Grocery Shopping Tips

Grocery shopping is something that every person has to do. It is, with most families, a time consuming task of life. With the rise in the gas and grocery prices, it is becoming more and more important to be well prepared for your shopping trip so that you won’t forget items needed or spend more than you intend. A friend that has went with me from time to time shopping asked me for my grocery shopping tips. I thought I would share them with all of you also.

1. NEVER shop hungry. The temptation to spend extra will begin at the door. Have you ever noticed how they have some kind of junk food positioned near the entrance? My local Wal-Mart and Kroger both have their bakery’s at the front door.

2. Make a LIST. Start by making a list of meals you are planning to have. Once you have that list, start making another list with the ingredients for the meals that you don’t have in your house. Then you can add any cooking basics that you need to add to your list such as milk, eggs, oil, and spices.

3. Bring your CALCULATOR. I found a calculator at my local Dollar Tree store that has a cord designed so that I can wear it around my neck. That was the best $1 I have ever spent. The calculator will keep you very aware of what you are going to be giving away at the register. It may also help you hold off urges when you see the total skyrocket up as you shop. You may want to set a budget and stick to it.

4. Use COUPONS. I know most people hate these pesky paper things but they are such a money saver. There are some stores where you can double the amount on the coupon. An example is I had a coupon for Fiber One Granola Bars that offered 0.50 off of one box, which at my Kroger they double it to make it $1 off. At the same time there was a sale at Kroger and they had them on sale for $2 a box. With the coupon and sale combined I only paid $1 plus tax.
5. PRICE COMPARE. Do you get ads on Tuesday from all of your local supermarkets like I do? Check with the stores that you do shop at and see if they price compare. My local Wal-Mart will price compare if the ad shows specific brands and descriptions of the items. The only thing that Wal-Mart won’t price compare is if the ad says an item is “Buy One Get One Free”. You can save big by doing this.

6. REBATES. I have found rebates in magazines, coupon section in the newspaper, and I have even printed some of them from the brands websites. You can earn some cash back by keeping your receipts and barcodes for the items.

7. Store DISCOUNT CARDS. My local Kroger has the “Kroger Plus Card” that saves you when you swipe it at the register. That is how you get the prices you find in the store with sales or special discounts. You can go to the customer service desk to sign up at participating stores.

8. Buy STORE BRANDS. That’s right, don’t be afraid of them just because they don’t have the big nationally known brand logo on the package. Take the time to look at the ingredients on a brand name item and compare it to a store brand version and you will see that the ingredients are almost the same.

9. DO NOT buy any item that is merchandised around the register. It is a shopper’s trap that they stores well place. Items that are usually put near the register are rarely on sale and the food items that are put there are most of the time junk food that you don’t need.

10. Last tip is to TAKE A LOOK at your cart before you check out and see if there is anything in the cart that can be taken out (such as any temptations that did make it in the cart). Get your coupons in your hand that you are going to give to the cashier and any ads that you are going to need to show the cashier for a price comparison deal. A tip on price comparison is to have the cashier check those items out at the end so it can cut down on any confusion.

I hope that these 10 tips can help you find some savings in your grocery bills. Try keeping at least four grocery receipts and compare them from trip to trip and see how you are progressing in your mission to save. You might have to alter your efforts around the holidays if you cook for a large gathering. The main thing is to set a budget and stick to it.