10 tips for cutting down costs at the grocery checkout line Recipe
10 tips for cutting down costs at the grocery checkout line
Amreen
writes for NerdWallet, a website dedicated to finding ways for consumers to
save on financial products. Her current interests include locating and
reviewing the best Black Friday deals for
shoppers.
The
average family spends approximately $500 a month on groceries. With some
forethought and strategic planning you and your family can drastically reduce monthly
grocery costs without sacrificing quantity or quality.
1. Strategically buy in bulk
When shopping at wholesale retailers like Sam's
Club or Costco it can be difficult to leave without spending at least a hundred
dollars or so on a single trip alone. With tempting samples galore, the
downfall of the frugal shopper lies in between the innumerable aisles of
gourmet frozen foods and unique delicacies. Splurging once in a while is
understandable. However, in order to prevent excess spending, pick up the items
on your shopping list first before adding that five-pound pack of smoked
almonds to your cart. If you're a seasoned frugal shopper then your gut check
on superfluous items is probably fine-tuned. Your soft spot is most likely
overpaying on household necessities that are cheaper at traditional grocery
stores. Remember to look at unit prices above all.
2. Cut
out pre-processed foods
- Pre-processed foods can include anything from
- pre-cut fruits and veggies all the way to canned pasta sauces. Although the
- perfectly cut broccoli florets may seem tempting at first glance, take a look
down and let the price tag ground your decision-making. The best strategy to
get the best of both worlds is to consider processing produce as soon as you
get home. Setting aside some time to wash, chop, and divvy into individual easy
to handle pouches will save time in the long run. This strategy will help you
and your family make fresh fruit and veggies the centerpiece of a balanced
diet. As for pasta sauces, consider making some homemade sauces in advance and
freezing them down until you're ready to use them.
3. Shop
around
Don't feel limited by the coupons offered by
your local grocery store, be open to exploring diverse venues for your grocery
needs. Often times ethnic grocery stores will have great deals on produce and
meats. Diversifying your venues of shopping also allows you to work in cool new
recipes into your family's diet. Also check if you have any grocery outlets in
your area for marked down deals on cereals and boxed goods.
4. Freeze
it down
Proteins will often times comprise the bulk of
your grocery costs. Keep an eye out for deals on meats and fish. The fantastic
part of finding a great deal on boneless skinless chicken breasts or tilapia
fillets is that you can stock up and freeze everything down for later use.
5. Stick
to the edges
In order to promote healthy eating, try to do
the bulk of your shopping at the edges of the grocery store where all the fresh
fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meats are found. Avoiding the middle aisles will
cut costs and calories.
6. This
is the time to be generic
There is often very little difference in the
quality of a name brand product and the grocery store generic, save for the
price. Opt for generics to save a few bucks.
7.
Shop in season
Farmers markets are a great place to go for
fresh organic produce at reduced prices. There is a huge price difference
between the cost of strawberries in season and otherwise. Take a cue from the
list of in-season produce and plan your weekly menus accordingly.
8. Keep your pantry stocked
A solid pantry of herbs, stocks, and spices
online ads to slowly build your own collection of goodies.
9. Throw
it in a stew
If you have fresh vegetables or herbs that are
about to spoil, before heading straight to the trash can, think about a clever
stew or slow cooker recipe instead. Stews, omelettes, frittatas, and casseroles
are great catch-all dishes that will only taste better with a pile of extra
onions, mushrooms, or parsley.
10. Look
in your backyard
Buying fresh herbs from the grocery store
requires a military-like diligence to planned menus unless you enjoy wilted
basil. The easiest solution to this problem of convenience and timing is to
grow your own herbs. This saves both time in planning menus and money on wasted
herbs.