How to Find More Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

With prices soaring at the grocery store here are a few more ways to save on your budget when you are grocery shopping.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Weekly flyer
• Coupons
• Patience
• Time
• Your own bag for groceries

1. Obviously combine coupons with the weekly sales flyer. The more of a discount you can get the better. Be sure to stock up on extra special deals if you have the means to do so.

2. Some stores will spit out a coupon at the register for specific items. Whenever possible combine these with your other coupons and sales flyers. They will often increase your savings even more.
   
   I even have seen cases where the customer in front of me doesn't want their coupon and if you ask for it the cashier will often be more than happy to give it to you.

3. Avoid end caps as they are traps to lure you into buying more than you need. I saw just yesterday name brand cereals and on the same end cap they had bananas and other fruits. The cereal was a great deal and obviously someone had a great marketing scheme by putting fruit there, but when I was in produce I noticed that the specific fruits on the end cap were way over priced. I don't know how many people bought the fruit with the cereal, but I hope not many gouged their budgets that way.

4. If possible shop in a restaurant supply store, Costco, Sams or some other bulk buying store. The discounts are worth it even though you may not at the time appreciate entire cases of certain products.

5. We have a local grocery store that has a store discount card. I went shopping yesterday and according to the receipt, I saved over $35 on $85 worth of groceries by using that card.

6. Some stores that have store cards also have gas stations. Though our local store does not have a gas station, the same chain does in a town 22 miles away, just where my husband works. So my husband borrows my store card once in a while and saves on gas. He filled his tank, which was on empty, for only 44 cents last week. The card saved him over $35 in gas! Well worth it if you can utilize such a bargain.

7. Bring your own canvas bags or totes to put your groceries in. Our local chain store will take 3 cents off the total of our groceries per canvas bag we bring. Often you can get the canvas bag for free if you simply purchase a specific dollar amount of groceries on a previous trip. Though 3 cents isn't a lot, it does add up in the long run. If you struggle with this one, figure the savings of 3 cents per bag over the course of a year and I am sure the savings will be more inviting then.

8. This is my newest one. We all struggle to stay on budget and it isn't always easy. I hate to carry cash (my kids always "need" to borrow a few dollars here and there...) so I have taken to buying a prepaid grocery card every pay day for a specific amount. I then only use that card at the grocery store. When the money is gone, I have no choice but to stop shopping then. The money in my bank account is safe to pay other bills and I don't have to worry about overspending my bank account. It took some getting used to, but it was well worth the effort.

9. Have your own garden and learn to can and freeze your foods for next year.

Tips & Warnings

• If you always seem to over buy at the grocery store, try walking to the store instead. Knowing that you have to carry it all the way home will often help to curb the spending.
• Try buying lesser cuts of meat and simmering them in the crockpot all day to bring out the flavor and tenderize them.
• Try meatless dishes once or twice a week if you are not a vegetarian. Often you will find something your family loves.
• Don't be afraid to be creative with left overs and come up with new and intriguing dishes.
• Never over spend just because you are expecting company. Instead add breads, side dishes such as salads and fruit and perhaps homemade relishes and such to extend your meals. If all else fails add a soup before the main dish.
• Buy one get one free deals (often called a "BOGO") are only worth it for items you already had on your list. If you can combine it with a coupon all the better.

Resources

• Living On A Dime
• Hillbilly Housewife

[mosscampion]

on 1/20/2009 Great money-saving tips! I agree with LilacGirl, step 8 is a neat idea.

[LilacGirl]

on 1/19/2009 These are all good ways to save money at the grocery store. I especially like step 8, buying a prepaid grocery card. What a good idea!