Top Tips For Saving Money On Groceries

I was in the grocery store the other day and everyone had the same dreadful befuddled look on their faces… the prices are unbelievable.

I watched people shake their heads, put stuff back, abandon baskets, and I saw eyes buck at those outrageous price stickers.

A small package of ground beef these days goes for like $8.00.

If you are a frugal housewife and/or frequent grocery shopper like me, you know that anything above $5.00 for a small package of ground beef seems ridiculous.

There was a time (not so long ago), that I could fill my basket to capacity and still spend less than $200.00. However, in this economy, by the time I’ve placed 7 items in my basket I’m already pushing close to eighty dollars!

So what can we do to keep food on our tables without going broke at the grocery store?

1. Plan Ahead By Creating Menus.

Too often what we buy at the grocery store ends up in the trash. How many times have you purchased a head of lettuce, used less than 1/2, and a week later thrown out the rest because it went bad before you could use it? What a waste!

The best way to avoid throwing away food is to plan your meals. Instead of buying lettuce for one specific meal, plan additional meals for the week that call for lettuce. For example, have salad with your spaghetti, put lettuce in your tacos, use lettuce on sandwiches, make lettuce wraps… It’s better to run out of lettuce than to throw it away right?

While planning meals may not necessarily save you money, it will certainly help you get your money’s worth out of what you buy at the grocery store.

2. Buy Store Brand Instead of Name Brand.

I do a large part of my shopping at Trader Joe’s and their brand is good!

If there isn’t a Trader Joe’s in your area, try your local store’s brand. The generic store brand is usually just as good as the name brands for a lower price. (note: I said usually).

I know some people have to have Heinz, Dole, Oscar Meyer, etc… I get that. There are just some things that you just can’t go generic on. I’m that way with cheese. It has to be Kraft and I don’t know why. If you buy Kraft cheese in the grocery store you know its almost $4 now! That’s insane! I don’t buy cheese in grocery stores any more. I buy my cheese at Target. Yes, Target!

3. Stop One-Stop Shopping At The Grocery Store.

While most of your needs can be met in a grocery store, you can save money by shopping for bargains elsewhere. Cheese is not the only thing that I don’t buy in grocery stores any more. I buy dog food, beverages, milk, eggs, and chips, at Target too… Again, yes, Target

4. Grow Your Own Herbs And Vegetables.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to eliminate items from your shopping list? Back in the day people grew their own food and had their own livestock. You might not have room for cows and chickens, but you can certainly grow herbs right on your kitchen table or in your yard! Home Depot has inexpensive starter kits that even fit in kitchen windows. You might find that you have a green thumb, a new hobby, or another source of income.

By growing some of your own food you can keep some of your money in pocket!

5. Eat Less Meat.

Meat is probably the most expensive item in a grocery store (excluding liquor). I found that in a household of 2, I’m better off buying the larger meat packages and breaking them down into smaller portions when I get home. The larger packages are less per pound than the smaller packages.

Becoming vegans of course would cut the cost of groceries significantly. We’re meat eaters in our house, so that’s very unlikely. But if it works for you GO FOR IT!.

Food For Thought:

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