next time you’re filling a prescription take a look on what’s offer and compare prices to your regular grocery store – you may be surprised at just how much you can save.
Save massive amounts each week at the grocery store by following our above tried and tested tips. Happy Savings!