These tips on how to save money on groceries will help you slash your groceries expenses.
It started with a tube of toothpaste….saving money that is. I went to the store one day, used a Colgate coupon and walked out making money on that tube of toothpaste. I knew from then on I was going to find a way to save on those everyday items. That was 2+ years ago and I can tell you I will never pay for toothpaste again. But, don’t worry….I’ll still be brushing my teeth every day.
In the past 2 years, I’ve learned a few things that I wish I’d have learned sooner. I no longer think of all the money we threw away for so many years before coupons…now I think of all the things couponing and frugal living has and will afford us in the years to come. Below are a few tips on how to save money on groceries:
How to Save Money on Groceries
We use a lot of coupons. I wouldn’t consider myself an “extreme couponer” that can take a $450 grocery bill down to $1.02, but I can save a good 50% or more most of the time when I shop. And just because I have a coupon for an item doesn’t mean I feel the need to use it. If we prefer an off-brand or find it’s cheaper than name brand we’ll stick with the off-brand, even if we have a coupon for the name brand.
Shop with a list and track your spending. Every Wednesday I sit down with my recipe box and look over my stockpile list. I plan our menu for the week based on what we have in our stockpile and what is on sale. Then I make my grocery list and pull all the coupons I’ll need. Once I get in the store I take out my list and start tallying up my purchases. As I add something to the cart I add the purchase price to my list. Here are some more resources on meal planning:
If you eat meat, consider purchasing a side of beef. My husband and son love their meat, so for us, it made sense to purchase a side of beef last year. We are still eating meat from this cow! The cost per pound worked out to be around $2.50. We purchased 350 pounds of beef and had a wide variety of cuts. This is probably the best price you can get when it’s all averaged out.
Grow a garden. We started a garden several years ago. I should say my husband started gardening years ago…I am horrible when it comes to keeping plants alive. Once you’ve had a homegrown tomato you’ll never want a store bought one again. We don’t have a ton of space for a garden, so we also enjoy getting our produce from the Farmer’s Market. If you are new to gardening, here is the ultimate backyard garden starter guide to help you get started.
Pay with cash. This has probably been the hardest change for me to make. Actually, last month was the very first month I went to cash only. There is something about handing over the cash and not swiping the debit card that makes it harder to part with the money.
Look for alternate ways to save on grocery items. Amazon is a great resource. I buy many groceries and household items in bulk on Amazon and save more than what I would spend in the store. You will also find many of the daily deal sites offer savings on health food as well as other stores. For more alternative ways to save, check out these tips on extreme grocery savings without extreme couponing.
Thanks to Michelle Gee for sharing her grocery shopping tips!
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