Post your best ways to save money on groceries

[Jluke]

As I mentioned on a different thread, our grocery store has a free app that lists a bunch of coupons. I just have to scroll through and add them to my store bonus card.

This week there was a $10 off $100 purchase coupon.

Otherwise, know the normal price of the items you regularly buy. When they are on sale, stock up. When they aren't on sale, buy a minimal quantity.

And review your receipts after checkout. Recently the cashier accidentally scanned a $25 item twice. I knew something was off when I saw the total so when I got home I saw that error and had to go back for the refund. It happens fairly often that I even resort to doing self checkout to avoid cashier error.

[DaveInPgh]

And review your receipts after checkout. Recently the cashier accidentally scanned a $25 item twice. I knew something was off when I saw the total so when I got home I saw that error and had to go back for the refund. It happens fairly often that I even resort to doing self checkout to avoid cashier error.

My grocery shopping is split between Aldi and a local chain. When I am shopping at the local chain, I watch the prices as they are scanned. The policy of this particular store is if it rings up incorrectly, it is FREE!! If you are buying multiples of the particular item, they give you the first one free and price adjust the others to the correct price.

On average, I would say I walk out of there with something free twice a month. Sometimes, like this past week, I end up getting the free same free item on a subsequent trip because they filled to update the price in the computer. Probably only amounts to about $100 a year, but aside from the financial aspect it is a great feeling knowing your awareness is paying off.

[HundredK]

I actually think the biggest thing is to be willing to shop at different stores if you have the time to do so. Some stores have great prices on some things, but few stores have the best prices on all things.

[DaveInPgh]

I actually think the biggest thing is to be willing to shop at different stores if you have the time to do so. Some stores have great prices on some things, but few stores have the best prices on all things.

I agree but in addition to being time consuming you have to be disciplined as to what you are putting in the cart at each store. It is important to make a list for each store and stick to the list.

[DaveInPgh]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but another way to save money is to NOT shop while you are hungry. I know that this is mentioned in many articles regarding losing weight, and it is certainly fitting here as well.

This is something I struggle with personally, but the impact is felt more with my weight management than it is my wallet.

[FLA]

As for meat, we eat very little of it at home. We buy chicken by the case from Weiss meats. What we purchase comes in individually sealed packs of about 1lb, so no repacking necessary for us to freeze.

what is Weiss meats, is it a national thing?

I almost always buy generic unless the brand name is on sale cheaper, in all my years I have found only two things I don't like generic- Cheerios and Raisin Bran.

I live with my elderly parents. My mom has an end stage disease and pretty much only eats Brown Cow yogurt, it never goes on sale and we go through 3 cases a week. But with that being all she eats, we really aren't spending that much. My father loves to grocery shop, he'll go 3xs a week. I am working on him to see that our food budget is too high (he does not look for sale items or buy generic and he buys in huge quantities that he and I will never finish before they spoil, like deli meat) and we don't need groceries 3x a week. He also does a lot of damage at BJs. He needs a hobby!

I am planning to convert as much as possible to Aldi's but can't get my father to walk through that door. Ugh!

we have a bakery company that has an outlet store, the stuff is so cheap, it feels like stealing

[DaveInPgh]

what is Weiss meats, is it a national thing?

I almost always buy generic unless the brand name is on sale cheaper, in all my years I have found only two things I don't like generic- Cheerios and Raisin Bran.

I live with my elderly parents. My mom has an end stage disease and pretty much only eats Brown Cow yogurt, it never goes on sale and we go through 3 cases a week. But with that being all she eats, we really aren't spending that much. My father loves to grocery shop, he'll go 3xs a week. I am working on him to see that our food budget is too high (he does not look for sale items or buy generic and he buys in huge quantities that he and I will never finish before they spoil, like deli meat) and we don't need groceries 3x a week. He also does a lot of damage at BJs. He needs a hobby!

I am planning to convert as much as possible to Aldi's but can't get my father to walk through that door. Ugh!

we have a bakery company that has an outlet store, the stuff is so cheap, it feels like stealing

Honestly I had to look it up and see. I just saw their ad one day and drove to the nearby location and made the purchase. Just found out they only have the one location. Basically a local butcher shop. You should see what you have in your area and see if they have any "by the case" specials.

The 1lb pre-packaged portions are perfect for my family.

[Thrif-t]

I get about 5 different grocery ads a week. I circle all the loss leaders and head to our WalMart Super Store and buy them all there and price match with my ads at the register.

I hate WalMart but I am a hypocrite because I will use it for this. Also, the saving catcher app does not pick up all the sale categories so it's better to bring your ads and have the cashier price them at the register.

Sadly, I have a 16 DS and he eats like a horse so my bill is going up instead of down but at least I know I'm getting the lowest prices on items.

[msomnipotent]

Sadly, I have a 16 DS and he eats like a horse so my bill is going up instead of down but at least I know I'm getting the lowest prices on items.

I can NOT believe how much teenage boys eat! The first time I hosted an exchange student was a 15 year old boy, and I sat and watched him eat an entire box of cereal and most of a gallon of milk in one sitting. Our grocery bill more than doubled the month he was here. Any time I hear about a teenage boy eating, I think of Alvaro asking me, "And we buy food today???" every day! And I thought Europeans ate less than Americans!

[bigdaddybus]

I try to save where I can and still get what the family wants. My wife and I both work and we have 4 kids ranging from 6-16 so we tend to spend a lot on convenience food for snacks, school lunches, etc. I would say we are generous at home with food for our kids, but they seldom go out to eat and taking 6 out to eat is expensive. (and they really like it that way! Ask my kids if they want a movie and homemade pizza at home or going out and they pick staying home 90+% of the time)

1. Buy what we can in bulk (TP, butter, noodles, ranch)
2. buy 1/2 a pig or 1/2 cow when more meat is needed
3. utilize a deep freeze and when something we can freeze is on sale we stock up
4. put all shopping on cash back credit card

We used to cut coupons, but not regularly anymore as other priorities just always get in the way. I also found I tended to buy things on sale that no one really wanted.

I think its fair to say I could do a lot better saving on grocery costs