Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips

Everything seems to be getting more expensive daily. From petrol to groceries, our hard-earned dollars need to stretch further. We may be able to ride a bicycle around town or catch public transport to save on fuel costs, but we still have to eat. So we have to find ways to spend less on groceries while still getting the things that we need to feed ourselves and our families. Here are six money saving tips to try the next time you go grocery shopping.

1. Check the supermarket catalogues.

If there is a product on sale that you usually purchase, consider going to that supermarket to stock up on the item. It's popular nowadays for the large supermarket chains to offer two-for-one or multiple item discounts, so you should monitor which of your local supermarkets have the best offer every week for your favourite products. Items are often on sale for a limited time, so buy two to four weeks' worth instead of just the one week's worth when you can. And here's a tip - the sale tickets on the shelves have the ending date for that item's sale period printed on the bottom of it. Simply check that to see how long you can purchase that item at that price. This can be especially useful when you come across items on sale that you haven't previously seen advertised.

2. Buy more staples than prepared foods.

It's easier to buy a pre-prepared pasta meal, but it's definitely not economical. A large packet of pasta, tomato paste, some veggies and some beef mince will make more servings and probably be healthier and tastier as well. The next time you go shopping and pick up a box or bag of an already prepared item, ask yourself if you can make that at home for less. If you can, then put that item back in favour of less expensive staples.

3. Buy in bulk.

Consider the food items that you use most often. Cereals, meats, vegetables, condiments, juices, and paper products can be bought in bulk usually at lower prices at various places. Do a little research at your local market and discount stores to see what they have available. As mentioned above, even the major supermarkets nowadays have bulk purchase deals as well.

4. Don’t shop when you are hungry.

Shopping with a hungry stomach is definitely a bad idea as you will pick up more things than you need. You are more likely to pick up that bag of potato chips or that box of donuts when the stomach growling gets underway.

5. Take a grocery list with you.

This is another protection against picking up things that are unnecessary and costly. Check your cabinets and the fridge to see what you need and write them down before you leave. Once you arrive at the shops, stick to the list as much as possible.

6. Shop at the same stores.

This is more of a frustration reliever. In a new store, you spend most of your time looking for things and walking up and down every aisle, which often leads to forgetting an item or two or buying unnecessary items. Going to the same store each time also makes you more familiar with the regular prices so you are more likely to notice when something has been discounted. Supermarkets often have regular deals for certain items as well, so you can adjust your purchases accordingly each week.

Rising prices don’t have to mean a lean dinner table. There are ways to make your food dollar go further and if you take the time to implement the ideas listed above as well as others of your own, you’ll see savings each and every time you go grocery shopping.