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The best and easiest way to save time and money in the grocery store is by having a list and sticking to it. This may mean making up a menu plan, which actually saves you more time because you can have plan-ahead leftovers handy, and also takes away the dreaded question, "What am I going to fix for dinner tonight?"
Arrange your shopping list according to the layout of the store. In most stores, that means produce first, bread last. Some stores offer a pre-printed checklist that you can keep in a handy place in the kitchen to note when you run low of items.
Do you have coupons? Many times you can save a great deal of money by watching the sale flyers from the store and checking to see if you have a coupon. Check with your store--some offer double coupons, which really adds to the amount of savings. -
The best times NOT to shop for groceries are between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., when workers are stopping in to pick up something for dinner; Saturday, when everyone else is in the stores there because they work all week; and Friday afternoons. You may also be able to determine what day of the week is "stocking shelves" day, when all the aisles are crowded with stockpeople, crates and boxes--definitely not a good time to shop.
Generally speaking, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings you will find the shelves stocked and not many shoppers. -
The longer you are in a store, the more money you will spend. If you have an organized list, are alone and not hungry, you should do well. Strive to just get what you need and get out and you will avoid impulse purchases. Try and shop at the same store all the time so you are familiar with the locations of products and wander around the aisles.
Keep in mind that stores generally put the items that they make the most money on at eye level. Look up and down and you'll find some bargains. -
Only you can decide if fresh or frozen or for that matter, canned, vegetables work best for you. Obviously, fresh is more nutritious, but is the most expensive alternative. If you don't use them right up, you may lose the value by letting them go bad in the refrigerator.
Frozen vegetables are a great alternative because they are less expensive, quite often have money-saving coupons, and none goes to waste. Most of the nutrients are retained, because they have only been blanched or steamed before being frozen and packaged.
Canned vegetables have the least taste, least nutrition and cost the least. Generally all you gain with canned vegetables is shelf life and a lot of sodium. -
Buy produce in-season. It will be at the peak of freshness, and you will be more likely to use it quickly. You may also want to consider buying produce at a farmer's market or roadside stand, which helps the local economy as well as saving transportation costs.
Buy in bulk. You can generally save a great deal of money by buying meat in bulk and repackaging and freezing it in portions that are right for your family. Cereal and pasta can be stored, as long as it is properly sealed, for a long time without problem, as can pet food. - Neither. Buy or make fabric bags to bring home your groceries. As soon as you put away your groceries, put the bags back in your car for the next trip. Get in the habit of taking a fabric bag with you every time you go into any store and save a tree or some petroleum.
