Groceries are a necessity that you cannot avoid. No matter where you are and what you do, you are going to need food and other essentials. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to splurge on these items. There are several means to saving money while enjoying the necessities in life, especially when grocery shopping. That’s why we have compiled this extensive guide to saving money while grocery shopping.
Stop Multiple Shopping Sprees
Saving money is also a case of determination, so put a stop to your multiple trips when you’re grocery shopping. It is proven that being absent from a mall physically, gives fewer opportunities to shop and make impulsive purchases.
Check Your Stocks
Have you been making unnecessary trips and buying food that you don’t need all the time? The solution is to check the fridge to know what you already have in the inventory. Before visiting a store and buying that extra flour, or fruits, check what you really need.
Here’s how you can reduce food waste and save money.
Watch What You Shop Online
Online shopping is great but it also comes with extra costs. It is possible to not find the desired size of a product and you end up buying a bigger size or several small sizes of the same. Some third-party sellers on Amazon also have extra shipping charges.
Put Sunday Paper to Use
Sunday paper comes with many benefits. The paper is full of adverts, coupons, and grocery deals to promote brands. You also get to know about the buy one get one deal. You can read your paper thoroughly and find such deals.
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However, you should also read the T&C before engaging in such deals. These deals are enticing but make sure that you are not coerced to buy more to get free products.
Monitor Your Favorite Brands
Sign up for the mailing list of your favorite chips or chocolate brand and sign up for the newsletter. You are a loyal customer of such sites and can take advantage of deals and offers directly in your inbox.
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Burn Rate
Burn rate refers to the extent of how much and how frequently you go through a product fully. This helps in deciding the time any product will last for you. You can use deals according to that timeline.
For instance, if you see some chicken nuggets, you can buy them if you have a freezer at home. However, buying perishable products like eggs can cost you more than you eat as they expire rapidly.
Go for Loyalty Programs
Instead of buying only from one store, you should divide the grocery list into different superstores to utilize their good deals. However, if you are in the habit of buying from the same store, consider joining the rewards or loyalty programs. All you have to do to redeem the benefits by providing information like your number at checkout and you are good to go!
Experiment
Just because you use only one washing powder doesn’t mean you cannot try other brands in the same category. The brand name hardly matters in some products. Value labels should be considered over luxury brands.
For instance, if you are indifferent about the shampoo, switch from Pantene to Suave. A Suave 30-ounce bottle costs $1.89 while a Pantene 12.6-ounce bottle of Pantene costs $3.49.
Do the Price Check
You should be attentive to how much you are getting for the price you pay. Consider measuring your goods (per ounce, gram, pound, etc.) on the label at the back or near the display of the product.
This helps find the most suitable variant in the product that is sold in different sizes. Prices can also vary from store to store. If you are buying out-of-season fruits and vegetables, you will have to pay some extra charges too.
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Get a Wholesale Membership
Wholesalers sell grocery items at low costs in bulk. If you have a large family, it is the best option. You can buy the wholesale membership at Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club or Sam’s Club. If you stock up large quantities of non-perishable food like toilet paper or paper towels, be ready to spend a good amount for the large quantity.
For the wholesale membership, there is a small annual fee. However, before investing in a membership card, make sure you trust the store and have shopped there enough.
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Circle the Sale Cycle
Every season or festival has its prominent food. For example, candies are sold extensively during the holidays for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day.
To get great bargain prices while saving money, do your grocery shopping during the clearance sale once the season is over. You can find great deals in the first week of the month. This is because stores indulge in heavy competition during the paycheck time of their consumers.
