With many families facing difficult times in this declining economy the area of the budget where many people are looking to save is how much they spend on food. Although the easy answer may be to simply cut down on eating out, the truth is that grocery spending takes up a huge chunk in the monthly budget. However, there are a few simple tips that can help alleviate your monthly food budget.
Savings cards
The majority of large grocery stores have savings cards or preferred member cards that apply additional savings on certain items in the store. It definitely is worth signing up for these cards in advance and keeping the clip on your key chain for a quick swipe before checkout. The savings can be a few cents off certain items or even buy one, get one free specials that are only available for savings card members.
Buy in bulk
Wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club are great ways to save when it comes to groceries. Although they offer different types of memberships, the Executive Membership at Costco offers an annual two percent reward that basically pays for your annual membership fee at the end of the year. Sometimes members are able to find items they would normally purchase at the grocery store for double the cost. Buying in bulk for frequently used items like toilet paper, paper towels, and frozen meats can save a bundle on your grocery bill. There are even specialty items like diapers, spices, and other more expensive items that are found in the grocery store for higher price and lower quantity.
Coupons
Coupons have come a long way since the little old lady clipping coupons and holding up the grocery checkout line. Nowadays, coupons have become a phenomenon. With shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing and websites like Coupon Suzy more people are realizing the advantage of utilizing coupons at the grocery store. Coupons can come in the paper, on manufacturer websites, mailed to your home or given to you at checkout with your receipt. Costco members are mailed a book of coupons each month they are able to use at the store and many of the coupons are nothing to scoff at. Savings via coupons are a great way to save on groceries, so it’s worth keeping an organized way of cataloging coupons in a way to make them work best for your needs.
When it comes to saving money and finding deals on your grocery budget many times different stores offer better savings on different items. You may find the big bulk stores have better deals on meat, the grocery store has better deals on canned goods, and your local produce center has better deals on fruit. Making multiple stops on your grocery shopping errands is essential in finding the best deals. It may take a little extra time and effort in making multiple stops, cataloging all your coupons and combing through the local store ads, but the effort will definitely pay off in the end.
Time your spending purchases to coincide with available coupons and store deals, buy frequently used items in bulk, and take advantage of local produce centers that offer decreased prices for fruits and vegetables