8 Easy Ways To Reduce Your Weekly Grocery Bill

Saving money is always a good thing, especially when it comes to your grocery bill. Whether you are feeding a family of four or setting just a table for one, groceries can add up fast. We gathered up some tips for you to make the most of your next trip to the supermarket of your choice.

Make a Grocery List

Creating a list of what you need at the grocery store does two main things for you. First, it allows you to get all of the items you need without forgetting what it is you came to shop for in the first place. Second, you will buy less impulsively if you stick to only what you need. Grocery stores make sure to try and get you to buy the latest and greatest of something through end cap displays and store samples.

Try the Store Brand Items

Believe it or not, there are times when store name brands and popular name brands items are manufactured in the same place! These are usually the same item with just different packaging. Simply check the ingredients on the packaging to compare. Using the store brand items can save you money while not sacrificing taste.

Don’t go to the Store When you are Hungry

In our fast-paced lives, we tend to run around and do errands before we have time to eat. Studies show that going to the grocery store hungry creates the desire for more food than you need. Do your best to shop on the weekends when you have more control over when you eat and can shop when your tummy is not on empty.

Avoid the Aisles in the Center of the Store

Essential Items are placed around the perimeter of grocery stores, like dairy, meat, and vegetables. This creates the need to go through some aisles to get to what you want to obtain. So if you are in a hurry try to skip the middle aisle where the stores know they can get you with items you didn’t intend on buying.

Use Those Coupons

Saving even 20 cents here and there can really add up to some serious savings. If you don’t receive it in the mail, you can usually find your store’s circular in the front of the store. More often than not, it not only lists the specials of the week but has a few coupons to use as well. And of course, there is always the Sunday paper coupons that can usually help make a dent in your bill.

Eye Level is Sometimes Deceiving

When deciding on that next marinara sauce, make sure you look above and below your eyesight – that’s where the higher priced items are placed. Just because you see it first, doesn’t mean it’s the best deal. Often you will find the more inexpensive versions, not at eye level. This is the same reason that items appealing to kids are at their eye level.

Eat When Produce is in Season

Want to get the best deal on produce? Make sure you buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season. Buying these items out of season is not only costly but sometimes means they come from other countries. Not to mention they taste way better when picked fresh and at peak flavor.

Steer Away from Convenience Foods

From pre-cut and –washed salads to sliced up fruit, the more convenient the food is in preparation, the more likely it’s going to cost higher than doing it yourself. It only takes a few minutes to slice and dice these foods and then store them in your own containers so you can grab them easily on the go.

These are just some basic ways to save but highly effective if you utilize them on a daily or weekly basis. It’s for the most part about discipline and wanting to watch that final cost be as low as possible. Simply implement a few tactics each time you go grocery shopping and watch the savings start to be routine.