Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips

Spending too much of your budget on groceries? Do not fear as there are ways to make this significant household expense much more affordable. Read on below for 25 tips to save money on grocery shopping.

Make Wise Grocery Shopping Choices

#25 Do not grocery shop on an empty stomach. Shopping on a full stomach means you will be less impulsive to purchase unnecessary snacks! Stick to your original grocery lift while shopping, you will thank yourself later.

#24 As stated above, STICK TO YOUR LIST. Do not even let your kids talk you into purchasing extra items at the grocery store. You have created your list for a reason and your budget will appreciate it.

#23 Plan your meals ahead of time. When you plan your meals ahead, you only purchase what is on the menu! Start by planning 3-4 meals ahead of time and then work up to the full week to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

#22 Go to the grocery store ONLY once a week. Studies show that you will spend more if you stop at the grocery store several times a week as it is harder to track your spending.

#21 Shop when you are full of energy. A tired shopper will not be able to focus and make wise choices. Being focused and alert will ensure that you stick to your grocery budget.

#20 Return all bottles and cans to receive the deposit you've paid. Let your kids help with the process! This is a great way for them to earn a little cash.

#19 If you are tired or in a hurry, shop in a familiar store. This way you will be able to find you need quickly and efficiently.

Plan Ahead to Save Money

#18 Plan meals in large batches so that you have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Freeze any leftovers if you would like to make a quick meal later on in the week.

#17 Package your own snacks. Buying larger packages of snacks and then boxing or bagging them individually on your own while save you money in the long run.

#16 Purchase less pre packaged and canned foods. Instead, shred your own cheese and lettuce!

#15 Clean out your pantry and fridge at least once a month. This way you can visually take stock of which products you have wasted your money on and what you utilize more often.

#14 Organize your food storage areas. If you can not find what you have already bought, you will end up wasting money purchasing it twice. Nothing is worse than buying more butter when you already had four sticks jammed behind the milk.

#13 Pay attention to preservation methods. Directions of how to handle your products are applied for a reason. Do not make your food go bad before its expiration date because you were to lazy to read the preservation directions.

#12 When purchasing large packages of meat, pre marinate it and then freeze it to speed up cooking time later on. Plus, if you know you have pre marinated meat waiting for you at home, you are less tempted to eat out.

#11 Set aside one day a week to wash and cut up all of your fruits and vegetables. Pre-cut ingredients speed up meal time preparations and serve as healthy snacks on the go.

Shop With A Budget

#10 Do not purchase snacks on the go. They are often more expensive and full of unwanted preservatives.

#9 Try new foods. Get creative with less expensive ingredients to help your average savings. You never know, you many discover less expensive foods that you love!

#8 Utilize a calculator while you shop. This way you can visually see how the items in your cart add up.

#7 Learn how to cook good food. Those who know how to cook good homemade food eat at home more often. If you currently do not possess cooking knowledge - learn from a family member or enroll in a cooking class.

#6 Purchase all non-food items like dish soap and garbage bags at your local discount store.

#5 Only purchase what you need and can afford.

#4 Price check and look for discounts on items that you purchase often. Make sure to take advantage of manufacturer and store coupons whenever available. Do not forget about online grocers, smartphone grocery apps are great options for further money saving.

#3 Smaller sizes have proven to be great deals. If you do not believe us, do the math on your calculator prior to purchase.

#2 Do not overlook store brands or unknown brands. Oftenly, these brands are made by the brand-name companies, just with a new label.

#1 Do not buy an item just because it is 'on sale'. Only purchase an 'on sale' item if you are guaranteed to use it.