Do you think you spend too much money on groceries? I was like you once, but not anymore. I have learned ways through trial and error to reduce the money I spent on my grocery shopping each week.
Do you want to know these secrets?
You can save anywhere between $30 and $50 per week or even a lot more with these tips. Just imagine how much you will save in a year.
Here we go with the secrets to save money on groceries…
1. Prepare the grocery shopping list:
Check for items you have in your refrigerator, cupboards and your pantry. This way you can avoid getting things that you already have. Plan what recipes you are going to prepare for a particular week.
Now, prepare a detailed list of items you require; it is good to break them into various sections like dairy products, cereals, pulses, bakery products, etc.
2. What’s in the name:
Many of us tend to buy branded items as we feel branded items are the best and others are of inferior quality; this is not always true. The ingredients used in both the branded and unbranded are going to be the same; branded items are a bit costly as they charge you for their brand too.
3. Eat before shopping:
We buy more when we are hungry; eat well before you leave your sweet home for shopping. I know how many times I buy things that I don’t require when I spend some time drinking coffee or a sandwich. The smells or the aroma of the food items make you purchase them.
I am not joking; just try eating before you go shopping and you will see for yourself on how much money you save.
4. Bulk purchasing is not right always:
We generally stock up things and this is not the right approach always. Let me share a secret with you here. When the item is priced per unit, it is wiser to buy in bulk as you will be able to get more for the amount you pay.
When the price is per package, it is better to buy less.
5. Buy things that are big first:
This is yet another secret to save money on groceries. When you buy a thing that will occupy more space in your cart first, you restrict yourself to buy only those things that will fit in your cart.
We are generally a little lazy to go and get another cart and end up our shopping.
6. Make use of deals and coupons:
Go through your newspaper and cut out coupons that are necessary to you. You may also go online and check for coupons and deals.
Make use of these deals and coupons wherever and whenever applicable.
7. Avoid taking children or family members:
It is always better to leave your children at home when you go to buy groceries and this same rule applies to your other family members too.
Shop alone.
When you take your children with you, what happens; they ask you to buy those lip-smacking candies and other goodies that may add up more dollars to your grocery bill.
You buy things that are good for their health when you do your grocery shopping.
8. Scan both upper and lower decks:
A strategy that supermarkets follow is that they keep things that cost you more on the upper decks and cheaper products on the lower deck even though the quality is the same; do you know why?
We tend to scan the upper decks and purchase and give less importance to things kept in lower decks. When the quality is same, why not buy things that cost you less? Think…
9. Understand the floor plan of the supermarket:
Does this has to be given importance? Yes…supermarkets tend to keep certain necessary things at one end of the supermarket and this product will something that almost everyone buys.
Do you wish to know why they do this? This way they can make you keep in the supermarket for more time and this has a direct relationship with their sales.
When you spend more time in the supermarket, you tend to purchase more. Don’t fell into this trap. Understand the floor plan of the supermarket where you buy your groceries.
10. Appearance is always deceptive:
You buy things if they are brightly colored. Just imagine you see peppers in bright red, yellow and green colors; won’t you buy them? The old adage “Appearance is always deceptive” is very true when you go shopping.
11. Buy products that have multiple uses:
Instead of buying glass cleaner to clean your windows and vinegar to use for cooking, understand that the glass cleaner isn’t needed at all. Just plain vinegar is excellent for cleaning your kitchen. As well are many other simple and much cheaper products like your great grandmother used to use. And a lot of the cleaning products are environmentally friendly too!
Remember these simple secrets and save money on groceries. All the best!
