Extreme Grocery Savings Without Extreme Couponing

Many people think in order to build a great stockpile or save a ton of money on groceries, you have to incorporate couponing. While couponing can save you a lot of money, you don’t necessarily have to coupon in order to get some real savings on your grocery budget. Couponing can be time consuming and many people simply do not have that extra time to spare to gather coupons, organize them, and keep track of special sales going on to use them. If you are looking for information on how to save money on groceries without using coupons, here are some ways to get Extreme Grocery Savings Without Extreme Couponing.

Extreme Grocery Savings Without Extreme Couponing

Pay attention to what is in season and stock up. When I say ‘in season’ I am not just talking about produce. Did you know that even things like bulk goods and frozen foods have a season? It’s true! For instance, March is frozen food month, so you will find lots of deals on these types of items then. Check out these month to month guides on when you can save the most on household good and groceries.

Think outside the box on where you shop. This works well for lots of things like household basics such as milk or bread as well as canned and dried goods. I often find some of the best deals on these items at places like pharmacies. Often, gas stations and convenience stores run deals on milk and eggs as well that are phenomenal. Unfortunately, the only way to know if gas stations are offering this kind of sale is to go in, as they don’t often advertise them. If you find one, get extra.

Be willing to visit several stores. Before you head to your favorite store, check out the competition online or in circulars. You may be surprised that the place you have gotten comfortable shopping at may not be offering the best deals for the items you want.

Look for manager markdowns. Manager markdowns can save you so much, especially if you have a way to freeze or store things and plan on using them up quickly. You can find the best deals in produce, meat, bakery, and often in the back of the store on a shelf or cart or in a specific aisle. If you are feeling bold, you can even ask the department managers in these areas what day and time they put things on discount so you can be the first there to scoop up the best deals.

Meal plan based on what is on sale. Instead of deciding what you want to make based on what sounds good at the time, decide based on what is on sale. Meat even has it’s own season, so you can often find different types of meat on sale at specific times of year. Check out the sales flyers for the stores you will be visiting. Plan meals based on what is in them and has the best opportunity to save.

Try to avoid multiple trips to the store during the week. One way I find myself spending way over my grocery budget is by making multiple trips each week. This is because when I am there for one thing, I always end up walking out with much more. Before I know it, the $3 item now cost me $30 because I grabbed extra stuff I never intended to get. To avoid this, make lists before you go to the store. Check your stock at home and find substitutions so you don’t have to make those trips.

Stock up smart. Knowing what to stock up on can take some trial and error. Make sure to ask yourself some questions before you decide to buy a lot of something just because it’s a good deal. Some questions to ask include, “Can I use this up before it goes bad?” or “Do I have somewhere to store this so it will be used and not forgotten?” A sale is never worth it if you will end up wasting it.