Savings at the grocery store

[snafu]

The Food stores know the more time you spend in their stores the more you'll pay at the till. They've organized their stores to entice you to spend, spend, spend. If you wander up and down the aisles without a list or a plan, you'll spend w-aaay more. Those end bunks are prime Real Estate and often only 'feature' products suggesting a sale price. It's important to avoid manipulation and stay in charge of your money. Before you go to the store have a quick look in your pantry/cupboard and fridge/freezer. Make a list and stick to it! No point in re-buying items you already have. Check the store site for specials and printable coupons or www.smartsource.com. It's important that you don't shop when you're hungry. You'll buy more!

[thesimplemoneyblog]

All of those are great points. Make a list, stick to it, and don't shop hungry! Use grocery coupons, and stick to the products you actually use. Some stores now offer e-coupons that you can load to your reward card in advance of the grocery trip.

[marvholly]

Another good way to save both time & money is to shop JUST the perimeter on most trips. That is just produce, meat and dairy. It also has the advantage of being healthier.

[Ramose]

The problem with sticking strictly to a list occurs when something you won't need for a few weeks is at a great price. It wouldn't be on the list and therefore you can't buy it.

[kartcoup]

That are really great tips. It is very true and somehow this tips will serve as eye opener to others that don't yet do these tips.

[thesimplemoneyblog]

The problem with sticking strictly to a list occurs when something you won't need for a few weeks is at a great price. It wouldn't be on the list and therefore you can't buy it.

Great point, Ramose. The key to having a successful long-term budget is to allow enough wiggle room to buy things (that you typically buy) at a steep discount when they go on sale that maybe weren't part of your original list.

[MauBell0405]

You may also want to look at the stocks that are placed below eye-level. Usually the products in that area are much cheaper.

[nimisht]

I have switched to wholesale clubs ... they could save you a bunch

[disneysteve]

Make a list, stick to it, and don't shop hungry!

I actually disagree with your 2nd and 3rd points.

Definitely make a list. That way you don't forget to buy things that you know you need. However, don't tie your hands and say you won't buy anything not on the list. Sometimes there is a good sale worth taking advantage of. Sometimes there are items you forget you needed until you see them in the store.

As for not shopping hungry, if I'm not hungry when I shop, I don't buy anything. I'll come home with a couple of staples (milk, bread, etc.) and not much else. Then I find that I don't have anything in the house to make meals. So I do spend less at the supermarket but we end up spending more in the long run by eating out more.

So I think ultimately it depends on you. If you plan your meals and can shop off the list to get what you need for the planned meals, that's great. Personally, we aren't that organized. We don't generally plan meals because we are often out and about and not all home at the same time so it's important to keep the house stocked with various fixings so that meals can be made whenever.

[BMEPhDinCO]

I usually make a list with a bit of wiggle room for sales, but I do shop when I'm a bit hungry, just not starving - that way I can get enough food, but I don't pick up the bag of chips or the block of cheese ... you want to be in the middle group.

Also agree with shopping the sides - if you have a list, it can help and not going down an aisle usually lessens temptation. Also, don't stare too long at the checkout line when you stand next to the little treats, they call your name!

[snafu]

I stopped at the grocery for finger foods that the neighbors would enjoy while watching football games. I've decided that the deli must be the biggest profit per sq ft. followed fast by bakery!
Library Subject Index

According to a couple of articles, cut-up fruit has 100% mark-up, deli hot pizza is frozen pizza heated and 'gourmet' burger patties merely have extra spices. Be nice to the grocery clerk, they can steer you to the best product to meet your needs. Do you choose items by unit cost? Do you mostly choose brand names because they seem familiar?

[snafu]

Grocery Store Marketing

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[gogirlanime]

I eat for $60-$80 a month doing this...

Once a week I shop for produce and quick perishables (meat, yogurt, milk, etc)

Then...

Once a month I shop for everything else (cereal, crackers, bread, frozen stuff, etc)

I went to Walmart to find the lowest prices of everything I buy and made a list and then once or twice a month I go on Ebay and find coupons for all of the things I buy as much as possible. Then I build a "stockpile" of about 30 items (like frozen potatoes and cookies this month then perhaps crackers and cereal next month) when I mean "stockpile" I mean I use 20-30 coupons of one item that way I don't have to buy the same item for 6-12 months

My typical shopping trip bill at a non-Walmart grocery store: about $350, at Walmart: $175, with coupons: anywhere between $50-$130 depending on how good the savings are.

My family and I have made an experiment for ourselves. Now that we have everything we eat stockpiled into the house (it takes up a lot of room) we have priced how much all the items cost with post its and when we open / eat it we write it down

Each member in my household eats at an average of $60-$80 a month!

[jpg7n16]

My mother is the worst at sticking to a list. Even if she only needs s few things she will go up and down the aisle to see what she may have 'forgotten' to add to her list.

One idea I heard somewhere (don't know who to credit, but it wasn't me)

Try having your mom go grocery shopping with a friend. When they get to the store, have them swap lists and go through the store and buy for each other.

Your mom goes through and picks up all her friend's items, and her friend picks up everything from your mom's list.


I've heard that can be a great way to stick to your list, as she'll be much less prone to pick up the impulse purchases when it's not her list. Maybe a few impulse items here or there, but nowhere near the same amount as usual.

[gipi]

A friend of mine told me one time that the necessary items, like fresh produce, eggs, milk, etc., are all arranged on the outer perimeter of the store. So to save time and money, don't go down all the aisles, just the perimeter and the specific aisles that have what you need. That way you avoid most of the tempting, but expensive, prepackaged and junk food.