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Step 1
The very first thing to understand is how much do you actually spend on groceries every month. I use a personal finance package like MS Money to keep track of my spending every month. So when you actually start planning your groceries you can see those numbers drop which will keep you motivated.
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Step 2
Another thing we do is go grocery shopping on a full stomach. This stops all the impulsive buying. Also we found out that when we were not hungry we normally buy healthy. The only time we might break this rule is when we go to Costco or Sam's Club on weekends and they have all this samples for tasting
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Step 3
Another thing to know is where to buy what. We avoid convenience stores for all groceries. Also each stores have their own unique items which are cheaper than other stores. For example we buy bananas and Milk at Costco, Diapers and Scotch Brite at Sam's Club, Fresh fruit and vegetables at Valli produce (a local produce), Ice creams at Jewel Osco and so on. If you spend some time doing comparison shopping on the items you buy more often you will know to buy what where.
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Step 4
Every time we go grocery shopping, my wife makes it a point to always stop at the clearance or discount spot in the shop. You never know what you will find there. Sometimes she has found our bath soap there or wash cloth to mop floors. Also if you are a man, always have a woman around while shopping. They seem to have an instinct to smell out a bargain
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Step 5
Another thing is don't be afraid to shop store brands instead of name brands. For example we used to buy Quaker Oatmeals before. Now we switched to Jewel Oatmeals which is much cheaper since they do not have the marketing overhead. Also since it is just rolled oats you are not sacrificing on any quality here.
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Step 6
There are some things which are not worth buying. For example bottled water. We now use tap water with a filter instead of bottled water. Some bottled water brands like Aquafina are actually made from tap water. Another example is we make pop corn at home and the kids also have some fun making their own seasoning. So find some foods which you can make from scratch instead of buying pre-packaged or processed. Also some of the processed foods are high in sodium if you have health problems.
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Step 7
There are a lot of websites which talk of coupons so I won't go into details here. We are not fanatic coupon clippers but we take advantage of it whenever we can. That is one of the reasons we love Costco for their monthly coupons which include some of our everyday purchases like cereal, Aveeno etc. Another source we rely on is our Sunday newspaper which gives us not only coupons but also sales. Like we have never bought Orange Juice full price. We always buy when there is a sale.
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Step 8
If you have a backyard, gardening is a good hobby. Plant your own fruit and vegetable garden. It is very rewarding to see the plants grow and produce fruits and vegetables. Also it is healthy because it is fresh and organic. It also gives you an excuse to spend the beautiful weekend hours outside.
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Step 9
Also if you do a lot of home cooking, it is helpful to plan the whole week ahead of time and do grocery shopping once a week only. This helps you to buy things in bulk when they are on sale and since you have a list, there will be less impulsive buying.
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Step 10
The last point is dearest to my heart. This is food wastage. Every bit of food which lands in your garbage bin is money down the drain. It is better to have multiple second helpings than to have wastage. I try to teach that to my kids everyday. The other thing is it is so wrong. There are millions of people worldwide with not enough food to eat everyday and we throw our food away?
