Mammoth AwardsIf you find clipping and carrying around coupons to be too much of a hassle, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t even need them. Sure, you can save cash that way, but there are other methods to minimize your grocery store bill. Keep reading to see them revealed.
Make a list (and stick to it)
As they say, “fail to plan, plan to fail.” That holds true even when it comes to grocery shopping since a lack of preparedness can hit your wallet hard.
Impulse purchases may account for a significant portion of your budget. Most of the time, you don’t need them, so make it your goal to avoid such purchases altogether. In short, follow the rule of if it isn’t on your list, it doesn’t gain a spot in the cart.
Shop on a full stomach
If you’ve ever hit the store with your stomach growling, you know it can be a bad idea. Why? Because you’ll want to buy everything you see as the urge to satisfy your hunger overcomes the urge to save.
It may sound super-simple, but never shopping when your hungry is a major money-saving tip you should follow. If you stick to your list, it shouldn’t be as much of an issue, but avoid the temptation anyway.
Keep your eyes up (or down)
Have you ever noticed that many of the most expensive items sit at eye level on the shelves? Grocers do this on purpose to snag easy sales, and they sometimes do it with attractive kids’ products too.
The next time you’re at the store, check this out for yourself. If you notice a difference in price when it comes to shelve-related real estate, start shopping above or below eye level more often.
Get rain checks
It’s likely that you’re not the only one looking to cut costs at the store. Other bargain shoppers may get there first, causing you to miss out on a deal like buy one, get one free on your favorite brand of bacon.
If you miss out, know that it’s usually not too late. Request a rain check from customer service, and you should be able to cash in on that bargain once the item gets restocked.
Avoid pre-cut produce
You’ll pay a pretty penny for the convenience of having your produce already cut for you. Want another reason to buy it uncut? It’ll last longer as well, so there’s less waste.
Buy in-season produce
Plan out your produce purchases according to the season. Buying fruits or vegetables out of season will cost more.
If you must have it, buy the frozen option to reduce the overall cost and have the added benefit of being able to keep the food longer without it spoiling.
Don’t always buy in bulk
Buying massive quantities of items doesn’t always result in maximum savings. To find out what the best deal truly is, pay attention to the unit price across options.
Many stores will usually list it in smaller print near the price. If not, you can get the unit price by dividing the total cost by the quantity.
Eat what you have first
You may not need to buy new food if your kitchen is already full of it. A reliable way to save is to dedicate yourself to cooking what you already have.
Depending on your supplies, you could eat for an entire week or longer without needing to step foot in the store.
