How to Save Money on Groceries Every Week
With a little extra effort, you can cut your weekly grocery expenses dramatically if you pay attention to specials, coupons and weekly advertisements. While coupons are a big part of cutting your grocery expenses, you need to be savvy about using them. Combine them with in-store specials, and watch the savings really add up. Planning your grocery shopping -- by deciding on menus, watching for sales and creating a good grocery list you can stick to -- will help you save money every week.
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Instructions
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Plan meals for the week ahead, make a list of the ingredients you need to make them along with breakfast and lunch foods you need. If you already have it in the pantry, don't put it on the list.
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Scan the grocery ads that come in the mail or are printed in your local paper. You also can access most larger store ads on their websites. Search ads for traditional grocery stores as well as other stores that sell grocery items, such as Target, Wal-Mart, CVS and Dollar Tree.
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Collect coupons -- from newspaper inserts, in the mail, through online coupon sites, on product packaging and from grocery store register receipts. Sort them by product type, and keep them in an envelope or coupon organizer.
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Check store ads for double-coupon events or buy-one-get-one-free deals, often marked "BOGO." Get the best bang for your coupons by using them in conjunction with in-store sales.
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Sign up for your grocery store's discount card to take advantage of in-store specials and promotions. The cards are free and are available at the check-out or customer service desk.
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Recognize that your best value will not always be the largest size containers or packages. Carefully check the product's shelf label for the unit cost (per ounce or pound, for example).
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Do not overpurchase. Buy only what you need, and keep a well-stocked pantry. Buy staples -- flour, sugar and seasonings, for example -- when you have coupons and during store specials.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider trading coupons with neighbors or friends. If you have a dog and she has a cat, for example, give her the cat food coupons you find in exchange for dog food coupons she doesn't need.
Keep track of coupon expiration dates.
Quick trips to the store always cost more because you grab the products you need in a hurry without regard for price. Go to the store with a list, and stick to it.
Do not buy items just because you have a coupon for them. Buying something you don't need, even at a reduced cost, still makes your total bill more expensive than it needs to be.
Do not use online coupon sites that charge a fee for you to join.
References
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