How to Make Your Grocery Bill Cheaper

Shop for groceries without fear of breaking the bank.

Grocery bills tend to add up quickly, no matter the size of your household. If you find you are constantly shocked by high grocery expenses, it may be time to reevaluate and change your shopping style. Careful, smart grocery shopping can prevent you from wasting a lot of precious money, whether your strategy is to clip coupons, keep your eye on sales or join supermarket savings clubs.

Instructions

1. Make a shopping list. One problem that many people experience while at the supermarket is impulse purchasing. For example, if you see an exciting and brightly packaged box of cereal, you may feel the urge to purchase it, even if you do not necessarily need it. To avoid this possibility, jot down a strict shopping list beforehand. Make a rule for yourself that you will not stray from the list.

2. Purchase generic items. Cut down on food costs by buying generic brands at supermarkets. Although generic products are usually very similar to the big names, the costs are significantly lower. Resist the need to urge to reach for the more expensive brands and reach for generics instead -- you might not even notice the difference.

3. Weigh your produce. If you get a 5. lb.bag of apples, do not take it at face value. Weigh it yourself, just to be certain you are not getting less than you are paying for. In many cases, you are receiving less food than indicated on the package.

4. Avoid shopping on an empty stomach. The hungrier you are while grocery shopping, the more enticing everything seems, from the French bread in the bakery aisle to the bags of potato chips. When you are not hungry, you are more apt to buy only what you need.

5. Look over the supermarket's current sales. Browse the available fliers to see what is on sale and plan your upcoming menus on those items. If wheat bread and cheddar cheese are both on sale, make Monday's lunch grilled cheese sandwiches.

6. Pay attention to sell-by and expiration dates. Although the concept of storing 20 boxes of cereal may seem convenient, it could end up wasting money if you don't observe the dates on the packaging. Do not stock up on an item only to discover that you won't be able to use all of it in time.

7. Use frozen vegetables. You may think fresh vegetables taste a lot better, but frozen vegetables are cheaper, last longer and are usually just as nutritious. Avoid the stress of having to eat fresh produce before it spoils.

Tips & Warnings

• Sign up for supermarket savings memberships. These convenient cards can help you save a lot of money over time.

• Use coupons. Coupons are readily available in newspapers and at coupon websites.

References

• Disney Family; Save Money on Groceries With Strategic Shopping; Stephanie Nelson
• Parents; Save Money on Groceries; Suzy Kuzemchak
• Oprah.com; How to Save Money on Groceries; October 2008
• Today Weekend Edition; Seven Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries; Janice Lieberman; January 2007
• Today; 10 Ways to Save on Groceries; February 2009