How to Save Money on Food by Shopping Once a Week

Plan your weekly grocery needs in advance to avoid numerous trips to the store.

When a Wednesday-night ice cream craving strikes, it's off to the grocery store for the second time in a week. On Thursday, you take a third trip to the store when you realize there is no orange juice. The habit of taking two or more trips to the grocery store each week is hard to break but worth the effort. These unnecessary trips are a waste of time and money. The key to breaking this common habit is planning. Once a week, take stock of the grocery items you need for the next seven days, plan meals and stick to your grocery list.

Things You'll Need

• Access to the Internet
• Local paper
• Coupons
• Pen and paper
• Calculator
• Grocery store savings club card

Instructions

1. Determine a weekly grocery budget that is both within your financial means and realistic enough to cover the grocery items your family needs for the next seven days.

2. Look at online coupon sites, advertisements in your local paper and fliers in your mail for coupons. Gather coupons for items you need. Check your favorite grocery store's website for its weekly specials. Take note of any items you need that are on sale.

3. Take an inventory of "have" items and "need" items. Check your refrigerator and cupboards to see what food you have and what food you require for the week. Start a grocery list. Consult any recipes you want to make this week, and write down the ingredients you need on your list.

4. Begin planning your meals for the week. Decide what you will prepare for breakfast for the next seven days. Consult your family to determine their breakfast item needs. Write down the ingredients and items you need on your list.

5. Determine lunch menus for the next seven days. Decide on which days, if any, you will go out for lunch during your lunch hour at work. Determine which days your children will take lunch to school and which days they will purchase it. Add the required lunch items to your grocery list.

6. Think about what you will prepare each night for dinner for the next week. Decide if you and your family will go out to dinner on any nights. Determine the ingredients and items you require and add them to your grocery list.

7. Decide which snacks to purchase this week. Think about the items your household consumes as snacks during mid-morning, mid-afternoon and later in the evening. Choose healthy snacks, such as apples, almonds and carrot sticks. Keep less-healthy snacks, such as ice cream, to a minimum. Add these items to your grocery list.

8. Go to the grocery store. Take your grocery list, coupons and calculator. Keep in mind, as you shop, that this is the only day this week that you are grocery shopping. Use your calculator to add up a running total as you shop. Make sure you are staying within your budget. Do not add anything to your shopping cart that is not on your list. Do not be tempted by sweets and other junk food that you do not need.

9. Shop the perimeter of the store to get the bulk of your grocery items. This is where fresh, natural, whole foods are located, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat. These items are more nutritious and less expensive than the processed, pre-packaged goods located in the middle aisles.

10. Add up the total cost of your groceries, minus any coupons, with your calculator. Remove snacks if you are over your budget. Remove items you can do without until the following week if you are still over your budget after removing the snacks.

11. Purchase your items. Use your coupons and a grocery-store savings club card, if you have one.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You are more likely to purchase junk food and items you don't need when you shop while you are hungry.

• Coupons may seem like a waste of time, but they can help you save money. Take the time to look for hard-copy and online coupons before shopping.

• Always bring a calculator to the grocery store. It helps you stay within your budget and avoid being surprised during checkout by your grocery bill's total.

• Keep restaurant outings, takeout and delivery to a minimum. It is cheaper and healthier to prepare your own food. Consider restaurant meals and lunchtime takeout a once-in-a-while treat instead of everyday occurrences. Budget money in advance for these special treats.

References

• The University of Maine: Home -- Save Money on Food

Resources

• MSN Money: Earn $100 an hour -- clipping coupons
• Coupon Mom: Home Page