When you’re trying to save money, your local grocery store probably offers more money saving opportunities than anywhere else. Your main goal is to make your money go as far as possible without going over your budget. On the other hand, grocery stores are notorious for using every trick in the book, to get you to spend more on some product compared to others. I’ve put together a number of tips to help you navigate your way through the grocery store in order to get the best possible deals.
Imagine that your job on grocery day is to buy stuff at the grocery store for your boss and you want to make sure he gets the best bargains available. Your job is to save money for the company in every way you can. Take a calculator with you and keep a running total as you go from isle to isle. Even better is to have a budget that you must stick to. If you are going over your budget check your cart and see if there are things that you can remove. The calculator will also come in handy as you try to compare unit prices on the shelves, to others that are above and below the item you’re buying, for a fair comparison. A save money expert will recommend this trick the most often.
If you find an item with a really low price on the tag in front of it, think twice about that bargain. Grocery stores and clerks can make mistakes and often do, so take any item that sounds too good to be true and check it through a scanner. Most grocery stores have these scanners placed throughout the store so you can easily check. Also watch the tricks they pull on specials. If an item is on sale for 4 for a $1, don’t be surprised if they were $0.25 to begin with and therefore not a barging or a sale at all.
Always go to the grocery store with a list. Go through your cupboards and fridge at home and write down the things that you really need. Try to stick to the list as much as possible. The more that you stick to the list that better your chances are of saving money. You’ll be able to resist temptation a lot by sticking to your list.
Have a plan for your route in the store. The first thing to avoid is the aisles on each end of the store. These are normally the most expensive isles of the entire store. The fruit and vegetable section should be your second to last isle and the bakery section your very last isle. By starting in the isles with canned goods and boxes you will avoid a lot of temptation.
Avoid name brands as much as possible. Few people realize that store brands are often made by the same company that makes the expensive name brands. There is a lot of money to be saved by using store brands. For instance, Kirkland coffee beans are actually supplied to Costco by Starbucks. The next time you’re in Costco take a long hard look at the price of their coffee, compared to what you pay in a Starbucks store. Huge savings!! Let’s not forget that a lot of the store brands will be used in cooking and there will be very little difference in taste in something that is cooked.
Buying beef can open up a whole new world of savings. There are actually three different kinds of beef. Prime beef is the best grade beef available but it’s also the most expensive. Choice beef is next in line with Select being the least expensive. Consider buying the Select beef and use tenderizers to make it tastes better and make it tender to eat. Also consider using marinades to tenderize the Select beef. There is a significant amount of savings when you use this option.
Use coupons all the time. You’ll find them in your newspaper, magazines, the internet and even in the store. As people look at different ways to save money these days, they’ve turned to using coupons and have realized huge savings in the process.
Saving money green products are another good trick. If your grocery store has started charging for those plastic bags start using green ones that are reusable and save the planet at the same time. If you have plastic bags at home you can take these to the store with you and also realize a savings.
One tip that any recession article that is designed to save you money will tell you, is that when you go to the grocery store, DO NOT GO ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. If you go to the store will a full stomach, you will be much less likely to buy those impulse items that are really being bought to satisfy your cravings. These impulse items can really add up and blow your budget to pieces.
So if you’re looking at how to start saving money, the supermarket is a great place. As you start to realize those savings weekly, try putting the money you save into a savings jar and watch how quickly it will build up. You can pay bills with this money, or if that is already worked into your budget this can be a great way to save for an inexpensive family vacation.
Last but not least, do not buy those items that are all around you when you are standing in line. Pick up a magazine and leaf through it, or take a book with you for those long lineups. Anything to distract you from all those over priced items will go a long way in helping to keep your budget on track.