Grocery shopping is a dreaded chore by many. Prices are continuing to rise on many items; this makes it more important than ever to find ways to save at the supermarket.
Shop with a list
It is tempting to purchase extra items when you are at the supermarket. One way to fight against this is to make a list of items you need before you leave home. Take an inventory of items you have at home and plan a menu using those items. When making your shopping list include items that you need to round out your menu plan.
Watch sale cycles and sale flyers
Many supermarkets run sales on cycles of between 6 to 12 weeks. When you find items that you use regularly on sale, stock up as your budget allows until the next sale occurs. Most supermarkets also have weekly flyers with items advertised. Pay attention to the prices, just because they are in the flyer may not mean they are at their lowest price. Also, keep an eye out when you are in the store for unadvertised specials or manager’s specials. Many times these will be on the end of aisles. The managers’ specials may be items that are getting close to their sell by date and have been reduced in price. Stocking up on items you use regularly saves money and time. Also, by stocking up you can reduce the number of trips to the store, which may also reduce the temptation of impulse purchases.
Compare brands and sizes
Compare the prices of different brands of items. In some instances the other brands will not be as good as the name brands, but many times you cannot tell the difference. We usually think the larger package we purchase, the better deal we will get. This is not always the case. Many stores have the prices on the shelf along with the price per ounce. This makes it easy to compare the different sizes.
Use coupons
Many people think using coupons takes too much time and effort. You can use coupons without needing to be an “Extreme Couponer”. Every little bit helps and you can save money with just minutes a week. Many times, some items in the sales flyers will correspond with coupons in the inserts in the Sunday newspapers. Using the coupons with sale prices will make your grocery budget go even further.
With a few steps you can make you money go further at the supermarket.