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House >> It Kitchen
20 ways to cut your groceries bill08/17/2007 05:27 PM | 
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Even if you are not concerned about your monthly spending budget, it's always good to save some money. The easiest way to do so is by analyzing your monthly spending on food, I'm sure you'll find some places where you overspend: restaurants with expensive drinks, daily lunches, or weekly groceries shopping. I personally found some very helpful tips at this Times article I read, so I had to share some of my favorite with you, adding my own insight. If you follow these simple rules while grocery shopping, I'm sure within a month you'll find some extra cash in your pockets:
1. Always make a list. Most importantly try to stick to it.
2. I know It's tempting to try new products, but try to limit your try-outs to 1 or 2 at a time.
3. Use coupons. We all are too lazy for coupons, but Consumer Reports says Americans saved an estimated $30 billion with manufacturers coupons last year! that's worth some cutting, no?
4. Track contents of your pantry and freezer so you don't buy what you already have.
5. Never grocery shop when you're hungry. Avoid emotional purchase.
6. Shop alone if you can. Kids are the main reason for overspending.
7. Even though you have your plan and list, be flexible enough to take advantage of any in-store specials you might find.
8. Avoid processed food whenever possible. For years the trend has been toward convenience, but processed food costs more.
9. Stock up on long lasting basic products when they are on sale.
10. Beware the forced march through the aisles. Milk and meat are at the back of the store so shoppers must walk through the store to get to them.
11. Look beyond eye level on the shelves. Manufacturers pay for this prime space, means you'll have to share some of their costs.
12. Fight check-out temptation. Consumer Reports and other sources note that the candy-and-gum-and-magazine laden area right around the cash register is one of the most profitable areas of the store.
13. Switch to water or tea. Soft drinks are expensive as well as caloric -- and new studies show that even diet soda is bad for your heart.
14. Drink tap water instead of bottled water. You'll save the planet resources and lots of money in your pocket.
15. Make coffee at home. Save on those $5 Starbucks lattes
16. Pack a lunch to take to work. Use up leftovers or "planned overs."
17. Make your own whole-grain cereal with cholesterol-lowering oats.
18. Eat more beans. Powerful nutrition, cheap price.
19. Plan to buy nothing but groceries at the supermarket. Toiletries cost 20 to 40 percent less at discount stores.
20. Shop at a farmers market. The produce is so fresh it will last for weeks.
I hope these will give you some ideas from smart grocery shopping!
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| | | |  | One way I keep a handle on costs -- and food quality and nutrition -- is to look at the items on the belt before I check out. Is this the kind of food I should eat for the next week? Is it fresh, wholesome, delicious? Often the least flavorful and least nutritious foods are also the most expensive.
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Comment by:Rejiggered @ 08/27/2007, 12:01:03 AM | I have found that making one trip to the grocery store each week is far more economical than stopping at the store on my way home from work each night to pick up whatever I need to make dinner for that one particular evening. Its easer to save money if you're using some of the same ingredients and actually plan a general menu out for the week.
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Comment by:MaryJayne @ 09/04/2007, 04:06:47 PM |
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