How to Cut a Grocery Bill

Shopping for groceries is not most people's favorite task. A necessary evil, grocery shopping is a part of everyone's life. Perhaps the least favorite part of grocery shopping is checking out and hearing the total. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you can cut your grocery bill drastically.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Collect coupons from newspapers, mailers and from product packages. Keep coupons in your wallet or purse so that they are always with you.

2. Shop while grocery stores offer double and triple coupon promotions. Save two to three times the amount on one item using just one coupon.

3. Make a list and stick to it. Do not purchase any extra items while you are at the store.

4. Shop at true grocery stores and not one-stop-shop businesses. Keep grocery shopping limited to grocery items.

5. Subscribe to online coupon websites. Use free websites to get coupons or pay a small fee for website that will map out your shopping trip from the products to the stores. (See Resources below.)

6. Purchase items in bulk when they go on sale. Make multiple trips to the store when items are limited, or just send each of your kids through a separate checkout aisle.

7. Use cash only for grocery purchases. Do not spend the cash on anything else. Stop buying groceries when the cash is gone, and use only what is in your cupboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Price match store ads at your regular grocery store.
• Become familiar with prices of frequently purchased items so you can recognize a good deal.

Resources

• For more information, visit The Grocery Game.
• For free coupons, visit Smart Source.