There are many ways to save at the grocery store. Here are a few:
- Plan your meals.
- If it’s hot, plan for meals that don’t require cooking. You’ll save energy.
- Make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need.
- When you go to the store, try to go after you’ve eaten and have lots of time so you won’t be tempted by snack foods.
- If possible, leave your children at home, since they will be tempted too.
- Stick to the list.
- Buy store brands.
- Check the marked-down items. If you can use up the produce or meat quickly, it can be a good deal.
- Buy things you use a lot in large packages. Hamburger on sale can be formed into patties and individually frozen between sheets of wax paper, or in one pound packages.
- Find a cheap brand of coffee that you like, and stay away from the expensive name brands.
- Don’t buy cut-up vegetables and fruits. They cost a lot more and are usually packaged in lots of plastic.
- Save pop for special occasions and encourage your children to drink water. Set an example by drinking water yourself from the tap, not bottled water.
- Use coupons. Although manufacturers’ coupons are usually for name brand products, they may lower your cost to the same as a generic.
- Buy day old bread at a local bakery or bread store.