Save Money Grocery Shopping

The average American family spends approximately $580 each month for food purchased in regular grocery stores according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey. Believe it or not, food cost is still one of the most flexible areas in the family budget. You really don’t have to spend quite so much money on food. You can reduce it by as much as 20% or more.

You may have little control over your rent, mortgage, day care costs, or car payment, but you can save money grocery shopping.

Food is one of the biggest costs a family faces and one of the most difficult to bring under control or cut back on. Unlike our regular bills that come each month in the mail, grocery costs occur each time we go to the grocery store. Although inflation is low there is hardly a food item that has not increased in price or has been reduced in size or quantity in the last year. Do you remember when you bought half gallons of ice cream? The half gallon is now a 3/4 gallon and it cost more than the 1/2gallon did last year. This is true for most food items that we purchase today. In short, the cost of food has risen sharply which has put a major dent in our food budgets. There are ways you can save money grocery shopping and reduce your food bill.

Many people start their grocery shopping trips by asking, “What do I want to eat tonight or this week”? Then they shop for the items that make up the meal. This is probably not the best approach to grocery shopping. First you should review your eating habits in terms of what you really need to eat as opposed to what you want to eat. Decide your meals upon what your body needs for proper nutrition and don’t shop for items that don’t support your nutritional need or items you already have. Then buy what is on super discount and you will save a lot of money. The following shopping tips can help you save money grocery shopping and you just may be healthier too.

1. Make a list of nonperishable and frozen foods that you and your family like to eat on a regular bases that can be incorporated into a variety of meals such as pasta, rice, and frozen vegetables.

2. Whenever these base items are on sale buy them in bulk to build up a three to six month supply.

3. Planning your food costs over a longer span of time will help you save money. By having enough basic staples on hand you can wait until the next sale cycle before replenishing your supply instead of paying full price during a quick trip or weekly visit to the grocery store.

4. Shop at warehouse stores such as Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's. Sure you have to pay a price to become a member but you can save a lot of money by buying in bulk at these warehouse grocery stores. Consumer Report says that on a national average you can save from 40 to 50 percent on your food bill.

5. Buy store brand items rather than name brand. For example buying Kirkland-brand toilet paper can save the average family $130 per year. That can be over a $6,500 saving if compounded at a nominal interest rate for ten years.

6. Use coupons cut from newspaper, grocery store circular, or located on grocery shelves next to eligible items. Although most coupons are for small discounts, the few cents add up. Using coupons can save for the average family as much as $5 a week.

7. Be aware of special sale items. Just because an item is on “on sale” does not necessarily mean that the price has been reduced. It may just mean that the item is for sale not on sale at a reduced price. Be careful of advertising gimmicks. Often you find an item on sale such as baked beans with a poster suggesting that baked beans and hot dogs make a great meal. You agree with that and buy the beans, and the hot dogs, and the hot dog rolls, and oh yes you need some condiments to go with it. In many of these situations everything you bought in addition to the beans is selling a higher price than they normally would. This is referred to as jack pricing and is very common in grocery marketing.

8. If you don’t cook it may be time to start. Basic cooking skills are not difficult to master. The cost of making pancakes from scratch is a fraction of the cost of buying premix pancake batter. It is the same for baking a pot of beans rather than buying canned beans. If you are so busy during the week that you don’t have time to cook, cook large amounts during the weekend for consumption during the week. This will save you a great deal on your grocery budget.

These shopping tips can save you as much as 20% or more on your food budget. Try it, it works.

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