Tired of clipping coupons and then forgetting them at home? Ran out of ink to print out those coupons? Well no scissors needed for these easy grocery tips. Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
1. Budget Takes All: You’ve heard, I’ve heard it; we’ve all heard it. “Always bring a list to the grocery store.” There is even a website (www.grocerylists.org) that has a dedicated collection of found grocery lists. The problem is NOT the actual list; it’s the nonexistent budget that should be on the list. Just like it makes sense to write down what you need on paper, so you wont forget, it’s equally as important to write down your budget. Writing down a numerical figure like $95.00 on your grocery list gives you a great concrete reminder on how much money you can actually spend. Seeing a numerical figure is a great deterrent to impulse buying, which means the more money you will save without even clipping coupons.
2. Calculator: Now the previous tip can be successful on its own, however bring a little dollar store calculator with you and you will be cutting your grocery bill even more. I will warn you, you may get some stares, but you will have the peace of mind that you are well within your budget before you reach the cash register. Using a calculator helps you determine whether an item is really a need or a want. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself skipping your usual gourmet ice cream after seeing the price on your calculator.
3. Two Weeks Max: The old saying “less is more” was made for grocery shopping. Shopping every two weeks at the most, will help keep some money in your pocket. The more often you go to the grocery store, the more opportunity you give yourself to spend more money. Two weeks is a great timetable for most perishable foods. Milk usually last about two weeks and there are tons of fruits and vegetables like apples, oranges, cucumbers and carrots that keep very well if they are stored in a tight container.
4. Keep Alert Eyes: Watch the register. I cant tell you how many times I’ve seen items that were supposed to be on sale, not register as sale items when scanned. When you see the mistake, don’t be afraid to kindly let the store associate know that the item is not ringing up at it’s sale price. Just by catching mistakes like these, keeps money in your pocket.
5. Don’t Over Do it: Two bags of chips advertised for $5.00 doesn’t always mean you need to buy two bags of chips. If you pay for one or for two, each of them will still be $2.50. Grocery stores do this a lot in order to move merchandise out of the store. Don’t be fooled into buying multiple items, which in turn will multiply your cost.
www.grocerylists.org
