How to Save Money on Groceries

A good percentage of our household expenditures are spent on groceries.  But as prices continue to rise, we end up spending more and more on our groceries, which could leave not much left for our other living expenses.  Fortunately, it is possible to carefully monitor your grocery budget and shopping habits, so as to adapt to the rising costs and manage to save enough money in the process. Meticulously plan out your grocery list before you go shopping.  Make sure to list down only the items that you absolutely need to buy.  Don’t buy stuff that you still have a more than ample supply of at home.  Bring only the exact amount of cash that you would need.  It is best to stick to the budget and stick to the list; avoid buying unnecessary things out of impulse.  Don’t forget to bring a calculator with you.  It also helps if you have a subscription to a grocery newsletter, so as to be kept abreast of their latest promos and discounts. If there is more than one grocery store in your area, compare the prices and the quality of the goods in each store so that you can decide on which one offers the better deal.  The best time to go grocery shopping is on weekdays during off-peak hours, since there aren’t too many people in the store by then.  You would have plenty of space to browse around, and the lines wouldn’t be too long. Before you go shopping for groceries, make sure that you have eaten first.  There is a tendency for shoppers to buy more food when they are hungry, and you would be least likely to succumb to this temptation if you shop with a full stomach.  Also, it would be better if you do your shopping alone.  If you bring someone along with you, say, your spouse and your kids, or even a friend, you might be forced to buy things that they might want, but aren’t included in your grocery list.  It would be like having “backseat shoppers,” so to speak. Products placed on the store shelves at eye level of the shoppers tend to be expensive.  Pay attention to the items on the bottom shelves.  Shoppers often overlook this area, but the items in stock there typically come cheaper.  Also, don’t shy away from generic products.  Usually, there is very little difference in quality between a generic product and a branded product, and it is actually the brand name that the customers are paying extra for. Refrain from purchasing the products on display by the checkout counter.  These items are placed there to persuade customers to buy at the last minute, and are usually costly.  Be observant of the cash register when paying for your purchases.  The cashier might make a mistake in computation, or the register itself might be having an error.  Always be alert so that you don’t end up paying more for your groceries than what they would actually be worth. Picture Credit: http://faithfulprovisions.com/