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Step 1
Think in terms of food not groceries when planning what your family consumes. We eat food at restaurants, buy food at the local supermarket but we also purchase food at the soda machine, popcorn while at the theater, a coffee from the local Starbucks or a bottle of water from the gas station. To save money limit the non essential food that you are consuming.
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Step 2
The best way to save money on groceries is to cook them your self. Always eating our is like hiring a cook. How many of us would hire someone to mow our lawn or wash or clothes but are willing to pay some one to cook our food several nights a week.
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Step 3
You can save money of groceries by not wasting the food that you have. The average family tosses 1.28 pounds of food a day, for a total of 470 pounds a year! That's like throwing away $600! If you make a baked chicken one night you could make chicken dumpling soup out of the leftovers on the second night so limit the amount of food you waste. Menu planning is very helpful when trying not to waste so much food.
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Step 4
Don't drink up your food budget. Consuming large amounts of coffee, cans of soda and bottled water can take up a large portion of your food budget.
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Step 5
Pay for food, not packaging. It's so easy and inexpensive to make chocolate pudding, so why do we buy it in plastic containers? You will save money by not buying as much pre-made made food. Buy old-fashioned oatmeal, not instant oatmeal packets. Buy a bag of popcorn kernels, not microwave popcorn bag
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Step 6
Loose versus bags. Sometimes packaging pays. Bags of onions and apples are often less expensive than individual onions and apples.
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Step 7
Grow your own. Even in a couple of pots and a small side garden. A patio tomato plant will yield enough tomatoes for your summer salads. A small garden will save a lot of money and provide you with the freshest vegetables.
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Step 8
If you have an off-brand grocery store (like Aldi) near you, give it a try. The food is very inexpensive, and most of it is the same quality as the name-brand stuff.
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Step 9
Another way to cut down on your grocery budget limit the impulse purchases by shopping with a list. You might want to consider allowing your self one impulse item and when that is used that is it no more items that aren't on the list. It is also helpful to leave the kids at home so you're not tempted to give into pressure from crying children for an extra treat or toy that isn't on your list.
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Step 10
One shopping technique is to shop the loss leader deals given by the store. Many supermarkets rely on the fact that you will buy more than the loss leaders, to make their money. You must not tricked into spending more than you plan when entering the store for this to lead to savings in your grocery budget.
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Step 11
We’ve all spend time wandering around the grocery store, trying to get dinner ideas and inspiration. But as we’re walking, we’re buying.
CNN discovered that for each minute you spend in the grocery past the 30 minute mark, you spend an extra 50 cents to $1.
With that line of thinking you would spend up to $1 ever minute you spend wandering around the store for inspiration past the first 30 minutes.
If you want to save money, make a list. Get in, get what you need, and get out. -
Step 12
The hottest real estate on a grocery store shelf is eye-level, and it is usually where the worst deals are found. Make the effort to look at lower shelves to find the best deals.
