Stretching the budget set aside for the grocery shopping can be quite a challenge for anyone. The rising prices of basic grocery items can leave you dreaming of an advance pay check for next month. Hence the following tips are essential to keep your expenses within the budget and also save some extra cash.
- Number of Trips:
Planning in advance and making a list of the things to purchase will reduce your grocery trips to one. Preventing two or more grocery trips will not only save time and effort but will also curb impulsive purchases. - Do the Shopping Alone:
Carrying kids along for a grocery shopping trip can often turn into a disaster with extra cookies, chocolates and candies added to the list. Shopping alone will let you purchase the items you need and stick to your list. - Coupons:
Clipping coupons from newspapers and magazines is always a great way to save those extra dollars. Enlist the help of your kids to cut out the maximum number of coupons for the maximum savings. - Bulk Purchase:
Purchasing in bulk is always cost effective. Many retail chains offer huge discounts on bulk purchases of certain items like meat, cosmetics and cereals. So, stock up for the whole month with a bulk purchase to save those dollars. - Party Purchases:
If you find yourself entertaining friends and family almost every week then considering purchasing party supplies like alcohol and snacks also in bulk. Often alcohol and specialized party snacks can be purchased online. Buying a crate of wine along with a carton of party snacks can get you a good deal to save money rather than running to the grocery store every week to purchase a single bottle and 5 packets of snacks. - Credit Cards:
Credit cards are the biggest contributor to excessive spending and also piling up of debts. So the next time you are out grocery shopping leave the credit cards behind, this will help you stay within the stipulated budget and prevent impulsive purchases. - Baby Food:
For moms with babies it is always advised to give your babies home cooked baby food. There are countless recipes to make nutritious and delicious baby food. These will help you save money from purchasing those costly cans of baby food and will ensure that your baby gets the best, natural and nutritious food. - Never go to the grocery store hungry:
Grocery stores are designed to entice impulsive shoppers to spend more. Hence you will always find the chocolates, candies and biscuits lined up near the check-out counter. So, going to a grocery store hungry will only increase your impulsive purchases. Consider grocery shopping after a heavy breakfast. This prevents furtive glances to the snacks rack and you just might find the store a little less crowded than usual. - Branded Items:
Branded items cost more because of the ‘name’ associated with the product. More often even the generic brands provide the same quality at a cheaper cost. So consider spending on the quality and not the ‘name’. - Dollar Store:
Shopping for groceries in your locality dollar store often works out to be cheaper with deals like purchasing 5-6 items for $4.
Hence a little effort and planning can go a long way in helping you save money on your grocery trip.